Problem Pet Solutions

Home
Problem Pet Solutions

This site is for pet owners seeking professional behaviour and training help with their pets. Problempetsolutions.co.uk

Claire offers consultations and training sessions in Sussex. Claire will visit you and your pet to help you to modify you and your pets behaviour to create a better relationship. Claire is a registered veterinary nurse and has studied and completed a postgraduate degree in companion animal behaviour counselling.

03/09/2026

If you walk a reactive dog, you know the drill: spot a dog in the distance, heart rate spikes, start scanning for an exit. Most other owners actually want to help they just need a clear, friendly ask, well most of the time. And those with friendly dogs, here’s how you can also help out.

Phrases that work

Sorry, my dog needs space, I need to go the other way? Direct and non-judgmental.

We are in training; can we pass at a distance? States a plan without inviting debate.

Mines reactive, we need a bit of room. Educates without alarming.

Could you call your dog back? Mine is having some health issues/recovering and needs space. * As a side note many reactive dogs have underlying pain, gut or skin problems, possibly undiagnosed.

Always end with, thank you for understanding, never skip this, it makes the next ask easier for everyone.

And of those with friendly dogs, how you can really help. Here's the part that surprises people: a friendly dog can still terrify a reactive one. Reactivity is about fear or overstimulation, not the other dog's intentions. A big, happy dog bounding over fast looks exactly the same as a threat from the other end of the lead.

If your dog is the easy-going type, you're in a great position to help:

Watch dogs on leads, yellow leads, lettering on leads or harnesses and muzzles.

Watch for owner behaviour are they scanning, trying to get your attention or quickly changing direction.

Dog body language freezing, or stiff body language staring towards you or your dog.

Don't take 'please keep away' personally, it's not a comment on your dog’s personality, looks or behaviour- ever!

Being that person costs nothing and can prevent a real scare, or worse, for both dogs and in fact it will really make that owners day, and knowing you have given yours and that dog the best walk possible by giving them some space.

Be Present, not Distracted, none of this works if nobody's looking up. Phones and podcasts on walks mean missed body language, missed shouted requests, and and missed moments to step aside before things escalate.

A walk is uninterrupted time with your dog, enjoy that, they are not here forever.

26/08/2026

Looking for a dog or cat behaviourist?

19/08/2026

Why are some dogs scared of BBQ's?

I came across this recently and it is certainly one of the more unusual cases I have seen. After some digging online, I have seen a few people reporting the same. In my case, the problem started with a neighbour’s BBQ which was out of sight from the dog. Here I discuss why and the differentials that can be considered.

To understand why a smell alone can trigger a fear response, it helps to understand just how differently dogs experience scent. Dogs have somewhere in the region of 100 million to 300 million olfactory receptors, and the portion of a dog's brain devoted to processing smell is estimated to be around 40 times larger than ours.

A barbecue isn't a single meat smell to a dog. It is a mix of rendered fat, scorched protein, charring sugars, smoke particulates, gas or charcoal fumes, marinade and spice compounds. If something in that cloud becomes associated with discomfort or threat, the dog isn't just reacting to meat. It may be reacting to one specific, identifiable compound within an otherwise pleasant smell. Which is part of why some dogs are fine with chicken or beef on the grill but panic specifically at lamb, which in my client’s case was the trigger and met with barking, hackles raised, nose in the air, and fence running, this was in response to the neighbours BBQ.

There appears to be a link with Lamb in these stories, far more than beef, pork, or chicken. Nobody has definitively proven why, but a few theories are consistent with what we know about dogs and scent:

Read here...
https://www.problempetsolutions.co.uk/single-post/why-are-some-dogs-scared-of-the-bbq-when-most-associate-it-with-something-fantastic

15/07/2026

Cat behaviour questions I am frequently asked.

If you've found yourself searching for answers to any of the following questions, you're not alone—and professional support can make a real difference. As a Clinical Animal Behaviourist accredited by both the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) and the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC), and registered veterinary nurse. I provide evidence-based behaviour support tailored to you and your cat. These accreditations are recognised standards of professional practice and, if your pet insurance policy includes behavioural treatment, you may be able to claim towards the cost of consultations (subject to your insurer's terms and conditions). I can help if you're asking questions such as:

How can I stop my cat fighting with neighbouring cats?

Why has my cat stopped using the litter tray and started to toilet in the home?

How can I stop my cat from urine spraying around the home?

How can I stop my cat from being aggressive and biting me?

How can I introduce another cat or kitten into my home?

How can I reduce my cats stress?

How can I help my older cat who is very vocal/meowing loudly?

How can I help my cat who is attacking their tail?

How can I help my cat feel more confident?

How can I stop my cat overgrooming?

How can I help my cat to enjoy being groomed?

How can I stop my cat from waking me up in the night?

How can I get my cat to play more?

How can I make my home more cat friendly?

What tricks can I teach my cat?

And any thing else your cat is doing, they are all unique!

What questions do you have?

Get in touch we can discuss this and more during a home visit, covering 20 miles from Brighton and Hove, into East Sussex and West Sussex.

13/07/2026

Playing the long game!

I have grey hair I like, laughter lines I've gained, and a face that moves when I'm happy or worried, or sad, or trying not to laugh at something I should not be, I did not get here quickly, my animal/people career is 30+ years in the making. Every one of those lines is a small receipt for a life lived and while sitting with clients and their traumatised, anxious, reactive animals, I find myself thinking about how rare that kind of patience has become more recently, in almost every direction we look.

Read my latest blog on why behaviour change is difficult in a world of quick fixes.

https://www.problempetsolutions.co.uk/single-post/playing-the-long-game-why-real-change-in-our-dogs-and-cats-cannot-be-rushed

08/07/2026

New article on managing your dog when they come into season. And some useful tips to cope with the heatwave.

What is a season (Oestrus Cycle)?
When a female dog (bitch) comes into season, she is going through her oestrus cycle — the period during which she is fertile and capable of becoming pregnant. Most bi***es experience their first season between six and twelve months of age, though larger breeds may not cycle until they are eighteen months or older. After the first season, most dogs cycle roughly every six to eight months, though this varies by individual and breed.

A full cycle lasts approximately three weeks (around 21 days), though some dogs may run slightly shorter or longer. Understanding what is happening physically and behaviourally during this time is essential for keeping your dog safe and comfortable. Read on the link below.

https://www.problempetsolutions.co.uk/single-post/managing-you-dog-when-they-come-into-season-some-of-this-is-useful-for-heatwaves-too

07/07/2026

Sharing my chat with the lovely Nikki McLeod Nikki McLeod PGDip(CAB) BSC(Hons) NCert(Behav) from a few weeks back (June was a crazy busy month).

Nikki is a champion for vet nurses extending their skills into the behaviour world.

Here I chat about an interesting case of persistent pseudopregnancy and the importance of vet referral.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DZr1FXtIDky/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

24/05/2026

Super hot this weekend into next week☀️.

Please be mindful of hot pavements, if you can't walk barefoot in the street, neither can your dog🐾

🕘 Aim to walk at cooler times of the day

🌳 Walk in places that offer more shade

🏖️ Avoid the beach, sitting under an umbrella doesn't offer much shade when your wearing a fur coat.

🥤 Offer water often, add water to food to encourage hydration

🎾 Avoid high energy play, overheating is easy in this heat, stick to search games and low energy engagement. Some dogs can struggle to regulate thier energy levels.

🥵 Watch out for signs of heatstroke, excessive panting, drooling, red gums, restless, disorientated and uncoordinated movements. Call your vet and plan to travel to them immediately.

This can be fatal if your dog is not cooled immediately. If you can soak your dog in cold water before you travel, this may help.

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

Address

Opening Hours

Monday	10:00 - 17:30
Tuesday	10:00 - 17:30
Wednesday	10:00 - 17:30
Thursday	10:00 - 17:30
Friday	10:00 - 17:30
Saturday	10:00 - 14:00

Website

http://www.problempetsolutions.co.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Problem Pet Solutions posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Problem Pet Solutions:

Want your business to be the top-listed pet store/pet service?

Country:

City: