What to expect at the consultation The consultation will take at least 1.5 hours and will be carried out at your home, with you, your pet, and as many members of the family present as possible. I will ask you lots of questions, not just about your pet's problem behaviour but also on their veterinary history and general background, such as what, where and when they eat and sleep, how much exercise they get per day etc. From this information I will make a preliminary diagnosis and begin to discuss ways we can potentially solve the problem, using only kind methods based on praise, rewards, trust, and communication between you and your pet. Approximately 10 days after the initial consultation I will send you, and the referring veterinary surgeon, a report with a more complete diagnosis, and a step by step programme for you to work through with your pet. I will then arrange a second visit to make sure that you are confident with the programme, and am always available over the phone for any queries. Any further follow up consultations you may need are included in the initial price. I aim to ensure that the cause of the behaviour problem is addressed rather than just the symptoms - so that the end result will be a happier pet, a more confident owner, and a more harmonious relationship between the two. This also ensures the problem is less likely to re-occur or for other behaviour problems to emerge. It is important to remember however, that your dog/cat cannot be given a pill to make them instantly well behaved. Changes in behaviour will typically take time – the problem may have developed over many months/years and inadvertently been reinforced. You will need dedication to stick with the programme, and daily work to make progress – but I will support you. All behaviour problems need an in-depth consultation to establish an accurate diagnosis, determine motivation and discuss the appropriate treatment programme in detail. This means that I am unable to answer questions about individual problems over phone or email. How to make an appointment Clients are only seen on veterinary referral to ensure that there is no medical cause for the problem. So first take your pet to your veterinary surgeon for a check up. Explain that you are experiencing behavioural problems and would like an appointment with Penaran Higgs giving him/her my contact details if they do not have them (07758 958 123 or pen@petshrink.co.uk) Contact me to arrange an appointment which will be confirmed in writing on receipt of a £50 deposit Payment in full is required on the day of the initial consultation, which will last at least 1.5 hours Approximately 10 days later, your report and behaviour modification plan will be sent to you and your referring vet, and I will contact you to arrange another appointment and go through the plan with you At this second meeting, a follow up phone consultation will be arranged for approximately one month later with additional visits as required How much will it cost? A full behavioural consultation costs £150. Typically this includes at least two visits, a consultation report and step-by-step behaviour modification plan, plus follow up phone calls or visits where required. Please contact me for more details.