FAQ - index

Question: How many consultations does one need to treat an animal behaviour problem?

Answer: Depending upon the problem, the intensity (or depth) of the problem, how old the animal is and how long the problem has persisted, will (partly) determine the number of consultations. The other part depends upon how much information you can supply about the problem, when it occurs, and its frequency. The more information that is supplied at the first visit, will aid in a correct diagnosis and (hopefully) correct remediation - 'Hopefully', is used as sometimes what works for one animal (or person) doesn't work for another - just the same way that people have different learning styles. Therefore, the more observant you are, the more aware about group dynamics and have a history of your animal, can reduce the number of consultations.

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Question: Why can it take a long time to get a result from an animal behaviour consultation?

Answer: This goes back to brain development. What we know from fMRIs (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and CAT scans - is that as the brain develops the nerves thicken with use. That is: when you start to learn something new, the nerves are thin (assuming that the there is a neural structure is already in place - say a 3 month old puppy or a human infant at 6 months.) As you practice the new subject/skill, the nerves gradually become thicker with more use.
Likewise with a problem - the more often the situation arises, the more often a set of behaviours are practised until it becomes something like a habit - very difficult to break as one has to learn new skills and 'train the brain' to alter the usual response. Also, the nerves, used in responding to the specific situation, (may) have become quite thick and need time to reduce in thickness, whilst the new neural pathway has to become thick for those skills to become a habit! Hence, it is rare for a beahvioural turn-about to occur spontaneously. Usually it occurs after much hard work and the change can appear to be 'instantaneous' after little progress (over a long period).
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