Last updated 14:41, Monday, 27 October 2008

Bonfire night is nearly upon us and for pet owners it can be a difficult time of year as fireworks can cause fear and anxiety in their pets.

Animal behaviourist David Ryan with Katie

Yet for animal behaviourist David Ryan they are just one cause of a whole range of animal behavioural problems he regularly deals with.

David is certified as a clinical animal behaviourist by the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour, one of only 15 with the qualification in the country, and it is his job to get to the root of the problems.

A former police dog handler and Home Office accredited instructor for 26 years, David retired from the police in 2007 but since then he has been busy with animal behaviour cases and puppy training.

He completed a post-graduate diploma in companion animal behaviour counselling at Southampton University in 2002.

“Friends started asking me about problems they were having with their dogs,” he said. “I started to sit down with them and work out proper solutions.

“There are no simple answers – it is a complex process.”

David, 52, decided he wanted to specialise in this field, becoming a full member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors.

Dogs are referred to him by vets and he has worked as an animal behaviourist in Carlisle, Penrith, Kendal, Liverpool, the North East and south west Scotland.

Aggression and phobia are two of the most common problems David sees in dogs.

He uses the example of a dog that barks when the postman comes to the door.

He said: “The dog should be taken to the vet to make sure that there are no medical conditions that may be affecting its behaviour.”

If nothing is found, the vet will refer the dog to David.

He will first talk through the problem with the owner on the phone and then go out to the home, observe the dog and ask the owner questions about it.

David, who lives at Linstock near Carlisle, said: “Genetics are important – I need to know what kind of dog it is, the dog’s history, look at its breed characteristics and individual characteristics, find out whether it is a pedigree dog and look at its early upbringing such as whether it is a rescue dog or was born in a puppy farm.

“There may be a specific incident that has caused the problem.

“It is a complex process, no two dogs are going to be the same.”

David will then create a behaviour modification programme tailored to the individual dog and owner.

“I have to help the owner understand what has caused the problem and what is going on in the dog’s mind,” he said.

“I also have to look at factors that maintain the problem.

“When the postman comes to the door the dog barks and then the postman goes away so the dog thinks it has been successful.

“I would look at realigning the behaviour and putting the control of the situation in the owner’s hands by perhaps moving the post box to the top of the drive.”

Although David mainly works with dogs, he can also work with other animals, including cats and gerbils.

The effect of fireworks on pet behaviour is the focus of a campaign by the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors.

Pets can suffer fear and anxiety and David has been working on behalf of the APBC with CEVA Animal Health advising veterinary surgeons and owners.

David said: “It is not just the noise of fireworks that can cause anxiety in dogs.

“If you take them for a walk they can smell the fireworks in the air.

“Dogs like to go to a hiding place, usually their bed, but they can still hear the vibrations from the fireworks on the floor so you should cushion the bed for them.”

Television programmes such as Dog Borstal have gone some way to bring the issue of dealing with problems with pets to the public’s attention.

David said: “I think people are becoming more aware that there is something they can do but these types of programme don’t really show what goes on in between.

“They suggest that there are quick fix solutions but problems can’t be solved in just half an hour.”

He is keen to point out that owners shouldn’t feel embarrassed if they can’t control their dog.

“Life doesn’t equip you with the skills needed to deal with these types of problems but people still get upset,” he said.

“They are relieved when I tell them it is not their fault and that something can be done about it. People like to try things they have seen on the television but often their problems are a combination of things.”

David has worked with a wide range of dog breeds.

“Problems can occur in all breeds,” he said. “You can improve most dogs but you do have to be realistic.”

He runs six-week puppy classes throughout the year in Penrith and Brampton for all breeds of dog.

He said: “Owner education is very important and it is crucial to build up the relationship between the owner and the dog. A dog needs to relate to its owner.

“Taking a puppy to a class will help the socialising process as well.”

Teaching puppies to sit down when requested and getting them to stop pulling on the lead are covered in the classes.

The profession of being an animal or dog behaviourist is not regulated, which means that anyone can set up as a canine behaviourist, something that causes concern among practitioners.

David said: “If you are going to an animal behaviourist or to puppy classes you should make sure they are run by people with professional qualifications.

“Being an animal behaviourist is a science.

“I don’t like phrases such as ‘dog whisperer’ because it suggests there is a sense of magic about what I do.”

David doesn’t just work with dogs referred by vets.

As a certified clinical animal behaviourist he also works as an expert legal witness in canine behaviour and spreads clinical expertise through workshops and seminars. He has lectured at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and Wood Green Animal Shelter.

He said: “These are all good opportunities to get together with others.

“There is always something new that you can learn. I always look for new avenues to get more knowledge.”