If your dog has a behaviour problem, the right first call depends on what’s behind it. See your vet first if pain or illness could be involved. A veterinary behaviourist is a vet who can diagnose and treat the mental health conditions that sit behind some complex behaviour problems. A dog trainer or behaviour consultant teaches you and your dog the practical, day-to-day work.
The titles overlap, which is where most of the confusion comes from. This guide is written for owners in Melbourne’s east, but the questions to ask work wherever you live.
Key Takeaways
– See your vet first if pain or illness could be part of the problem.
– Veterinary behaviourists are vets who can diagnose and treat mental health disorders behind complex behaviour problems.
– Trainers and behaviour consultants teach you and your dog the practical work.
– Before booking, ask how they assess, what the plan looks like and how they work with your vet.
– Be wary of promises of overnight results.
What’s the difference between a vet, a veterinary behaviourist, a dog trainer and a behaviour consultant?
Each of these people answers a different question about your dog, and the titles don’t always make that obvious.
Your regular vet
Your vet is the person to check whether pain, illness or another health problem could be driving a change in behaviour. RSPCA Australia lists pain aggression, “usually in response to being manipulated or an aversive event”, among the forms of aggression recognised in dogs (RSPCA Australia). A dog that snaps when it’s touched may need a health check before it needs a training plan.
A veterinary behaviourist
A veterinary behaviourist, sometimes called a behaviour veterinarian, is a qualified vet with a particular focus on animal behaviour. The Veterinary Behaviour Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists describes its members as vets with “a specific interest and high level of expertise in the field of animal behaviour and veterinary behavioural medicine” (ANZCVS).
The college says behaviour vets are “able to diagnose and formulate a treatment plan for animals who suffer from mental health disorders.” It lists “maladaptive fears and anxiety, reactivity, aggression and obsessive-compulsive behaviour” as more complex problems that can have that kind of underlying cause, and says these problems “can reflect an underlying medical diagnosis that needs appropriate management and treatment.” If medication is ever part of the conversation, that’s a decision for a vet, not a trainer.
The college also says its members “give advice about animal behaviour to media, dog trainers, veterinarians” and other groups. So these roles can work side by side.
A dog trainer
A dog trainer usually teaches skills: manners, lead walking, recall, puppy foundations and the everyday habits that make a dog easier to live with. Some trainers also take on behaviour problems such as fear, reactivity or aggression. Backgrounds and courses vary, so the title alone tells you little. Ask what they’ve studied and what experience they have with problems like your dog’s.
A behaviour consultant
A behaviour consultant (you may also see “canine behaviour specialist” or “dog behaviourist”) focuses on problem behaviour rather than basic obedience. They look at why your dog is doing something, build a plan and coach you through it. Unless they’re also a vet, health questions and any medication belong with your vet, and a good consultant will say so.
Where Canine Services International fits
Canine Services International (CSI) offers dog training and dog behaviour help in Boronia, Melbourne’s east. It’s led by Brad Griggs, canine behaviour specialist, and works with anxious, reactive and aggressive dogs, and with everyday puppies and pet dogs too. Training is offered at an indoor facility, one-on-one, in small groups and online. You can see the full range of services here.
Who should you call first for a dog behaviour problem?
Call your vet first if there’s any chance health is involved: a sudden change in behaviour, signs of pain, snapping when handled, or a dog that seems unwell. For aggression, RSPCA Australia says: “We highly recommend that you consult your veterinarian who can help you or can refer you to a veterinary behavioural specialist for assessment and treatment” (RSPCA Australia).
After that, the right next step depends on the problem:
- Your vet: sudden changes, possible pain or illness, and any question about medication.
- A veterinary behaviourist: when your vet suspects anxiety or another mental health condition, or for complex fear, aggression or compulsive behaviour. Your vet can refer you.
- A dog trainer: manners, puppy foundations, lead walking and recall, once health isn’t a concern.
- A behaviour consultant: fear, reactivity, aggression or distress when your dog is left alone, once your vet has checked the health side, or alongside a vet’s treatment plan.
If your dog growls at visitors, you may need more than one of these people, in order. A vet can rule out health causes, a behaviour vet can diagnose and treat where that’s needed, and a trainer or consultant can help you do the daily work at home and on walks. If aggression is your main worry, our guide to dog aggression training and what actually helps goes into more detail.
What should you ask a dog trainer or behaviourist before booking?
Ask how they’d handle your dog’s particular problem, from the first assessment to what happens if progress stalls. Clear, specific answers are a good sign. Vague ones are worth noticing.
- What experience do you have with this problem? Reactivity, aggression, separation distress and puppy manners are different jobs. Ask about problems like yours, not dogs in general.
- How do you assess a dog? You want to know what they’ll look at before they recommend anything. RSPCA Australia notes that with aggression, “it is critical to diagnose the type of aggression and its ‘triggers’” (RSPCA Australia). An assessment should be about your dog, not a template.
- What does a plan look like? Ask what you’ll work on first, how you’ll know it’s helping, and what you’ll do between sessions.
- How do you involve me? Your dog lives with you, not the trainer. Ask how they’ll teach you to carry on the work once the session ends.
- How do you work with my vet? A trainer or consultant should be comfortable with a vet check, and willing to share notes or work alongside a vet’s plan.
- What equipment do you use, and why? Any professional should be able to explain what they use, why they’d use it for your dog, how it’s fitted, and what the plan is for it over time.
- What happens if progress stalls? Ask how they’ll review the plan, what they’ll change, and when they’d suggest bringing in your vet or a veterinary behaviourist.
Red flags to watch for
Some answers should make you pause before you book:
- A promise of guaranteed results, or of an overnight fix.
- A plan handed over before anyone has assessed your dog.
- Brushing off a vet check when health could be involved.
- No clear explanation of why they use a piece of equipment.
- Doing the work for you without teaching you how to keep going.
- No answer about what happens if things don’t improve.
Behaviour change takes work from you as well as the professional. CSI puts it this way: “No magic equipment. No overnight fix. We teach you the work and how to keep applying it.” Whoever you choose, that’s a fair standard to hold them to.
Does location and format matter when choosing help?
Yes. The setting affects what your dog can cope with while it’s learning, and how easily you can keep the work going at home. If you’ve been searching for a dog behaviourist near you, think about format as well as distance.
- Indoor facility: a controlled space, out of the weather, where distractions can be added gradually. It can help dogs that struggle in busy outdoor places.
- One-on-one: the session is built around your dog and your problem, which suits fear, reactivity and aggression.
- Small groups: useful for practising around other dogs and people once your dog is ready for it.
- In-home: helpful when the problem happens at home, such as visitors at the door or trouble being left alone.
- Online: coaching from your own lounge room, check-ins between sessions, and a chance to review video of what happens while you’re out.
CSI works from an indoor facility in Boronia and offers one-on-one sessions, small groups and online sessions. You can see the training facility before you visit. If you’d like someone to come to your home, ask whether that’s available in your suburb when you get in touch.
When should you get professional help?
Get help when a behaviour is hurting your dog’s quality of life, putting people or other animals at risk, or getting worse despite your efforts. RSPCA Australia notes that “aggression can be caused by underlying fear and anxiety”, so growling or snapping is worth taking seriously rather than waiting out.
Signs it’s time to call someone:
- Growling, snapping, lunging or biting.
- Fear that stops your dog coping with walks, visitors or car trips.
- Distress when your dog is left alone.
- Reactivity that’s getting bigger or happening more often.
- You feel stuck, worried or unsafe.
Start with your vet if health could be part of it, especially if the change was sudden or your dog seems sore. If a person has been bitten, they should see a doctor.
If you’re in Melbourne’s east, Canine Services International is in Boronia. In its own words: “Most problems are not solved by suppressing them. We build the dog underneath, so it can feel and act differently.” You can book a call to talk about your dog or phone 0483 983 647 to work out which kind of help fits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a canine behaviourist?
A canine behaviourist is someone who focuses on why dogs behave as they do and how to change problem behaviour. The title is used in different ways. A veterinary behaviourist is a vet who can diagnose and treat behaviour problems linked to mental health disorders, while a behaviour consultant assesses your dog and coaches you through a plan.
Are dog trainers worth the money?
A trainer can be worth it when they match your dog’s problem, assess before they plan, and teach you how to keep the work going between sessions. The value lies in what you can do afterwards. Before you pay, ask what the plan looks like, what follow-up is included and what happens if progress stalls.
What qualifications do you need to become a dog trainer?
Backgrounds vary, so the useful question for an owner is what qualifications and experience a particular trainer has, and how they relate to your dog’s problem. Ask what they’ve studied, how they keep learning and whether they work with vets. Veterinary behaviourists are vets, and their Australian and New Zealand college runs an examination process that recognises further study in animal behaviour.
Should I see a vet before a dog trainer?
Yes, if there’s any chance pain or illness is involved. RSPCA Australia recommends that owners of aggressive dogs consult their vet, who can help or refer them to a veterinary behavioural specialist. Once health causes have been checked, a trainer or behaviour consultant can work on the behaviour with you, alongside any plan your vet sets.