What’s the Difference between a
Dog Trainer and a Dog Behaviourist...
In simple terms, a Trainer teaches actions and tricks, and the success of this training largely depends upon the state of mind of the dog.
Sometimes Dog Training can be very hard and takes a lot longer than the owner wants or expects and, in my experience, this is because the dog is not in the right “state of mind”. Once we fix the state of mind, then we can start or re-start the training. It’s a bit like asking a child with ADHD to sit still! Until their mind is quiet and they are comfortable, their world seems out of control.
I see many dogs who live in fear and are stressed every day, and their owners have no idea what is really going on in their world, it can be so sad…
A behaviourist works to improve the behaviour by improving the state of mind, solving problems through understanding and working with the underlying causes.
Much of the skills, techniques and knowledge that a behaviourist has can’t be taught in colleges, universities and online courses because there are thousands of different types of problems, thousands of different scenarios and more importantly thousands of different types of OWNERS! Experience is essential.
A good trainer will have some knowledge of behaviour work and science. A good behaviourist will have some knowledge and practical experience of dog training.
As a dog ‘Behaviourist’, I am a self-claimed dog lover, person lover, a shrink, a trainer, a listener, a motivator, a problem-solver, a supporter, a non-judger and a friend to help both you and your dog.
If you want to have a chat to see if I can help you and your dog, then get in touch today.
How can you work with a dog online ?
I get asked all the time, how can I work with you and your dog without even going to your house?
To start with we are dealing with changing emotions that drive the behaviour, not training as such. In 90% of the thousands of dogs I have had success with I’m actually training the OWNERS and, not the dog. It’s a bit like parenting.
"At first we were hesitant to do an online consultation as we were not convinced it would be entirely effective without the behaviourist meeting the dog in question. We are ecstatic to say we were so very wrong.
Theo first explained the structure of the meeting and spent time understanding our situation as well as our home set up and routines with our puppy. From there she gave us a far greater understanding of our puppy as well as a clear plan to move forward. She was very easy to talk to and reassured us whilst identifying anywhere where we could improve our own behaviour and training. Her knowledge is fantastic and even without meeting our pup in person she was able to give us so much advice, tips and tricks. The meeting was recorded for us which has come in very handy as Theo used every second of the allotted hour to help us beyond even the original issue we contacted her for. It means we can re-watch our meeting at any time for portions of advice we may have forgotten as there was so much to take in in just one hour. Following on from our consultation, Theo has kept in contact for follow up support and we know she is only a message away should we need her. We had one simple online consultation and the improvements have been wonderful for both us and our puppy. We absolutely would not hesitate to use Theo again for any advice we might need.” (D & C Coles) “At first we were hesitant to do an online consultation as we were not convinced it would be entirely effective without the behaviourist meeting the dog in question. We are ecstatic to say we were so very wrong.
Bad advice
This is the story of Sprocker pup Pete.
Bad advice had made things a lot worse. He had the young lady in tears. Have you been following bad advice?
Traumatised by thunder
This is the story of Beagle Jessie.
Jessie was so scared of bangs that she wouldn’t walk.
Over One Thousand Case Stories
Why does Bella panic when the lady coughs, and how can they gently desensitise her to the sound? Bella is a little Bolognaise, a small dog of the Bichon type, nine years of age. She is, in every way apart from the one, happy and confident. She is treasured. Panic
Some kind of trauma has overwhelmed Pablo. Suddenly he changed. Three days previously he had spent a week in boarding kennels. Thinking back they had assumed, as had I originally, that this was the cause. He had been a happy dog. A good eater and sleeper. He had no guarding
Why was Sabre becoming obsessed with chasing and barking for attention? Be his ‘chasing supplier’ no more. The young couple has a beautiful Border Collie pup called Sabre, five-and-a-half months old. He greeted me outside the house, pulling hard to get to me. Most of the time I was with
Why had Ziggy and Buddy’s fighting suddenly escalated? Common denominators: Food or a chew has been involved. Ziggy may have been on the stairs up ahead of Buddy (they live in a town house with the living room upstairs). Ziggy was already aroused in some way. Buddy has always been
Sadly, for both him and the couple who love him dearly, too many things in daily life scare him. They would like to be able to include him in all they do without scaring him.
Poor Floyd. Also – poor couple he lives with. They feel trapped at home with him and can’t go out without worrying about him.
Floyd suckles a toy
They can’t take him with them with them and they can’t leave him at home
Who is Theo Stewart - Dog Behaviourist?
Over the past eighteen years I have been to thousand of dogs and hundreds of different houses. I have met so many wonderful people, people who love their dogs and want to do the best for them.
More recently, I have included online consultations. They have proved so successful that with all my in-person visits, I start off with an online session.
My love for dogs started many years ago with a Rottweiler called Merlin and Magic, a German Shepherd. Back then, it was all about harsh dog training and ‘correcting’ the dog in order to force it to ‘obey’. Commands were sergeant major-style orders.
How different things are today. With all my subsequent learning and experience, I have proved beyond possible doubt that kind, positive, and force-free methods not only work best, but they ensure we feel comfortable on our relationship with our dog.
I am down to four dogs now. I can’t imagine a life without dogs.
ISCP. International School for Canine Psychology and Behaviour
IMDT. Institute of Modern Dog Trainers
VSPDT. Victoria Stilwell Positive Dog Trainer
PPG. Pet Professional Guild
CCB. Certified Canine Behaviourist. INTODogs
My Dog Behaviour CV
- As an older person. Experience & Empathy from a whole kaleidoscope of life’s ups and downs.
- As a School Teacher. Motivation, Encouragement – and boundaries.
- As a musician. Repetitive practice until I have something note perfect. Persistence and patience.
- As a mother of five children. Insight into ‘parenting’ puppies and dogs.
- As a businesswoman. I have set up and run three businesses. ‘Theo Stewart – Dog Behaviourist’ is a business involving marketing, insurance, accounts, tax, equipment, transport, internet costs, web site and much more.
- As the holder of meetings. A skilled carried over into family dog consultations, in person, or online.
- As owner of an introduction agency (before the days of internet dating). Interviewing people whilst putting them at ease; finding out all about them as I now with dogs.
- As a dog owner. Multiple dogs over 45 years.
- As a member of INTODogs and UK Behaviour and Training Charter, IMDT, VSPDT, graduate of ISCP (International School for Canine Psychology and Behaviour), PPG, Dog Welfare Alliance. Using positive methods backed by Science. Accountable.
- As a ‘crossover’. I followed outdated dominance methods before educating myself.
What Sets Me Apart?
RESPONSIVE
I restrict the number of “active” clients (at any one time) to ensure I am able to see new cases very promptly if necessary. Rather than taking on “lots of clients”, I manage my time so I am able to give sufficient time to everyone on my list
QUALITY
I offer different levels of support including: Home Consultation with either six weeks or ten days support along with a detailed plan and aftercare, distance support using video conferencing, and a dedicated Facebook Group to help support local people with Fearful Dogs
Email: theo@dogidog.co.uk
Mobile :+44 7734 830424
CONTACT FORM
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