Problem Pet Solutions

21/04/2026

Puppy Classes are back at The Barn, Withdean, Brighton! Our 4-week course starts From 27th April 2026 at 5pm — perfect for socialisation, basic training and building a confident pup.

Puppy classes, maximum of 4 puppies per class for individual care.

4 week course focusing on building a secure bond and training with your puppy.
We will cover: walking nicely, coming back when called, polite greeting behaviour, thoughtful and positive socialisation, teaching calm settled behaviour, comfortable with handling and grooming, preventing behaviour problems and much more.

For puppies over 9 weeks, upper age of 14 weeks, must have had 1st vaccine and proof needed before classes begin.

£60 payable upfront to secure your booking, contact to register interest.
Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot today.

23/03/2026

Sociable eating in pets—more formally described as social facilitation of feeding—is a well-documented behaviour in companion animals. It refers specifically to individuals who prefer to eat in the presence of a trusted companion, often their human, and should not be confused with those who will only eat if a companion is present and refuse food unless this need is met. Neither would social feeding be recommended, where food guarding behaviours, which are driven by anxiety and competition rather than comfort and social bonding.

Take, for example, my cat Dougal. Dougal does not simply ‘eat breakfast’; Dougal requests very loudly that he needs company to eat in the morning. Preferably on the sofa, beside me, as though we are sharing a civilised breakfast before the day gets going. If his food is presented in the kitchen, it is met with polite but loud rejection. Relocated to the sofa, immediate acceptance. From a scientific perspective, Dougal is demonstrating classic socially facilitated feeding—though he would likely argue it is just good morning social behaviour, having kept watch on the garden overnight. And as 18.5 years old diabetic cat, I am happy to facilitate. Interestingly lunch and dinner are taken on the floor and grazed upon.

This behaviour has roots in evolutionary biology. Eating in the presence of a trusted individual can signal safety, reducing vigilance and stress. In domestic environments, humans often become the primary social partners, so their presence provides reassurance. This effect is particularly evident in older animals. Geriatric pets commonly experience reduced appetite due to sensory decline or underlying disease, and the simple act of sitting with them, or hand feeding in some cases, or in Dougal’s case, hosting them on the sofa, can significantly improve food intake.

In veterinary practice, this principle is often applied deliberately. Veterinary nurses frequently support inappetent or recovering patients by offering food in a calm, low-stress environment, sometimes sitting with them or hand-feeding. These interactions are not merely kind gestures; they are clinically valuable.

Encouraging voluntary feeding supports convalescence by promoting energy intake, immune function, and tissue repair.
So, while Dougal’s sofa breakfasts may appear indulgent, they reflect a broader, evidence-based concept: for some animals, companionship is not just comforting—it is an essential part of eating well.

My wonderful colleague Shelley who is on the team now, also fulfilled this role last year when I was away and I am happy to say that she is now able to offer my clients cat feeding services in the Worthing area. I trust her implicitly with Dougal and highly recommend her, get in touch with me if you need details.



https://www.problempetsolutions.co.uk/single-post/breakfast-for-two

24/02/2026

Amy and I, were invited to Plumpton College today to talk about routes into animal related careers. We discussed how to become a clinical animal behaviourist and what this encompasses. We would be happy to do this more and extend talks to any groups that might be interested learning about animal behaviour and working within the industry 🙂.

18/02/2026

Turo’s story highlights a critical message for dog owners and professionals alike: when behaviour changes are sudden, severe, and accompanied by aggression, veterinary referral is not optional – it is essential. This is particularly true when medical, hormonal, and emotional factors overlap, and when behavioural intervention alone has not led to meaningful or lasting improvement.

Meet Turo

Turo is a much-loved dog, collected from a breeder 14 weeks of age. From the outset, she showed signs of sensitivity. Within the litter, she was quieter and less interactive, often being clambered over by other puppies. Despite this, she quickly formed a strong bond with her guardian.

In early life, Turo’s behaviour was manageable:

She attended puppy classes, initially struggling with other dogs but gradually gaining confidence.

She learned to socialise and play appropriately.

She enjoyed meeting people and regularly accompanied her guardian to work in a busy volunteer-based environment, where she interacted calmly with many individuals.

At this stage, there were no apparent flags suggesting future aggression.

The Turning Point: Hormones and Behavioural Change

Everything changed when Turo reached sexual maturity.

Her first season was extremely difficult for her. She appeared depressed, physically uncomfortable, and required pain relief. Following this, she experienced a pseudopregnancy, and it was during this period that her behaviour deteriorated dramatically.

Although the overt physical signs of the pseudopregnancy resolved and Turo was subsequently neutered, her emotional state did not recover. Instead, she became:

Chronically anxious

Easily angered

Hyper-vigilant

Increasingly aggressive in situations that had previously been safe and familiar

From this point onwards, Turo was no longer the dog she had been.

Current Presentation: Severe Reactivity and Aggression

Turo now displays high-risk behaviours, including:

Aggression towards people, particularly those approaching her guardian or the home

Barking, lunging, jumping up, and attempting to bite

The need for muzzle use, due to bite risk

Occasional aggressive reactions even towards people she knows

Reactivity towards some dogs

Her behaviour has also generalised into separation anxiety:

Previously able to be left for hours, she now panics when her guardian leaves

Tolerance is limited to around 10 minutes, and even this is inconsistent

Car-based separation (e.g. popping into a shop) is equally challenging

Despite working with trainers, progress has been short-lived and management-heavy, with no long-term resolution.

Why Training Alone Was Not Enough

This case is a clear example of why behaviour cases should not be managed in isolation from veterinary input.

Turo had previously been seen by an influencer type trainer, you know the type, claims a no BS approach, slip lead in hand, and to the untrained eye the occasional shock collar oh and that they need to feed a raw diet. I sigh! And the complete opposite to me. They attempted to address her behaviour without first ensuring:

A full medical investigation

Consideration of hormonal and pain-related contributors

Collaboration with a vet experienced in behavioural medicine

When aggression is sudden, intense, and out of character, it is a red flag for an underlying medical or neurochemical component. Without addressing this, training plans are often destined to fail – or worse, escalate risk.

Understanding the Contributing Factors

Turo’s behaviour is best explained by multiple interacting influences, rather than a single cause.

1. Genetics and Breed Traits

Turo comes from a small gene pool, I am purposefully not naming the breed

2. Learning and Emotional Processing

Turo is highly intelligent and when calm, she learns quickly and engages well.

However, when anxious or angry:

She becomes emotionally stuck

Cognitive processing shuts down

Behaviour cannot be modified in that moment

This results in a reliance on strict management (distance, muzzles, avoidance). Unfortunately, well-meaning members of the public frequently ignore requests for space, approaching her because she ‘looks friendly’. Each aggressive display successfully repels the person, reinforcing the behaviour.

Turo is also chronically hyper-vigilant, rarely fully decompressing. Notably, one of the only times she achieves deep daytime sleep is after a significant aggressive outburst – highlighting how overloaded her nervous system is.

3. Medical and Hormonal Factors

This is where veterinary referral becomes critical.

Turo’s behavioural decline closely followed:

Her first season

A significant pseudopregnancy

Neutering shortly after

This raises concern for a persistent pseudopregnancy state, something that is under-recognised becoming more documented. In similar cases, repeat hormonal treatment can lead to rapid improvement.

Additionally:

Turo experiences hip pain due to joint capsule misalignment

She is on pain relief and undergoing physiotherapy

Pain alone can significantly reduce tolerance and increase irritability, especially in already anxious dogs.

The Importance of Veterinary Collaboration

Turo’s vet has been open to a structured medical trial, including:

Reviewing current medication effectiveness, including treating pseudopregnancy

Reviewing pain relief

Consider the use of anxiolytic medication

This collaborative approach is essential. Medication does not mask behaviour – it can lower the emotional intensity enough for learning and behaviour modification to become possible.

Key Takeaways from Turo’s Case

Sudden aggression following hormonal events should always prompt veterinary investigation

Pain and hormone imbalance can dramatically alter behaviour

Behaviour modification cannot succeed when a dog is chronically anxious, painful, or hormonally dysregulated

Collaborative, multi-disciplinary care offers the best chance for improvement

Final Thoughts

Turo is not a bad dog and this was no due to the guardian being lazy, letting her get away with it. She is a sensitive, intelligent dog whose nervous system has been overwhelmed by a combination of genetics, hormones, pain, and stress.

We are now 6 months on, Turo has made some really huge progress, currently we have a slight relapse, as this is behaviour and not training after all and we do not reside in the world of quick fixes . The current thought is that pseudopregnancy behavioural symptoms can flare at the same time each year. We suspect this might be the case but again collaborative work with her vet is ongoing.

Her case is a powerful reminder that complex behaviour requires complex thinking – and that veterinary referral is not a last resort, but a cornerstone of ethical and effective behaviour support.

Turo’s story highlights a critical message for dog owners and professionals alike: when behaviour changes are sudden, severe, and accompanied by aggression, veterinary referral is not optional – it is essential. This is particularly true when medical, hormonal, and emotional factors overlap, and...

28/01/2026

Why ‘Electric Shock Collars’ are bad for dogs, cats, and the humans who love them.

There are few things more unsettling than watching a dog yelp, freeze mid-stride, eyes wide, tail low, after receiving an electric shock from a collar that was meant to 'train' them. Yet these devices are still marketed as e-collars—a softer, tech-friendly euphemism that disguises what they really are: remote-controlled electrocution devices.

If that sounds dramatic, it’s worth asking ourselves a simple question: If a product relies on pain, fear, or startle to suppress behaviour, is it truly training—or just coercion? And why are they being marketed as acceptable to use on our animal ‘best friend’.

My understanding is that this type of device maybe used as instruments of torture in gangs, some warfare hideousness, or for the more risqué individuals out there, who knows, that’s a lifestyle choice!

Increasingly, science, ethics, and lived experience all point to the same conclusion: electric shock collars are harmful, ineffective for long-term behaviour change, and damaging to the human–animal bond. They have no place in modern animal welfare, and it’s time England followed the growing number of countries that have banned them outright.

Suppression, not learning, shock collars do not teach animals what to do. They teach animals what not to do and only in the narrowest, most fragile sense.

From a behavioural science perspective, electric shock collars work through positive punishment (adding something aversive to reduce a behaviour). The problem, suppressing behaviour does not resolve the underlying emotional state driving it.

A dog that stops barking because barking causes pain has not learned calmness.

A dog that stops lunging because lunging triggers a shock has not learned safety.

A cat that stops climbing the fence because approaching it causes pain has not become more bonded to the home.

They have learnt one thing only, the world is unpredictable and unsafe. When behaviour is ‘shut down’ through fear, the emotional pressure does not disappear, it builds, this is where these devices become dangerous.

Shut-down dogs or cats are not ‘good or reliable’.

One of the most troubling side effects of electric shock collars is behavioural shutdown. Dogs or cats may appear obedient, quiet, or fixed, internally they are stressed, hyper-vigilant, and disconnected.

A shut-down animal may:

Stop offering behaviours altogether

Avoid interaction with their human

Show learned helplessness

Suddenly explode into aggression without warning

This is how bites come out of nowhere and how dogs go from fine to unpredictable. This is the moment when I have been asked to help for many clients who were coerced to using this devices. Most of these clients felt incredibly guilty and uncomfortable about using them.

Devices like this remove warning signs ‘growling, barking, retreating’ electric shock collars make animals more dangerous, not less. You do not get rid of the problem; you remove the early warning system.

Congratulations, your dog no longer growls, now they bite!

Fear and pain erode trust and trust is everything. Animals learn best through safety, consistency, and trust. Electric shock collars undermine all three. When pain comes from a human or from an object the human put on their body the bond suffers.

Dogs and cats may not logically understand why the shock happened, but they absolutely form emotional associations.

The park becomes scary

Other dogs become predictors of pain

The owner becomes unsafe

Studies link aversive training methods with:

Increased anxiety

Heightened aggression

Reduced problem-solving ability

Avoidance of handlers

Real behaviour change comes from engagement, not intimidation. Animals learn faster and retain skills longer when they feel secure enough to try, fail, and try again. You can not build a good relationship on a do this or else approach!

E-Collar: The soft language of a hard reality

Calling a shock collar an e-collar is a marketing trick—plain and simple.

It’s designed to:

Sound modern

Sound harmless

Sound similar to a regular collar or harness

But let’s be honest, if a device delivers an electric shock to an animal’s neck to cause pain or startle, it is an electrocution device. Words matter because they shape what we tolerate and this rebranding has allowed outdated, harmful practices to masquerade as progress.

Real behaviour change comes from relationship, not coercive control. Long-lasting behaviour change is rooted in, trust, bond, choice, clear communication.

When animals feel safe, they can learn, it is common sense and the same as how we feel. When they feel heard, they can adapt. When they have agency, they can cope.

Giving animals choice where harm does not come to them is one of the most powerful tools we have. Choice reduces stress, increases confidence, and leads to more reliable behaviour because the animal is participating, not complying under threat.

This might look like:

Teaching alternative behaviours instead of punishing unwanted ones

Managing environments so animals are not constantly pushed over threshold

Advocating for your dog or cat rather than forcing them to cope

Meeting emotional needs, not just physical ones

Sometimes the most responsible training decision is not ‘How do I stop this behaviour’ but, 'why is this behaviour happening', and how can I help?

A Final Thought (and a slightly lighter note)

If shock collars truly worked the manner claimed, we would use them on humans.

Did not meet workplace target? Zap.

Passing a speed camera too fast? Zap.

Voted Brexit? Definitely zap, well done if you read this far!

Of course, we don't, our dogs and cats deserve the same understanding.

12/01/2026

We are delighted to introduce our Puppy Course, designed to be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home.

Over a relaxed and supportive 4-week programme, we will help you create the best possible start with your new puppy. You will learn about your puppy’s breed-specific needs and how these can
influence their behaviour, as well as how puppies learn through motivation, bonding and positive strategies. We will guide you through helping your puppy settle confidently into their new home, family and the wider world around them.

Our aim is to make this course both informative and fun.
We cover all the essential foundations, including:
Walking nicely on the lead
Coming back when called
Polite greeting behaviour
Thoughtful and positive socialisation
Teaching calm, se led behaviour
Comfortable with handling for groomer and vet visits

Each week also includes practical ideas for mental stimulation and enrichment activities to keep your puppy happy and engaged.

We will also help you get ahead of common challenges by covering ways to prevent behaviour problems, including separation-related behaviours, resource guarding, and mouthing or biting.

The course includes:
2 x 1.5-hour sessions
2 x 1-hour sessions
Course materials
Ongoing support via email or WhatsApp between sessions, should you need
it.
For more information or to make a booking, please get in touch — we’d love to help you and your puppy get off to a great start.
[email protected]

31/12/2025

The 2025 brief reflection of cases,

This year, I’ve supported 161 new clients, many of whom had more than one pet in the household experiencing behaviour difficulties. Of these, 114 cases displayed one or more behaviour problems.

Across the year, I spent 388 hours in face-to-face consultations, including follow-up visits, ensuring clients and their pets received ongoing, hands-on support. In addition, I made 918 follow-on progression calls, providing continued guidance, reassurance, and help between visits.

In total, I have seen 45 different dog breeds and why knowing breed specific behaviour traits is an important part of this job.

Types of Dog cases

55 reactivity towards other dogs
36 reactivity towards people
28 separation anxiety
28 generalised anxieties
17 biting cases, that required hospital treatment
15 guarding behaviours
12 noise phobias
12 attention seeking behaviours
9 severe handling phobias
3 toileting in the home


Top 10 breeds seen
Cockerpoo
Cocker Spaniel
Jack Russell Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Chihuahua
French Bulldog
Dachshund
Labrador
Springer x Cocker Spaniel
Whippet

And not forgetting the wonderful cats 😻
7 inter-cat aggression
8 toileting issues
3 human directed aggression
1 hyperesthesia

This year has been a busy one, and I’ve really enjoyed supporting caregivers and their dogs and cats. I’m looking forward to continuing into 2026, where I hope to develop some community support projects, run workshops, and grow the team to offer an even wider range of services. If you’d like support with your dog or cat, please feel free to get in touch — I would be very happy to help.

18/12/2025

I have been wanting to add to my team for a while and have been looking for a good fit to add dog training to our services. I'm delighted that Amy will be joining the team in January and will also be seeing practice with me on some behaviour cases.

I am excited to be able to add training to my services and have some new courses and workshops coming to Brighton and the surrounding areas in 2026.

Amy is the perfect fit with theoretical and practical knowledge and experience while being a calm and kind lady.

BSc (Hons) in Applied Animal Behavioural Science and Welfare, First class
Level 5 Behaviour Qualification with the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT)
She is currently completing an ABTC-accredited Level 5 Behaviour Qualification

Here is her bio.
'I ensure my work with dogs is grounded in up-to-date, evidence-based practice. I have two years of hands-on experience working in dog rescue and bring a practical, compassionate approach to training.

I help dogs to feel safe, engaged, and ready to learn, while supporting their caregivers to feel confident and enjoy the training process. I specialise in the everyday training skills that make life with a dog easier and more enjoyable.
I can help you with:
Puppy Foundations
Recall
Loose lead walking
Using and managing long lines
House training
Drop cue's
Thoughtful socialisation

I also love helping care givers build new skills through targeting, shaping behaviours using clear markers and clicker training. Especially useful for those wanting more in depth training.

Where appropriate, I can support training alongside existing behaviour work to help dogs progress smoothly.

My training is friendly, positive, and tailored to real life—focused on building confidence, creating successful learning experiences, and strengthening the bond between dogs and their carers'.

Amy will be starting in January (will be live on the website then) so if you would like to book a training session please get in touch via [email protected]

11/12/2025

Here's is a update on who I am and how I work :-)

I'm Claire, a compassionate pet behaviour consultant, specialising in dogs and cats with over 30 years of combined experience in veterinary nursing, animal welfare, and animal behaviour. For more than 17 years, I’ve supported families in London and then in Brighton and the surrounding areas through my independent practice, helping dogs, cats, and their caregivers enjoy calmer, more connected lives.

My background in veterinary nursing, welfare, behaviour, ethics and law allows me to approach every case with an understanding of both medical, physical and emotional wellbeing. I’m committed to ongoing professional development and regularly attend workshops and training to ensure the support I offer is ethical, up to date, and grounded in the latest research with the overarching emphasis on fulfilling needs and building a better caring bond.

I’ve also had the privilege of working with organisations such as the RSPCA, foster and adoption agencies, and social services, providing careful assessments and welfare-focused behavioural guidance.

I see around 150 to 170 cases per year, the most common type of dog behaviour problems I work with is guarding behaviours often resulting in bites to caregivers. Alongside these cases I often work with dogs who are reactive to other dogs, either through fear, anxiety or frustration and those who do not allow grooming or veterinary examinations.

I work with cats with behaviour problems such as those who toilet around the home and avoid using a little tray, help with cat integrations and other stress related behaviours such as over grooming and aggression directed to people.

I am happy to visit any behaviour problem your dog or cat is displaying, each case is different and the relationship you have with your pet will be unique to you. I help break down why the behaviour is happening, what is maintaining it, and how to change your behaviour to help them, by fulfilling their needs, adding training and occasionally seeking medical support.

Above all, my work is driven by kindness. I’m here to help you understand your pet more clearly and to strengthen the bond you share with a personalised behaviour plan. Do get in touch if you would like support with your dog or cat.

05/12/2025

Are you still wondering when to tell your pet off? What if we told you that's not the best approach? Check out my latest blog post to discover why setting your pets up to succeed is the key to a harmonious home! Learn more here: https://wix.to/fczkl9v

I often get asked, ‘when do I tell them off’ this may be a dog who is barking at another dog or person or a cat who is scratching furniture. When I reply, ‘you don’t’! I feel it is not always the response that is expected, so here is an explanation behind this.We love our pets, we share ou...

28/11/2025

As winter approaches, the days get shorter and the walks get darker. Ensure your dog's safety with high-visibility accessories! It's not just a good idea; it’s essential for their safety. Read more about it here: https://wix.to/ppa6STJ

Winter in the UK brings shorter days, darker mornings, early sunsets, fog, drizzle and long stretches of overcast weather, it is not the best, is it?! For dog guardians, that means a significant portion of daily walks happens in low-light conditions. Ensuring your dog is clearly visible is not simpl...

22/05/2024

New service announcement!

We at Problem Pet Solutions understand that it is not always possible to afford a big outlay when buying a behaviour package. We are introducing a new service, our assessment visit where you can then add on further support on a as and when basis. This may help you to budget what you need while still claiming back the cost on your pet insurance if you have this. We still require referral from your vets and details of this service can be found on our website.
https://www.problempetsolutions.co.uk/dogs