Life on Four Legs

  • Home
  • Life on Four Legs

Life on Four Legs Life on Four Legs understands how stressful living with a furry friend with problem behaviours can b

21/12/2025

Got some last minute Christmas shopping to do?! Here’s what’s on my dog’s Christmas list as a Vet Behaviourist 🐾

What’s on your dog’s list? Let me know ❤️

18/12/2025

Resource guarding is a common issue in my behaviour practice.

Got a dog that growls at you when there’s food around? Here’s what you need to know to keep everyone safe 👩🏼‍⚕️

As dogs (and cats) age, their neurones can be damaged (and die). This can lead to behavioural changes. There are things ...
17/12/2025

As dogs (and cats) age, their neurones can be damaged (and die). This can lead to behavioural changes. There are things we can do to support their brain health and slow down the changes.

Every senior pet should be being screened at least yearly (ideally every 6 months) for behaviour (and medical changes). Like everything, early intervention is key!

16/12/2025

Not sure what to get your dog this Christmas? Here are my top three things I wouldn’t recommend as a vet behaviourist.

What should I add to the list?! Let me know below ⬇️

?

I adopted Seby, my first cat as a new grad vet working in North London. He was part of our family, moving to Sydney with...
15/12/2025

I adopted Seby, my first cat as a new grad vet working in North London. He was part of our family, moving to Sydney with us and living his best life, on the streets of Bellevue Hill & Rose Bay.

Seby was a delight to those he was comfortable with. But would use his teeth and claws to get space when scared. Later in life he developed a host of medical issues that needed a lot of vet visits.

Luckily he was always fine being handled by me, so I could advocate for him, sedate him and ensure specialists vets stayed safe, Seby wasn’t stressed and he got the care he needed (including getting a call at 2am once to go and get him out his cage as he needed oxygen 😂).

However, I am certain that if he wasn’t a veterinary behaviourists cat he wouldn’t have been able to get the help he needed! So this is why I’m so passionate about doing all I can to reduce the stress for other cats like him 🥰 (and keeping all vet staff safe in the process).

Aggression is not a character trait. It’s a behaviour which dogs use usually to gain space. In my practice the vast majo...
11/12/2025

Aggression is not a character trait. It’s a behaviour which dogs use usually to gain space. In my practice the vast majority of these dogs are using it as they are either worried or sore (or often both….)

Labelling a dog as ‘oh they are aggressive’ is actually not helpful. It doesn’t get to the root of what is going on or help us resolve the issue. Instead we end up with a lot of unhelpful stigma. I prefer to say a dog that has the tendency to use aggression when scared / sore etc.

Aggression is not an end diagnosis, but a symptom of something else that is going on…..

Are you a vet looking for guidance on when to use psychoactive medications? Or a pet owner wondering if a medication dis...
09/12/2025

Are you a vet looking for guidance on when to use psychoactive medications? Or a pet owner wondering if a medication discussion could be useful for your vet? Then read on 🤓

08/12/2025

Subtle behaviour signs my dog showed when I adopted him that hinted he might be painful.

1. 🐾 Car refusal. Hugo had suddenly stopped getting into the car at guide dogs and was super fearful if you tried to get him in (jumping in and out hurt).

2. 🐾 Difficulty settling. Hugo found resting, especially in the evening tricky. He would often pace, steal items and bark.

3. 🐾 Conflict around dogs. When he used to see a dog he would lunge towards them excitedly, then get frustrated and grab the lead. Off lead (if allowed!) he would get excited but then hump them 🫣

4. 🐾 Barrier Frustration. Hugo wanted to be with us at all times. If we were out he was fine (so not separation anxiety) but if we were home he thought we should be available.

5. 🐾 ‘Stubborness on walks’. Hugo would walk with me, but if anyone else tried to walk him, he would stop and refuse to move.

Now none of these are diagnostic of pain by any means! But all of them together (along with a unique gait!) started me on his pain management journey. After a few weeks on pain meds life started to look up for him (and us!)

What behaviour signs has your dog / your cases shown that made you suspicious of pain? ⬇️

(Ps my husband said I look grumpy in my reels so decided to make me laugh 😂😂😂)

So many dogs struggle in silence because behaviour medication still feels “taboo”.As a veterinary behaviourist, here’s w...
05/12/2025

So many dogs struggle in silence because behaviour medication still feels “taboo”.

As a veterinary behaviourist, here’s what I wish every pet guardian knew 👇

Behaviour meds don’t turn dogs into “zombies”, and they’re not a last-ditch option. They support the brain, lower panic, and help dogs finally feel safe enough to learn.

When the emotional load is too big, training alone simply isn’t fair. Medication isn’t cheating — it’s welfare.

The right plan is always tailored, carefully monitored, and paired with behaviour modification.

Most dogs only need meds temporarily, but the impact can be life-changing.

If you’re struggling with an anxious, reactive or overwhelmed dog who needs meds 💊 you’re not failing — you’re helping. ❤️

Want to know how I decide when I use meds? Comment MEDS below and I’ll cover the guidelines I follow 👩🏼‍⚕️

03/12/2025

After my third year at Vet School, I was offered the chance to take a year out of my degree and do the final year of a BSc. I was so desperate to be a vet (I’d be waiting since I was 5….!) I wasn’t sure if was a good idea! More debt, more time til I could start earning…. And it would mean I would graduate 🧑‍🎓 with a different group of people I started with.

21 year old me made a brave decision and she would never have known what doors it would have opened up 🦘 🇦🇺

So you all know I’m a massive supporter of and I work alongside a lot of brilliant dog trainers. However, I also see t...
02/12/2025

So you all know I’m a massive supporter of and I work alongside a lot of brilliant dog trainers.

However, I also see the fallout from uneducated trainers who do more harm than good. In an unregulated industry, it can be hard to know who is legit… but if anyone mentions any of these then find yourself another trainer pronto. In the UK qualified, ethical trainers can be found on the website 🐕

Address


Website

Alerts

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

Shortcuts

  • Want your business to be the top-listed Pet Store/pet Service?

Share