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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

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?

Thinking about getting a puppy from a breeder? 🐶
Or know someone who is?Here are the top 5 things I’d check as a befor...
10/11/2025

Thinking about getting a puppy from a breeder? 🐶
Or know someone who is?

Here are the top 5 things I’d check as a before choosing one 👇

1️⃣ Breed fit:
Does this breed suit your lifestyle?
Genetics run deep -working lines often mean higher energy and impulsivity. Make sure that’s what you actually want to live with!

2️⃣ Meet the family:
Always meet Mum (and ideally Dad).
Are they calm, friendly, and the kind of dogs you’d love to share your home with?

3️⃣ Early environment:
Where are the pups raised?
From 3–8 weeks they should be gently exposed to people, noises & daily life - not tucked away in an outbuilding.
✨ Bonus points if the breeder’s setup looks like your own home (especially if you have kids or pets).

4️⃣ Puppy pals:
Check out the other dogs they’re spending time with.
Puppies learn through social observation - make sure they’re learning good habits!

5️⃣ Health & ethics:
Ask about health tests (the list’s on ) and why this bitch was bred.
A good breeder will always have thoughtful, responsible answers.

🐾 Remember:
A puppy is a huge investment of time, money & love - the right one is worth waiting for ❤️

I will caveat this to say this is a post to support ethical breeding not to say a puppy from a breeder is better than adopting!

💬 What would you add to the list? Drop your thoughts below 👇

Vets, does a behaviour consult in the diary ruin your day?! It doesn’t need to (promise…!) Here’s my top tips to help ma...
07/11/2025

Vets, does a behaviour consult in the diary ruin your day?! It doesn’t need to (promise…!)

Here’s my top tips to help make things that little bit less stressful:

- Approach it like any other case. A succinct history is really important. What is occurring? When? Frequency? Behavioural problems are often super stressful for owners, so approach with empathy!

- Do a proper clinical exam. For me, a sudden change in behaviour usually has a medical issue until proven otherwise. Look especially for any sources of pain (orthopaedic, gut, skin / ears etc) or endocrine issues. If you think it’s appropriate, start a pain relief trial.

- Give first aid advice - focusing on keeping everyone safe. Muzzles, baby gates, leads etc are all really important. Let people know their legal responsibilities under the dangerous dogs act.

- Get help if needed. A veterinary behaviourist is appropriate if you think there is a medical component to what we are seeing or if medication may be needed 💊. For other cases, remember behaviourist is not a protected term, so look for a clinical animal behaviourist listed on the or .

If you are interested in finding out more about dealing with behaviour cases in general practice, get in touch. Giving CPD to spread the behaviour love is a huge passion of mine!

04/11/2025

Cats… Such a passion of mine 🥰 Sadly in the modern world they often live stressful lives. So here are my top tips to make things just a little easier ❤️

😺 We always think of cats as being predators. But they also do have bigger animals around that might eat them. To feel safe, they want places to sleep up high and also to hide away. Ever had a cat obsessed with cardboard boxes or clothes baskets? This is why!

😺 Lots of time we stop playing with our cats once they reach adulthood. But most cats love playing no matter what their age.

To entice play, remember they can’t see well up close (ever seen a cat chase a mouse and seem to lose it when it’s right in front of it?!) So to encourage play, think like a rodent! Rustle toys behind objects and move them quickly at distance. Avoid lasers (imagine chasing something you can never catch?) and involve food as a prize at the end if needed.

😺 Finally, unlike us - cats are not obligate social species - they don’t NEED friends! They can flexibly live either as besties, room mates or they can view even house mates as intruders. If you have an adult cat, do your research before adding a friend - a vast proportion of the time they don’t actually want one 😹

Interested in more cat posts? Comment below 👇 as I’ve got a lot of ideas!

There is a growing body of evidence that owning a pet such as a dog is associated with better mental health outcomes for...
01/11/2025

There is a growing body of evidence that owning a pet such as a dog is associated with better mental health outcomes for children. Dogs often are a non judgemental emotional support for our kids (and us), but their relationships always need careful monitoring.

However, dogs are not teddy bears. They can be sore, stressed and need space. Expecting them to put up with anything a child decides to do to them is not OK.

Sadly year on year bite statistics are increasing. Children are over represented in bites and because of their height, they are more likely to be bitten on the face or neck. 80% of bites are by a dog known to the child.

However with careful management, watching a dog and a child grow together is such a rewarding experience ❤️

dogsastherapy

Ps big thank you to Julie for the loan of the best doggos around

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