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

28/11/2025

Lots of you were interested in seeing what happens at a dog physio session! So here is what Hugo got up to with the lovely Ellis on Tuesday 🐾

First up stance analysis to see if he is weight bearing normally on his legs (he wasn’t!) Next a bit of an exam to see where he was sore. Hugo is a tricky one as he often just shows displacement (walks away, grabs a toy, elicits cuddles) when he’s worried, so you have to watch carefully for signs of pain.

Time for a cuddle break before laser (which he loves!) and then therapeutic ultrasound for his iliopsoas.

I’m really passionate about a team approach to cases, involving non vet behaviourists, trainers, GP vets, vet nurses, specialist vets, physios, hydrotherapists, cooperative care groomers and many more (who have I missed?!)

We are super lucky to be near Ellis, who does all consent based handling. See how Hugo isn’t restrained in anything we do?

Does your dog have physio? Have you found it is helpful? Comment below ⬇️

26/11/2025

Cooperative care, Part 3!

In the third video we discuss how I would approach a dog worried about injections 💉

We use the chin rest as a yes please, if Hugo holds his chin down - it means go ahead. You can see a few times he lifts up and I immediately stop - he’s said no.

Cooperative care builds trust and it’s something I’m super passionate about. It often means some of my most anxious patients can access the vet care they need 🥰

What does your dog struggle with? Any other areas you want me to cover?! Comment below ⬇️

There are so many behaviour myths doing the rounds! Repeated over and over again 🫣 Here are my current top 5 behaviour m...
25/11/2025

There are so many behaviour myths doing the rounds! Repeated over and over again 🫣

Here are my current top 5 behaviour myths I wish would disappear! What have I missed? Comment below ⬇️

My top tip when reading advice is to think - what qualifications has this person got? What have they got to gain from this advice (or what could they lose if they gave our incorrect advice?!) Most importantly - remember the plural of anecdote is not evidence 😂 Just because something is much repeated does not mean it is true….

22/11/2025

Disclaimer - this isn’t an easy one! 😂

What signs can you see in this video of Hugo being sore? Where do we think the pain might be? Which leg (s)?

If people are interested I can post the answers tomorrow!

21/11/2025

Teaching your dog to choose when their paws are handled can transform vet visits, grooming and everyday care. 🐾
Instead of restraint, we use cooperative care, clear consent cues, slow introductions, and lots of positive reinforcement.

When dogs feel safe and in control, they’re calmer, more confident, and far less likely to use aggression to say “I’m worried.”

Paw handling doesn’t have to be a battle… it can be a conversation. 💛

Does your dog struggle with claw clipping? Comment below ⬇️

My cat is like Jekyll and Hyde, he / she wants a cuddle and then bites me 😾 If I had a pound for every time I read this ...
20/11/2025

My cat is like Jekyll and Hyde, he / she wants a cuddle and then bites me 😾 If I had a pound for every time I read this I’d be retired 😂

Does your cat do this? Comment below 👇

18/11/2025

In this video I’m using a chin rest as a consent cue with my own dog. Chin down = “you can continue”, chin up = “I’d like a break please”.

When anxious dogs are given choice and control, they feel safer, calmer and far less likely to escalate to growling, snapping or biting. ‘Listen to the whispers so they don’t have to shout’

Want to know more about cooperative care? Then follow along and comment below on what areas we should handle next! 👇

Daycare can suit some dogs… and overwhelming for others. In practice I often see dogs attending settings that they find...
17/11/2025

Daycare can suit some dogs… and overwhelming for others.

In practice I often see dogs attending settings that they find overwhelming and it really can affect their behaviour. Remember you can’t out exercise anxiety 🫣

Want help making an informed decision for your dog? Then read on! ➡️

14/11/2025

🌟 A Day in the Life of a Vet Behaviourist! 🐾

Ever wondered what a vet behaviourist does on a hectic Thursday? 🤔 Come along for the ride as I show you behind the scenes!

👉 Want to learn more? Tap follow and stay tuned for more insider moments.

12/11/2025

“Pain is whatever the patient experiencing it says it is.” McCaffery, 1968.

One of my all-time favourite quotes as a vet behaviourist. Yes, I know… my patients can’t talk, but they absolutely do tell us when something hurts.

Meet Hugo 🐾 my golden retriever x lab, adopted (by me!) 2 years ago with a clean bill of health… on paper. But his behaviour told a different story: frustration, difficulty settling, car refusal, and that odd leg flick 👀

A week on pain relief and he was a different dog.

Behaviour is communication — if we listen, they’ll tell us everything we need to know. 💛

Social media is an amazing place! I’ve met some brilliant people who share the same values as I do! But at times trends ...
11/11/2025

Social media is an amazing place! I’ve met some brilliant people who share the same values as I do! But at times trends can make me cringe! Here are trends / opinions I see repeated on social media that I won’t be copying! What are yours?

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