Services

We offer consultation and advice in the following areas:

Behavioural Support

Understanding and managing behavioural challenges is a cornerstone of our work. We identify root causes and provide sustainable, long-term solutions.

  • Sudden Behavioural Changes: Identifying potential causes for sudden shifts in behaviour, such as medical issues, environmental changes, or trauma.
  • Anxiety Management: Techniques for alleviating separation anxiety, noise phobias, or stress during travel and events.
  • Aggression Resolution: Addressing fear-based, territorial, or resource-guarding aggression with tailored behavioural plans.
  • Stress Reduction: Helping pets cope with life changes such as moving house, new pets, new babies, or changes in routine.
  • Destructive Behaviour: Solutions for chewing, scratching, digging, and other unwanted behaviours.
  • Multi-Pet Households: Strategies to foster harmony in homes with multiple pets, whether of the same or different species.
  • Fear and Phobia Management: Gradual desensitisation and counter-conditioning for pets afraid of specific triggers, such as unknown environments, bicycles/scooters, new people, thunderstorms and more.

Training

At Riverness Animal Consulting, we focus on positive reinforcement and fear-free techniques to make training a rewarding experience for both you and your pet. We tailor each session to your pet’s specific needs and your goals.

  • Basic Obedience: Training foundational commands such as sit, stay, recall, and leash walking. Perfect for young or untrained pets.
  • Advanced Skills: Developing specialised behaviours for assistance animals, therapy pets, or advanced tricks.
  • Cooperative Care: Teaching pets to willingly participate in grooming, nail trimming, physical exams, vet visits, and other health-related tasks to reduce stress.
  • Problem Solving: Addressing common issues like jumping, leash pulling, house soiling, or excessive vocalisation.
  • Socialisation: Helping pets adapt to new environments, other animals, and unfamiliar people in a calm and confident manner.
  • Specialty Training: Specific skills such as crate training, scent work, or public access preparation for service animals.

Management

We provide holistic advice to improve your pet’s overall wellbeing and ensure a harmonious living environment.

  • Health and Wellbeing: Guidance on routine vet care, vaccinations, parasite prevention, and early detection of health issues.
  • Diet & Nutrition: Tailored feeding plans to meet the dietary needs of your pet, whether they require weight management, allergy support, or life stage-specific diets.
  • Enrichment: Ideas for toys, puzzles, and daily activities that stimulate your pet’s mind and body, reducing boredom and preventing problem behaviours.
  • Enclosure Design & Fitout: Advice on creating safe, comfortable, and engaging spaces for your pet, whether indoors or outdoors.
  • Pets in the Workplace: Tips for introducing pets to office environments, ensuring comfort for both animals and colleagues.
  • Pets at Weddings: Support in training and managing pets to be part of your special day, from walking down the aisle to posing for photos.
  • Pet Travel: Comprehensive advice for local and international travel:
    • Car Travel: Crate training, safe restraint systems, and tips for calm journeys.
    • Train and Public Transport: Preparing pets to travel confidently on buses, trains, or ferries.
    • Air Travel: Navigating airline requirements, crate training, and reducing in-flight stress.
    • Boat Travel: Ensuring your pet’s safety and comfort on watercraft.

What to Expect

  1. Pre-consultation completion of a comprehensive medical and behavioural questionnaire (please allow up to 45 minutes to complete this in your own time). This step is imperative in gathering essential information to ensure the most effective use of consultation time.
  2. Review of questionnaire and any medical notes by behaviourist prior to consultation.
  3. Initial consultation runs for 60-90mins to thoroughly assess your pets behaviour and the management steps currently in place. We will go through training and/or behaviour modification exercises for you to do at home. During this time the pet owner should raise any questions or concerns they have.
  4. Development of a tailored training and management plan. This plan may encompass adjustments to your pet's environment, diet, physical activity, behaviour modification strategies, and specific training exercises.
  5. Once you receive your training and management plan we request you book your follow up consultation
  6. Follow up consultations must occur within 3 month’s of initial consultation.

What's Required of You

Client understanding of the dedication and effort required to effectively address behaviour problems is crucial. Consider the following key aspects:

Diligence:

  Resolving behaviour problems typically demands significant time and effort. Quick solutions are uncommon, and there is no instant fix. Be prepared for active participation on your part.

Commitment:

  A commitment to implementing the changes outlined in the treatment plan is essential. Consistency and follow-through play pivotal roles in achieving success.

Realistic Expectations:

  It's important to recognise that not all behaviour problems can be entirely resolved. Some may necessitate long-term management rather than a complete solution. Your behaviourist will provide practical expectations based on the specific issue.

Continuous Training:

  Training and support for your pet may need to persist throughout their lifetime. Behavioural improvement often involves an ongoing process that requires consistent attention and effort.

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