Training and Behavioural Support

Our approach is simple and underpins everything we do, our goal is straightforward;– 

Happy Dogs, Happy Owners, Happy Days.

Understanding the causes of unwanted behaviour however, is often far from simple – that is why we have created the Holistic approach to better understand the dog, its owners, its environment and history – as summarised in the diagram above.

Prospective clients are asked to complete a client questionnaire and the initial face to face assessment usually takes 60-90 minutes, but occasionally longer in more complex cases.

D4dog Behavioural Support also subscribes to the University of Pennsylvania C-BARQ program, The C-BARQ survey is designed to provide dog owners and professionals with standardised evaluations of canine temperament and behaviour.

We utilise the C-BARQ surveys for more complex behavioural issues.

https://vetapps.vet.upenn.edu/cbarq/about.cfm – for more information about C-BARQ

Using this we can track your dog’s behavioural changes over time and compare their behaviour with similar dogs by breed, gender and age.

Clients are then receive a written report (1500-3000 words) outlining the assessment, the issues discussed and the proposed approach to resolve the unwanted behaviour.

The report also provides considerable guidance and advice as our goal is to enpower clients to work with their dogs. Training sessions are then planned with the owners as required.

Our fees are variable depending on the nature and complexity of the behavioural issues of your dog.

Aggression and Reactivity Training and Behavioural Modification Support

Initial Assessment & consultation – exploring type of aggression – dog on dog or dog on human, identification of potential triggers for reactivity – Dogs, other animals, Vehicles, Hats, Men, etc.

Completion of behaviour questionnaire, to identify the concerns or issues with the dog, discussion of and agreement of proposed program of holistic training/behaviour modification, 1-2-1 meeting and up to 30 minute walk with dog and owner to observe issues and concerns

Comprehensive holistic behaviour and training report, setting out agreed areas of focus for action, recommendations for owner if environmental factors require change/alteration – £225.00

Bespoke behaviour modification and training session – up to one hour £65.00

Clients can access e-mail/messaging and phone calls for additional support and guidance is free and welcome.

General Training and Behaviour support services

Initial Assessment & consultation – completion of behaviour/training questionnaire, to identify the concerns or issues with the dog, discussion of and agreement of proposed program of holistic training/behaviour modification, 1-2-1 meeting and up to 30 minute walk with dog and owner to observe issues and concerns – for non aggression/reactivity behavioural issues.

Comprehensive holistic behaviour and training report, setting out agreed areas of focus for action, recommendations for owner if environmental factors require change/alteration – £150.00

Training and behaviour sessions – solo with dog -30 – 45 minutes depending on response of dog (this may be reduced depending on dogs capacity and focus – most dogs find intensive training very tiring as it is hard work and highly stimulating – £58.00

Training and behaviour sessions – with owner looking at working successfully with your dog in modifying behaviour/successful training – £58.00

Clients can access e-mail/messaging and phone calls for additional support and guidance is free and welcome.

These prices for D4Dog Training and Behaviour Services are correct from March 2026 for new clients

To date have worked with over 300 different dogs including St Bernards, Cane Corso’s, Bulldogs, English Bull Terriers, Staffie’s, Vizsla’s, German Shepherds, Cockerpoo’s, Jack Russells, Dachshunds and a wide variety of mixed and cross breeds, Rescue dogs from the UK and Overseas, including; Romanian, Cypriot, Greek, Serbian and Macedonian, covering a broad range of issues, from supporting recently rescued dogs settle into their new homes, to reactive dogs, aggressive dogs, territorial dogs, hyper-active dogs and adolescent dogs.

D4dogs are recommended/referred to clients for support for Behavioural issues by a number of local Vet practices in Newton Abbot and Torbay, including Bay Vet Group and Medivet Torquay. Rescues based in Devon and the South West of England, including Foredowne Rehoming, South West GSD Rescue and Euphoria Dog Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Behaviourists including Ruth Owens, as well as our past and current clients.

In 2024 we began working with South West GSD Rescue who use a local kennel to board dogs, if no foster homes are available. Initially we helped by simply walking the dogs, but have expanded that to include assessment, training/behavioural support and follow on support for families that adopt dogs through SWGSD..

Meet Luna – one of the many SWGSD dogs we have helped, who was actually adopted by a regular attendee at our Sunday fundraising and socialising Big Dog Walks – Looking forward to seeing you there Luna with your new family!

Here we have a 3 year old Bully/Staffy cross, who has had various trainers and behaviourist in the past – most advocating a positive punishment approach to controlling her unwanted behaviour and training. We quickly demonstrated that she responds far more quickly to positive reinforcement – reward and equipment such as prong collars are not necessary.

We want to help dogs and owners enjoy each and every day, in order to do that some owners and dogs require more support, this may be as a result of the issues created by the lock down, which limited the opportunities for owners to socialise new puppies and dogs. Rescue dogs whose history may be a little unclear and in some cases perhaps a little traumatic, or as we recover from the pandemic, dogs that have become used to constant human company may need assistance with adopting to extended periods of time alone. 

We did see quite a few dogs who were struggling to adapt to the new post pandemic world, especially as owners are having to spend more time at work and working from home becomes less usual. 

We are also seeing the consequences of dogs that were bred to cash in on the boom in dog ownership triggered by the pandemic, where less attention has been paid to good breeding in the rush to cash in on the opportunities available.

Winston a young Miniature Dachshund – we are working with his owners to help him become habituated to a broad range of experiences, environments and dogs. To help him develop into a well mannered and calm adult dog.

We have particular experience with Rescue dogs from Eastern Europe, including Romanian, Serbia, Greece, Cyprus and Macedonia. These dogs have particular needs and issues which we are able to help owners understand and manage or resolve.

Milo is our own Romanian import, we are his 3rd or 4th owners since he came to the UK. So we are talking from a personal as well as a professional perspective, when discussing dogs with Eastern European origins.

We know that every dog is unique and that every situation and issue is specific to that dog. We adopt an holistic approach to training and behaviour work, seeking to understand the individual dog, their owners, the generic and specific issue(s), the environment and background and the desired outcome or resolution. 

Drawing on the latest developments and research into dogs and their behaviour, including genetics, behavioural psychology and the growing field of Canine Science. We use positive reinforcement, combined with a control and management approach to support owners and their dogs to successfully resolve the concerns they have.

We have been highly successful at resolving a broad range of issues including ‘on lead reactivity’, ‘poor recall’, ‘lack of socialisation – including lockdown dogs’, ‘over arousal’, ‘anxiety & fear related behaviour’ and ‘general aggression’.

We have successfully supported owners to settle rescue dogs into their new families and the owners of new puppies (from 6 weeks – 6 months) to navigate the challenging first few weeks and months.

We work with all different breeds of dog, Giant and Large Breeds, Guardian, Natural, Herding, Sight Hounds, Scent Hounds and Gun Dogs, Companion breeds, World dogs, Bull Breeds and Bull Breeds,

4 very attentive dogs – all looking at the treat! Rex the Doberman – Clients dog, Margo the Cocker Spaniel – Clients dog, Freya our English Mastiff and Sasha our ‘fluffy’ English Mastiff.

Reading List

Keeping up to date with the latest developments in Canine Science is important, as modern science and especially genetics is revealing remarkable insights into dog evolution, behaviour and breeds. Equally it requires a strong grounding in the classic works of Dog Behaviour such as Coppinger, Miller, Serpal, Donaldson and Lindsay.

Meet Your Dog – K Brophey & R Coppinger – Highly recommended, if you want to understand your dog better, in my opinion this is the best book to help you begin to do so.

What Your Dog is Thinking – Dr S Cohen-Hatton & D Wells – Also highly recommended

Fight! – Jean Donaldson

Canine Body Language – B Aloff

The Force Free Dilemma – Nicola Ferguson

Training for Dog Trainers – V Devonport & M Fallon

Dogs Do What Works – V Wieczor-Donoghue & A Prevot

The 100 silliest things people say about dogs – – A Semynora

The Pitbull Placebo – Karen Delise

Unleashed (The Phenomenon of Status and Weapon Dogs) – S Harding

Real World Dog Training – T Williams

Aggression in Dogs – Brenda Aloff

The Culture Clash – J Donaldson

The Other End of The Leash – P McConnell PHD

The Power of Positive Dog Training – P Miller

How Dogs Think – S Coren PHD

How to Speak Dog – S Coren PHD

Decoding Dogs: Inside the Canine Mind – E Furlong

Easy Peasy Doggy Squeezy – S Mann

Don’t Shoot The Dog – K Pryor

The Domestic Dog – J Serpell et al

Dogs – R&L Coppinger

Handbook Of Applied Dog Behaviour & Training – S Lindsay

Dog Bites – D Mills & C Westgarth ed

The Genius of Dogs – B Hare & D Woods