Norfolk dog trainer using therapist to improve pets' behaviour

Isabella McBride, owner of Smart Dog Training in Attleborough, has partnered with a specialist chiropractic therapist to physically assess dogs to find out if they are suffering from any existing pain which could be affecting their behaviour. 

Claire Lawrence is a McTimoney therapist, which involves chiropractic techniques used to treat musculoskeletal problems. 

Claire Lawrence, a McTimoney chiropractic therapist (Image: Supplied)

Dog trainer Miss McBride said: “I specialise in reactive dogs with behavioural problems, and what we’ve been finding is around 80pc of these dogs have physical problems and are in some degree of pain, which is contributing towards their behaviour."

"Once these pain issues are resolved, modifying their behaviour becomes either a lot easier or doesn't need to happen. 

"They will go through a pain assessment where Claire will look at their range of movement, joints and muscle build-up. If there are certain parts of their bodies that they are not using properly then there will be some muscles that are more pronounced and others that are wasting away.

"A lot of the behaviours that we see are not necessarily a training issue but down to pain."

Isabella McBride, owner of Smart Dog Training in Attleborough (Image: Supplied)

If dogs are found to be in physical pain they will then be referred to a vet for pain relief or further assessment using x-rays.

"We'll have an initial chat about the dog's lifestyle," Miss McBride said. 

"It might be that dogs don’t want to go upstairs, or get in the car. They might become slower on walks, grumpy or lash out – some of those things can be so small that owners can’t pick up on them. 

"We have been busy and it has really taken off. Claire is booked up until the end of September.

"Other trainers are also getting on board and doing pain assessments first before going any further."