Behavioural referrals

Taking a canine behavioural history and performing a thorough clinical examination (see our framework for behavioural consultation article) should provide you with a detailed understanding of the problematic behaviour and help you to confirm that there is no underlying medical cause for the behaviour.

At this point, using the information gained from the history and clinical examination, you can decide whether directing the owner to a dog trainer, or referral to a clinical animal behaviourist, is required. 

Dog trainers

Dog trainers teach owners how to train their dogs many useful skills, such as:

• walking nicely on lead
• not jumping up on people
• not begging for food
• settling down quietly when needed. 

We recommend using rewards so it’s always enjoyable and dogs are motivated to engage in learning. Reward-based training methods have also been found to promote positive dog-owner relationships. 

Many dog trainers specialise in different activities, such as agility, obedience, trick-training, and finding missing items or people, whether for competition or just for fun.

These activities can also provide a positive outlet for dogs who will also enjoy using their bodies, brains, and learning with their owners. 

Where to find a dog trainer

Dogs Trust’s Dog School has fun, educational classes that deliver high-quality, welfare-friendly dog training nationwide.

Our knowledgeable coaches offer short courses for puppies, adolescents, rescue dogs and adults, teaching valuable skills that enable dogs and owners to live together happily.

These include walking nicely on lead, coming back when called, settling at quiet times, being polite around people and food, and being handled. Find your nearest dog school.

The CCAB Certification Ltd and The Animal Behaviour and Training Council are regulatory bodies that represents and maintains registers of animal trainers, clinical animal behaviourists (CCAB/CAB) and veterinary behaviourists (veterinary surgeons with an interest in behaviour) fulfilling accreditation criteria and belonging to approved member associations.

Dog behaviourists

Dog behaviourists specialise in emotional problems such as when dogs feel anxious, frightened, or frustrated. Such feelings can result in dangerous behaviour, for example chasing traffic, panicking about noises or when alone or behaving aggressively.

Training alone is unlikely to change things because as well as learning to behave differently, the dog also needs to learn to feel differently.

Behaviourists identify what’s causing the worrying behaviour, and then create tailor-made plans for owners to change the way dogs feel and behave for the better.

It is important that whilst you are arranging a behavioural referral, you have provided the owner with information regarding how to make the situation safe and ways to prevent the problematic behaviour from escalating. Information regarding these points is discussed within the behavioural first aid section.

Where to find a Clinical Animal Behaviourist

Anybody may call themselves a behaviourist, even without qualifications or experience. So it’s worth checking what your behaviourist’s qualifications mean – as well as the types of methods they use. Inappropriate or outdated advice might make matters worse. 

• The CCAB Certification Ltd and The Animal Behaviour and Training Council are regulatory bodies that represents and maintains registers of animal trainers, clinical animal behaviourists (CAB) and veterinary behaviourists (veterinary surgeons with an interest in behaviour) fulfilling accreditation criteria and belonging to approved member associations.

Behaviourists registered with these organisations at the level of Certified or Clinical Animal Behaviourist will hold an approved qualification at degree level or higher. They will also have undertaken an extensive period of supervised training in order to build up a portfolio of casework.

Veterinary surgeons can also go through the ABTC and CCAB accreditation and may do post-graduate qualifications such as RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Companion Animal Behaviour or a residency with the European College of Animal Welfare and Behaviour Medicine. The RCVS maintains lists of both Advanced Practitioners in Companion Animal Behaviour, and Specialists in Behavioural Medicine.

Both CAB/ CCAB and veterinary behaviourists will only see behaviour cases that have been referred to them by a veterinary surgeon, ensuring that any underlying illness, injury, or pain is being treated in conjunction with their behavioural support.  

What happens after your referral?

Using the ABTC and CCAB websites, it is easy to find a Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CAB/CCAB) or a veterinary behaviourist that is near to your practice location. It is likely that your chosen behaviourist will then require you to fill in a referral form.

This will require the client’s details, so it is important to get consent for this to be given in advance. The form may also ask for a summary of the problematic behaviour alongside any relevant medical history. 

Once the referral has been set up and taken place, you, the referring veterinary surgeon, will be informed of the outcome of the consultation and any advice that was given.

Note that only veterinary surgeons can prescribe medications, so if the CAB/CCAB feels behaviour medication might be beneficial this might be discussed with you.

A veterinary behaviourist is able to prescribe medications as they are a qualified veterinary surgeon. They may do this directly or suggest medication is prescribed by you as the referring veterinary surgeon.