Recommend a behaviourist in Cork please.

Kattra · 24-09-2011 4:43pm #1

Hi,
doesn`t want to open a new topic, so I just reopened this.

Can somebody recommend a good dog behaviourist in Cork City or the surrounding area who does home visits? Seems like the dog issues of my rescue are more severe and much more pressing then i thought.

I just came from a walk and am still shaking. My retriever attacked a small westie today and it was a fight to get im off the poor small guy. We were lucky the westie wasn`t hurt physically (and the dog owner concerned but understanding).

Of course I immediately got him a muzzle and changed the Flexy to a normal leash.

I want to tackle the issue as fast as possible now with professional help. I`ve read here people mentioned the cork dog listener and Bev Truss as an option. Any experience with the Dog Listener? Bev seems to be highly recommended but i don`t know if she is still doing home consultations so far away.

Thanks in advance!

Latatian · 25-09-2011 11:04am

Maybe she could try bringing him for walks when there's no other dogs around? I find early in the morning tends to be a good time, or along by canals.

If the dog doesn't like socializing with strange dogs, that's fine- making him confront them will probably not help, and will stress everyone out. If you know someone who has an unflappable, submissive, playful dog you might be able to introduce them in a controlled way in a neutral environment (not on either dog's territory)? Or practice walking him when he can see other dogs but they're far away enough that they're not a threat, and distract him?

I find that a confident manner, keeping myself between the other dog and my dog, and in extreme cases picking the dog up and walking away, works well enough provided you walk at less-crowded times and places. A terrier does need walks, and they enjoy them so much.