
Reactivity, aggression, anxiety or other challenging behaviours?
Let's explore what's happening, what might be contributing and how best to move forward.
Individual behaviour assessments, tailored to your dog. No quick fixes or empty promises.

Perhaps your dog barks and lunges at other dogs, struggles with visitors, reacts aggressively in certain situations or becomes distressed when left alone.
Behavioural difficulties can have several contributing factors, and what looks similar on the surface doesn't always have the same explanation.
Understanding your individual dog is where we begin.

Behavioural difficulties don't always fit neatly into categories, and some dogs experience several challenges at once.
Areas we can explore include:
Every enquiry is considered individually, and I'll be clear if your dog would benefit from veterinary input or support from another specialist.
Every behaviour case begins with a detailed assessment. Before recommending training or behaviour modification, I want to understand your dog, their history and the circumstances surrounding the difficulties you're experiencing.
Our 90-minute virtual consultation gives us time to explore possible contributing factors, discuss immediate management and establish appropriate next steps.
Your assessment includes:
Further support is arranged individually where appropriate. There are no predetermined programmes or guaranteed outcomes.

Every dog has different strengths, challenges and priorities. We'll focus on the practical skills that matter most to you, building reliable training that works at home, on walks and in everyday life.
Behavioural difficulties can have several contributing factors, and what looks like the same problem in two dogs may require very different approaches. The assessment helps me understand your dog's individual circumstances before recommending appropriate support.
I review every enquiry personally to establish whether I'm the right professional to help. Some cases may require veterinary involvement or a different specialist. I'd rather be upfront about that than accept a booking that isn't appropriate for you or your dog.
Yes. Much of an initial behaviour assessment involves exploring your dog's history, the situations in which behaviours occur and what happens before and afterwards. Existing video footage can also be useful where appropriate. If in-person observation would be beneficial, we can discuss that separately.
The assessment is a starting point, not a promise of an immediate solution. You'll receive initial recommendations and guidance on appropriate next steps. Behaviour modification often requires ongoing work, and progress varies between individual dogs and circumstances.
You'll receive a written summary of our findings, initial recommendations and suggested next steps. Where appropriate, we can discuss further training or behaviour support tailored to your dog. Any additional work is arranged and priced separately.
No. German Shepherds and Malinois are particular areas of interest, and I especially enjoy working with high-energy, high-drive and powerful breeds. However, I welcome enquiries about other breeds too. Every dog is considered individually.
The Balanced Shepherd
105 Lynwood Avenue, Darwen, BB3 0HZ, UK