It’s tough when your pet shows difficult behaviours. Asking for advice isn’t easy, but getting pet behaviour help early on is really important. That way, you can work towards a solution before things become even more challenging to deal with.
Calling in the professionals can sound expensive. Luckily, if you know what type of help your pet really needs, you can spend your money wisely… or even find help for free!
With so many behaviourists and trainers out there, it’s hard to know which way to turn. You might come across trainers who claim to quickly ‘fix’ your pet’s behavioural problems. Their videos on social media look impressive, but there’s rarely a kind ‘quick fix’ for behaviours such as aggression. These quick fixes risk not only the welfare of your pet but can also cause more serious issues with extra, long-term costs.
Trainers who use dominance, pack theory, or who feel you need to be the boss of your pet are outdated in their thinking. Our pets need clear guidance and boundaries set out in a caring way.
Instead, look for professionals using reward-based methods – they’ll use food, treats or toys to reward good behaviours, not punishments for unwanted ones.
Looking for dog training help? Check out our handy pet training article!
Did you know that you can get free support from Woodgreen? We offer behavioural help for a range of species, including phone consults, visits, online workshops, and self-led courses. Your pet doesn’t need to be from Woodgreen, either!
To sign up for free in-person or online workshops, visit our events page. Or, take a look at our free, self-led online courses.
Need help more urgently? Get in touch with our team.
If you need face-to-face help for your pet but you aren’t local to our centre in Cambridgeshire, try the Animal Behaviour and Training Council website. There, you can search for someone who cares about your pet’s emotional well-being and welfare just as much as you do.
Our website is packed with resources to help you understand your pets and their needs. Click on the links below to find out more:
Information for all species – including small pets
Looking for more tips? Visit our page on how to save money as a pet owner.
At Woodgreen, our dedicated team of behavioural and training specialists offer expert pet advice online, on the phone and in person – helping at every step of the pet ownership journey.
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