Had a consultation with Melanie for a number of issues. Having been to other trainers her approach was refreshing. Non judgemental, supportive and amazing with our dog. I’m in early stages of trying what Melanie has recommended but she is an amazing help for dog owners and their fur babies. Thank you Melanie
Melanie has been great, after about a year of not knowing what to do with our 2 slightly out of control dogs, also not knowing weather what we were doing was making them worse or better, Melanie, in just one session explained and showed us everything we need to know to go forward with them. To got out on a walk with them now feels like a way less daunting task than it used to be, it has now become a joy, knowing exactly what we need to do in any situation regarding other dogs has put our minds at rest and just 2 weeks later we are already seeing big improvements. I would recommend Melanie to any dog owner who is at a loss for what to do with their beloved pooch.
Our adorable three year old whippet, who had previously been very happy around all dogs, developed anxiety which was sometimes leading to aggression. After being used to a well-behaved pup on the lead, walks were becoming a nightmare. We couldn’t let him off and it was distressing to see this nasty side of him we weren’t used to. It wasn’t good for him either as he could no longer play safely with his dog friends due to his unpredictable nature. Something had to be done, this behaviour was only going to increase unless we changed things. I’m so pleased we worked with Melanie Daniels to get help instead of trying to figure it out ourselves or go to classes. It has been a fully supported experience and we are delighted with the results. She helped us understand what was leading to this change in behaviour and provided all the support needed to correct it. By implementing her suggestions there has been an immediate improvement and although there are still areas to work on we feel confident about taking him out again. I would highly recommend this lovely lady who has transformed stressful outings back into the fun they should be.
When our new Labrador puppy arrived one of our older dogs, Lily, exhibited aggressive behaviour towards her. We were lucky to find Melanie immediately and have her spend a morning helping us resolve the situation. Melanie pointed out Lily was a Resource Guarding Dog and gave us many useful tips for dealing with that particular issue. We changed her food, exercised her in a different way and after a relatively short time Lily started accepting the puppy and now they play together 24/7! Melanie is a wonderful, caring, professional and supportive person who literally turned our horrible situation around and created doggy harmony so we could not recommend her more highly. We will always be extremely grateful she managed to come out so quickly to visit and save the day! If only she lived a little nearer we would see her on a regular basis as she has so much wisdom and experience to share.
I chose Melanie to help with my rescue greyhound cross eight years ago and she gave excellent support and advice. In December last year Archie was badly attacked by a dog and had to have surgery. As a result he stopped wanting to on walks completely. I contacted Melanie again and she helped us understand Archie was repsondong to the trauma he went through and that love and nurturing at home is just what he needs. After three months of resting today out of the blue Archie went to the door and after cautiously peering out came in the car and went for a lovely spring walk! We couldn’t be happier and couldn’t be prouder of him.
Melanie always puts animals feelings first and there is never any forcing of bullying. Thanks to her advice Archie has built his trust and confidence and can enjoy his daily
walks again! I cannot recommend Melanie Daniels highly enough. Thank you so much.
I have two rescue cats sisters who are 8 years old. My mother passed away in May and she had a cat 12 years old, also a rescue cat. I had the problem of intergrating my mum’s cat with my cats.
I contacted Melanie, who came to visit my home and met the cats. She was brilliant! So helpful, explaining different steps to take. We still have some hissing but they tolerate each other. Her advice was invaluable.
I’ve been fortunate to learn from Melanie how to train my two Cocker Spaniel mother and puppy.
Melanie visited us at our home and we had a fantastic customised training session together. We had discussions about all the challenging difficulties and Melanie provided me with loads of useful tips. We practiced different methods outside including how to call back, how to walk by the chickens and pheasants without chasing them – not an easy task. Melanie showed me plenty training tricks and method and not only gave me plenty info but she gave me written copies of all of the training suggestions. Her service is very helpful. In addition, I can call her if I have any questions and discuss any dog issues. It’s all very comforting.
Thanks so much Melanie. Your work has results.
Melanie has been helping us with our cocker spaniel who is aggressive with unknown dogs in the park. She gave us loads and loads of really useful advice which we have been putting into practice. She has a very good way of explaining in a non-judgemental way where you might be going wrong (let’s face it, it isn’t the dog’s fault!) and how you can do things differently. Gave us plenty to think about and both our dogs are much happier and calmer as a result. Thanks, Melanie.
#10 by Katie Ramsey on September 7, 2018 - 4:43 pm
Melanie came to see me 3 months ago. I was fed up and about to rehome my cat who for 18 months had been weeing on the sofa and the bed (even when I was in it!). I had read lots of books and visited lots of websites for advice, tried everything I could think of and of course seen my vet but to no avail. Melanie was lovely and made some simple suggestions to change things around and add to the home to make my cats happier. Now I have 2 very happy cats and not one wet bed or sofa since the changes were made!
This is the first review I have ever sent but I felt i would share my (and Henry’s) time with Melanie.
I called Melanie to help me with my white westhighland terrier Henry. Her advise was so helpful and her suggestions and support were really positiive. I have noticed a change In Henry.
I would not hesitate to recommend her. I found her very friendly and helpful.
#12 by Louise Richardson on August 7, 2017 - 11:45 am
Melanie visited me, my partner and our 9 week old puppy Skye last week to give us advice on how to best get our new arrival (and us!) used to all sorts of situations including meeting people, other dogs and playing with them, leaving Skye alone and dealing with separation issues, feeding, recall training and dealing with an overexcited puppy. She literally made a massive difference to our experience with Skye and hugely improved my confidence and well as the puppy’s behaviour and happiness. Melanie was happy to stay with us until all our questions had been answered and was such a pleasant, knowledgeable person who’s expertise were clear from the results she gave us. I would strongly recommend anyone with a new puppy or older dog to have a visit from Melanie, it is honestly the best money I have ever spent and very reasonable too. Thank you so much!!!
Melanie recently visited us to help us with our dog Teddy’s excessive barking and occasional aggression towards other dogs. Melanie took time to understand how we live as family and tailored her advice accordingly so all her suggested actions were practical and manageable for us. Melanie’s advice was incredibly comprehensive and supported with written notes that she was able to leave with us. It’s still early days but we have made some changes, are using Melanie’s techniques, and have noticed some improvement already. I would highly recommend Melanie!
We contacted Melanie when our 8 month old Welsh collie was becoming increasingly aggressive with other dogs. She visited us and spent a long time explaining all aggressive issues and taught us about different strategies to use including avoidance, diet, treats and neutering.
Bob is responding well so far and although it is only a week since Melanie’s visit I certainly feel more positive and confident when out walking. He is a happy, confident and loving dog so we are hoping that following Melanie’s advice we will see Bob overcome his problems over the next few weeks and months.
Melanie is friendly, helpful, kind and understanding and Bob responded well to her calm and positive approach. I would recommend Melanie as a very experienced and knowledgeable behaviourist who provided an excellent professional service.
#15 by Gill Lockhart on November 15, 2016 - 9:51 pm
We have used the techniques that we discussed during the consultation with Mel regarding our Golden Retriever Sam’s fear of fireworks and thunder. Absolutely tested out on the recent Bonfire Night. I am delighted to report that he has been so much better. From a 10/10 fear rating last year this has reduced to about 2/10 during the weeks prior to Bonfire Night and week after (oh please make them ban fireworks for sale to the public!) and 5/10 on the night itself. This is a huge improvement and we are so pleased for him.A few nights after Bonfire Night he was even able to lay on the carpet whilst fireworks were going off on ‘Emmerdale’ and a few were going off outside eating his filled kong and was quite distracted. No more pacing, whining and shaking Would have no hesitation in recommending Mel to anyone having problems with their dog’s behaviour or fears.
Melanie helped me with my two male Irish setters when one of them started to become aggressive. Although we can’t change his personality completely, having been attacked when he was young (14 months), with Mel’s help we have put many strategies in place so that both dogs are now living together in relative harmony, with no fighting or injuries for a few months now. Without being helped to understand his behaviour and his triggers, my youngest dog would have had to be rehomed so I am very grateful for all that Mel did for us.
#17 by Hayley Tillson on October 17, 2015 - 9:03 am
Honey is a different dog now, thank you! She loves Nature’s menu raw food and her Kongs. She doesn’t bark now when left alone. She is a sun worshipper and lays on top of the sofa in the sun, sleeping all day, or sleeps outside. We are all so much happier, including our elderly neighbour. She still barks at the postman but not when I leave the house, thank you so much!
Melanie has worked with our two St Bernards (Amadeus and Winston) since they were puppies and has given us great advice over the years. We called upon her again because we needed further guidance on how to handle both dogs when out on walks on narrow country paths, barking at strangers and anyone that comes to the house and one of our dogs would only walk on the farm paths to the right of our home and would not turn left towards the neighboring houses and traffic. Melanie was able to help us with everything using a combination of click training and rewards. She came on a walk with us and based on her advice, we are now able to walk Winston towards the neighbors’ houses and the traffic and it is no longer an issue for him. She gave us a clear plan to follow as well as excellent information sheets. Melanie is someone that you can really count on to help you and our dogs love her! Thank you Melanie! Sarah & Marc
My 8 year old black Labrador had become increasingly noise phobic over the winter months with gun noises she heard while we were out walking. Melanie visited me 3 weeks ago and I found her to be most professional, helpful and sympathetic with my dog’s problem. Previous to her visit, my dog would start shaking and stop and refused to walk anywhere. With her help and advice, my dog is so much more confident and is starting to enjoy her walks again with tail wagging happily! Thank you so much.
Melanie is lovely, caring and is a real expert in her field. We as a family including our resident cat and the new cat we were trying to introduce were all very stressed!
Mel came out, not only to understand our cats anxieties but to reassure ours, as trying to introduce the kitty cats had caused lots of tension in the human household. Mel was fantastic, her warm, sincere manner instantly reassured us that we had done the right thing for all of us by asking Mel to come and see us. Mel listened to our concerns, spent time with both our cats, then talked us through a programme to support both cats to start to tolerate each other. This was during the Easter Holidays, We cannot believe how quickly we have all relaxed. We now have an open door policy and can feed both our cats within very close proximity of each other. We have only had our new cat for 7 weeks (he was a stray from the RSPCA) but the progress has been amazing and very rewarding. I would thoroughly recommend Mel and would also like to offer her a big heart felt thank you, we could not have got this far without you. Thank you 🙂
#21 by Shirley Williams on January 6, 2014 - 8:57 am
‘We turned to Mel when we struggling to introduce two one-year old cats to our existing four-year old cat. Mel took time to meet the cats, see our home and discuss their behaviours in detail. The process she suggested was kind, sensible and most importantly, accepted by our three cats. It isn’t a ‘quick fix’ and we’ve worked at the pace the cats have chosen. So we’ve got a way to go yet but things are going well. If Mel hadn’t helped us we wouldn’t have been able to keep the new cats.
#22 by Richard & Kim Earl on December 16, 2013 - 9:14 pm
We were experiencing occasional difficulties of nipping by our dachshund Maud. We had a very informative visit from Melanie which turned out to be more about educating humans about dog behaviour than educating Maud. This has addressed our problem completely and, as a result, we and Maud are really enjoying life together again. We would strongly recommend Melanie’s services to anyone encountering animal behaviour issues.
Mel has been excellent helping us with Lola our American Cocker Spaniel x Jack Russel get through serious seperation anxiety and aggression. It took many months of working together to get to a place where Lola can be left on her own without fuss and most importantly aggression. Walking Lola is now a pleassure with only the occational incident! Mel has always continued to support us well after the initial first meeting! Thanks Mel for your help, Hannah
Melanie helped us recently with issues we were having with our rescue cat and his toilet habits. I contacted Melanie through her website ‘contact me’ form and she replied within less than 24 hours, giving some really useful tips as an initial start. I felt so encouraged by her warm and friendly manner we booked her to come for a home visit to meet the offender! I can honestly say she was brilliant. I know I was really worried about getting it wrong and making things worse, but her calm, sensible approach and her genuine warmth and affection for animals shone through all the time she was with us. She gave us lots of really useful hints, handouts to read and practical, sensible advice which we could use straight away. I cannot recommend her services highly enough.
Melanie’s calm, commonsense approach to Lucy Lurcher’s fear aggression boosted our confidence and helped us build a closer dog/owner relationship. Lucy slowly learned to trust us and looked to us for guidance when interacting with other dogs. With Melanie’s help Lucy blossomed into a great companion. Sadly, Lucy is now at Rainbow Bridge. We miss her very much.
Thank you for your help with our Rottweiler cross. We took on board your advice and as time goes on, we are learning more about her character.
The information sheets that you gave us were really helpful. We also very much appreciated that you accompanied us on a walk (in the freezing cold and rain!) to observe behaviour first hand and explain typical rottweiler traits, such as fixations. The book that you recommended was also a great insight into the fact that every dog is an individual and needs to be treated accordingly. Once again, thank you for your help.
Melanie visited us a few months ago to help address some issue we were having with our 19 month old dog, Izzy the Siberian Husky, and possible issues we would have with our incoming puppy, Tilly the PomChi. From the get-go, it was clear Mel knew what she was talking about, and had a ‘way’ with dogs – Izzy, normally hyperactive and jumpy when meeting “new” people, sat and was calm when Mel entered. After spending over two hours talking to us, and giving out a lot of good reading material, we felt much more confident with Izzy and had a good plan on how to positively reinforce the behavior we desired, and address some of Izzy’s less-than-desirable characteristics.
A week later Tilly arrived, and things were going brilliantly until one day Izzy was a little food-aggressive with Tilly – obviously we were concerned, so we contacted Mel who phoned us to talk over the issues. Since then, now three months later, we have had no problems, and due to Mel’s excellent, wise, informative advice we now have a 22kg Siberian Husky living and playing happily with a 4kg PomChi with no dominance issues, no food issues, and just an endless string of “cute” photos of the two dogs ‘cuddling’, sharing bones, chasing each other etc.
Before Mel arrived we, unknowingly, were doing things that we thought were helping, but in fact were only reinforcing undesired behavior or making things worse. Mel set us on the right track, told us what we needed to do, and was always available should we need her help. Obviously, I strongly recommend Mel for any dog issues, and i’m sure she can help with issues small and large, as sometimes it’s the little things that build up into the big issues.
We were having trouble introducing a new cat and her kitten to our established group of three siblings who are quite nervous cats anyway. The new cat was chasing the original three away when they came anywhere near her. Melanie came to the rescue and devised a plan for us to try to help develop a more harmonious household. Within a very short time there were big improvements and now after less than two months the chasing behaviour has all but stopped and everyone in the house, including me, are much more relaxed. Thanks Melanie. The transformation is miraculous!
#29 by Patricia Gregory on December 17, 2012 - 6:56 pm
Our rescued Yorkshire Terrier Bonnie had become very agressive towards me whenever I gave my husband anything to eat or drink. Within seconds she could turn from cutie to terrifying.
Melanie was able to show us where the problems lay and her suggestions resulted in an immediate improvement in behaviour and consequently a much happier dog and owner.
I would not hesitate to recommend Melanie to anyone with problems with their pets.
Many thanks Melanie.
#30 by Zuzanna Kupitz on December 16, 2012 - 1:52 pm
I called Melanie few months ago to help me with my 1 of 8 cats.
Parker has been aggressive to wards 2 other cat(Gustav and Dux) and we didn’t know what to do any more, so I decided to call for help 🙂
Melanie give me very good tips about how to keep healthy relationship between 8 cats and also she has got a very good knowledge about multi-cats house hold . I took her advice on board and me and my husband working every day with Parker.
Since Melanie visit Parker is absolutely different cat now.
BIG THANK YOU MELANIE from us and our little cat family!!!!
I was extremely fortunate to have come into contact with Melanie just before getting our giant breed puppy from the breeder. With her advice, we were able to set up a training plan and domestic environment to best suit our type of dog, and avoid many of the problems associated with puppydom. I’m so pleased with how well adjusted and friendly our dog is, and attribute this to the fantastic start we had, based on Mel’s sound advice and ongoing support. I would recommend Melanie wholeheartedly.
May 2020 Understanding dog to dog communication module 1, 2 and 3, Sarah Whitehead. September 2019 Canine body language and facial expression in dog to dog interactions, Sarah Whitehead. November 2017 The 3 Biggest Myths in Dog-to-Dog Communication with Sarah Whitehead, Alpha Education April 2016 Sex, Hormones & Neutering Masterclass with Sarah Whitehead, Alpha Education September 2015 Resource Guarding Masterclass with Sarah Whitehead, Alpha Education July 2015 Separation Problems in the Real World Masterclass with Sarah Whitehead, Alpha Education Webinar March 2015
Signals of pre-emptive aggression with Sarah Whitehead, Alpha Education September 2014
Dog-Dog Conflict In The Home Masterclass with Sarah Whitehead, Alpha Education CAPBT Conference June 2014
The human family in Companion Animal Behaviour Consulting and Training Andrzej Klosinski
Lets Talk Nutrition- Val Strong, MSC CAPBT Webinar 2013
Chasing/herding behaviour- teaching your dog to stop inappropriate chasing behaviour CAPBT Conference May 2011
Dogs, the law and reactive ones with Trevor Cooper (Cooper and Co Solicitors)
Pharmacology Robert Falconer Taylor MRCVS May 2011
On-lead aggression 2 day course with Sheila Harper
#1 by Nicky on December 10, 2020 - 10:35 pm
Had a consultation with Melanie for a number of issues. Having been to other trainers her approach was refreshing. Non judgemental, supportive and amazing with our dog. I’m in early stages of trying what Melanie has recommended but she is an amazing help for dog owners and their fur babies. Thank you Melanie
#2 by Jess adshead on October 15, 2020 - 2:45 pm
Melanie has been great, after about a year of not knowing what to do with our 2 slightly out of control dogs, also not knowing weather what we were doing was making them worse or better, Melanie, in just one session explained and showed us everything we need to know to go forward with them. To got out on a walk with them now feels like a way less daunting task than it used to be, it has now become a joy, knowing exactly what we need to do in any situation regarding other dogs has put our minds at rest and just 2 weeks later we are already seeing big improvements. I would recommend Melanie to any dog owner who is at a loss for what to do with their beloved pooch.
#3 by Lisa Woakes on November 10, 2019 - 9:10 am
Our adorable three year old whippet, who had previously been very happy around all dogs, developed anxiety which was sometimes leading to aggression. After being used to a well-behaved pup on the lead, walks were becoming a nightmare. We couldn’t let him off and it was distressing to see this nasty side of him we weren’t used to. It wasn’t good for him either as he could no longer play safely with his dog friends due to his unpredictable nature. Something had to be done, this behaviour was only going to increase unless we changed things. I’m so pleased we worked with Melanie Daniels to get help instead of trying to figure it out ourselves or go to classes. It has been a fully supported experience and we are delighted with the results. She helped us understand what was leading to this change in behaviour and provided all the support needed to correct it. By implementing her suggestions there has been an immediate improvement and although there are still areas to work on we feel confident about taking him out again. I would highly recommend this lovely lady who has transformed stressful outings back into the fun they should be.
#4 by Bee Wilson on November 8, 2019 - 10:42 am
When our new Labrador puppy arrived one of our older dogs, Lily, exhibited aggressive behaviour towards her. We were lucky to find Melanie immediately and have her spend a morning helping us resolve the situation. Melanie pointed out Lily was a Resource Guarding Dog and gave us many useful tips for dealing with that particular issue. We changed her food, exercised her in a different way and after a relatively short time Lily started accepting the puppy and now they play together 24/7! Melanie is a wonderful, caring, professional and supportive person who literally turned our horrible situation around and created doggy harmony so we could not recommend her more highly. We will always be extremely grateful she managed to come out so quickly to visit and save the day! If only she lived a little nearer we would see her on a regular basis as she has so much wisdom and experience to share.
#5 by Rachel Kelly on April 1, 2019 - 3:17 pm
I chose Melanie to help with my rescue greyhound cross eight years ago and she gave excellent support and advice. In December last year Archie was badly attacked by a dog and had to have surgery. As a result he stopped wanting to on walks completely. I contacted Melanie again and she helped us understand Archie was repsondong to the trauma he went through and that love and nurturing at home is just what he needs. After three months of resting today out of the blue Archie went to the door and after cautiously peering out came in the car and went for a lovely spring walk! We couldn’t be happier and couldn’t be prouder of him.
Melanie always puts animals feelings first and there is never any forcing of bullying. Thanks to her advice Archie has built his trust and confidence and can enjoy his daily
walks again! I cannot recommend Melanie Daniels highly enough. Thank you so much.
#6 by Janet Wood on November 30, 2018 - 6:39 pm
I have two rescue cats sisters who are 8 years old. My mother passed away in May and she had a cat 12 years old, also a rescue cat. I had the problem of intergrating my mum’s cat with my cats.
I contacted Melanie, who came to visit my home and met the cats. She was brilliant! So helpful, explaining different steps to take. We still have some hissing but they tolerate each other. Her advice was invaluable.
#7 by Szilvia Bacsa on November 7, 2018 - 4:33 pm
Melanie’s Service Is Highly Recommended
I’ve been fortunate to learn from Melanie how to train my two Cocker Spaniel mother and puppy.
Melanie visited us at our home and we had a fantastic customised training session together. We had discussions about all the challenging difficulties and Melanie provided me with loads of useful tips. We practiced different methods outside including how to call back, how to walk by the chickens and pheasants without chasing them – not an easy task. Melanie showed me plenty training tricks and method and not only gave me plenty info but she gave me written copies of all of the training suggestions. Her service is very helpful. In addition, I can call her if I have any questions and discuss any dog issues. It’s all very comforting.
Thanks so much Melanie. Your work has results.
#8 by Emma Tyler on September 30, 2018 - 7:21 am
Melanie has been helping us with our cocker spaniel who is aggressive with unknown dogs in the park. She gave us loads and loads of really useful advice which we have been putting into practice. She has a very good way of explaining in a non-judgemental way where you might be going wrong (let’s face it, it isn’t the dog’s fault!) and how you can do things differently. Gave us plenty to think about and both our dogs are much happier and calmer as a result. Thanks, Melanie.
#9 by Alex and Charlene on September 28, 2018 - 2:51 pm
5* recommended
We have had the pleasure to work with Melanie and we are pleased to say that all her help and information has been brilliant.
We recently moved home and we had the task of integrating our pets together (two dogs and a cat).
Melanie came and assessed our home, connected with us and our pets, then tailored a specific plan for our needs and schedules.
We are extremely happy with the results, which have vastly improved over a two week timespan.
Our pets can now be in the same area and room with minimal fuss.
Their diets have improved with healthier and tastier meals.
We very much appreciate that Melanie checks in with us to check how we are all getting and offering ongoing support.
Thank you Melanie from all of us 🙂
#10 by Katie Ramsey on September 7, 2018 - 4:43 pm
Melanie came to see me 3 months ago. I was fed up and about to rehome my cat who for 18 months had been weeing on the sofa and the bed (even when I was in it!). I had read lots of books and visited lots of websites for advice, tried everything I could think of and of course seen my vet but to no avail. Melanie was lovely and made some simple suggestions to change things around and add to the home to make my cats happier. Now I have 2 very happy cats and not one wet bed or sofa since the changes were made!
#11 by Pam Riches on February 8, 2018 - 1:30 pm
This is the first review I have ever sent but I felt i would share my (and Henry’s) time with Melanie.
I called Melanie to help me with my white westhighland terrier Henry. Her advise was so helpful and her suggestions and support were really positiive. I have noticed a change In Henry.
I would not hesitate to recommend her. I found her very friendly and helpful.
#12 by Louise Richardson on August 7, 2017 - 11:45 am
Melanie visited me, my partner and our 9 week old puppy Skye last week to give us advice on how to best get our new arrival (and us!) used to all sorts of situations including meeting people, other dogs and playing with them, leaving Skye alone and dealing with separation issues, feeding, recall training and dealing with an overexcited puppy. She literally made a massive difference to our experience with Skye and hugely improved my confidence and well as the puppy’s behaviour and happiness. Melanie was happy to stay with us until all our questions had been answered and was such a pleasant, knowledgeable person who’s expertise were clear from the results she gave us. I would strongly recommend anyone with a new puppy or older dog to have a visit from Melanie, it is honestly the best money I have ever spent and very reasonable too. Thank you so much!!!
#13 by Tania Hudson on July 13, 2017 - 8:00 pm
Melanie recently visited us to help us with our dog Teddy’s excessive barking and occasional aggression towards other dogs. Melanie took time to understand how we live as family and tailored her advice accordingly so all her suggested actions were practical and manageable for us. Melanie’s advice was incredibly comprehensive and supported with written notes that she was able to leave with us. It’s still early days but we have made some changes, are using Melanie’s techniques, and have noticed some improvement already. I would highly recommend Melanie!
#14 by Mrs Jane Hirst on June 23, 2017 - 10:47 am
We contacted Melanie when our 8 month old Welsh collie was becoming increasingly aggressive with other dogs. She visited us and spent a long time explaining all aggressive issues and taught us about different strategies to use including avoidance, diet, treats and neutering.
Bob is responding well so far and although it is only a week since Melanie’s visit I certainly feel more positive and confident when out walking. He is a happy, confident and loving dog so we are hoping that following Melanie’s advice we will see Bob overcome his problems over the next few weeks and months.
Melanie is friendly, helpful, kind and understanding and Bob responded well to her calm and positive approach. I would recommend Melanie as a very experienced and knowledgeable behaviourist who provided an excellent professional service.
#15 by Gill Lockhart on November 15, 2016 - 9:51 pm
We have used the techniques that we discussed during the consultation with Mel regarding our Golden Retriever Sam’s fear of fireworks and thunder. Absolutely tested out on the recent Bonfire Night. I am delighted to report that he has been so much better. From a 10/10 fear rating last year this has reduced to about 2/10 during the weeks prior to Bonfire Night and week after (oh please make them ban fireworks for sale to the public!) and 5/10 on the night itself. This is a huge improvement and we are so pleased for him.A few nights after Bonfire Night he was even able to lay on the carpet whilst fireworks were going off on ‘Emmerdale’ and a few were going off outside eating his filled kong and was quite distracted. No more pacing, whining and shaking Would have no hesitation in recommending Mel to anyone having problems with their dog’s behaviour or fears.
#16 by Sarah Moir on September 5, 2016 - 2:17 pm
Melanie helped me with my two male Irish setters when one of them started to become aggressive. Although we can’t change his personality completely, having been attacked when he was young (14 months), with Mel’s help we have put many strategies in place so that both dogs are now living together in relative harmony, with no fighting or injuries for a few months now. Without being helped to understand his behaviour and his triggers, my youngest dog would have had to be rehomed so I am very grateful for all that Mel did for us.
#17 by Hayley Tillson on October 17, 2015 - 9:03 am
Honey is a different dog now, thank you! She loves Nature’s menu raw food and her Kongs. She doesn’t bark now when left alone. She is a sun worshipper and lays on top of the sofa in the sun, sleeping all day, or sleeps outside. We are all so much happier, including our elderly neighbour. She still barks at the postman but not when I leave the house, thank you so much!
#18 by SARAH BECKER on May 19, 2015 - 9:00 am
Melanie has worked with our two St Bernards (Amadeus and Winston) since they were puppies and has given us great advice over the years. We called upon her again because we needed further guidance on how to handle both dogs when out on walks on narrow country paths, barking at strangers and anyone that comes to the house and one of our dogs would only walk on the farm paths to the right of our home and would not turn left towards the neighboring houses and traffic. Melanie was able to help us with everything using a combination of click training and rewards. She came on a walk with us and based on her advice, we are now able to walk Winston towards the neighbors’ houses and the traffic and it is no longer an issue for him. She gave us a clear plan to follow as well as excellent information sheets. Melanie is someone that you can really count on to help you and our dogs love her! Thank you Melanie! Sarah & Marc
#19 by Anne on March 18, 2015 - 4:00 pm
My 8 year old black Labrador had become increasingly noise phobic over the winter months with gun noises she heard while we were out walking. Melanie visited me 3 weeks ago and I found her to be most professional, helpful and sympathetic with my dog’s problem. Previous to her visit, my dog would start shaking and stop and refused to walk anywhere. With her help and advice, my dog is so much more confident and is starting to enjoy her walks again with tail wagging happily! Thank you so much.
#20 by Marcelle on May 11, 2014 - 7:27 am
Melanie is lovely, caring and is a real expert in her field. We as a family including our resident cat and the new cat we were trying to introduce were all very stressed!
Mel came out, not only to understand our cats anxieties but to reassure ours, as trying to introduce the kitty cats had caused lots of tension in the human household. Mel was fantastic, her warm, sincere manner instantly reassured us that we had done the right thing for all of us by asking Mel to come and see us. Mel listened to our concerns, spent time with both our cats, then talked us through a programme to support both cats to start to tolerate each other. This was during the Easter Holidays, We cannot believe how quickly we have all relaxed. We now have an open door policy and can feed both our cats within very close proximity of each other. We have only had our new cat for 7 weeks (he was a stray from the RSPCA) but the progress has been amazing and very rewarding. I would thoroughly recommend Mel and would also like to offer her a big heart felt thank you, we could not have got this far without you. Thank you 🙂
#21 by Shirley Williams on January 6, 2014 - 8:57 am
‘We turned to Mel when we struggling to introduce two one-year old cats to our existing four-year old cat. Mel took time to meet the cats, see our home and discuss their behaviours in detail. The process she suggested was kind, sensible and most importantly, accepted by our three cats. It isn’t a ‘quick fix’ and we’ve worked at the pace the cats have chosen. So we’ve got a way to go yet but things are going well. If Mel hadn’t helped us we wouldn’t have been able to keep the new cats.
#22 by Richard & Kim Earl on December 16, 2013 - 9:14 pm
We were experiencing occasional difficulties of nipping by our dachshund Maud. We had a very informative visit from Melanie which turned out to be more about educating humans about dog behaviour than educating Maud. This has addressed our problem completely and, as a result, we and Maud are really enjoying life together again. We would strongly recommend Melanie’s services to anyone encountering animal behaviour issues.
#23 by Hannah Corns on August 17, 2013 - 11:24 am
Mel has been excellent helping us with Lola our American Cocker Spaniel x Jack Russel get through serious seperation anxiety and aggression. It took many months of working together to get to a place where Lola can be left on her own without fuss and most importantly aggression. Walking Lola is now a pleassure with only the occational incident! Mel has always continued to support us well after the initial first meeting! Thanks Mel for your help, Hannah
#24 by Jo Caddoo on July 29, 2013 - 3:16 pm
Melanie helped us recently with issues we were having with our rescue cat and his toilet habits. I contacted Melanie through her website ‘contact me’ form and she replied within less than 24 hours, giving some really useful tips as an initial start. I felt so encouraged by her warm and friendly manner we booked her to come for a home visit to meet the offender! I can honestly say she was brilliant. I know I was really worried about getting it wrong and making things worse, but her calm, sensible approach and her genuine warmth and affection for animals shone through all the time she was with us. She gave us lots of really useful hints, handouts to read and practical, sensible advice which we could use straight away. I cannot recommend her services highly enough.
#25 by Anne Philp on June 9, 2013 - 7:58 am
Melanie’s calm, commonsense approach to Lucy Lurcher’s fear aggression boosted our confidence and helped us build a closer dog/owner relationship. Lucy slowly learned to trust us and looked to us for guidance when interacting with other dogs. With Melanie’s help Lucy blossomed into a great companion. Sadly, Lucy is now at Rainbow Bridge. We miss her very much.
#26 by Natasha on March 29, 2013 - 12:27 pm
Thank you for your help with our Rottweiler cross. We took on board your advice and as time goes on, we are learning more about her character.
The information sheets that you gave us were really helpful. We also very much appreciated that you accompanied us on a walk (in the freezing cold and rain!) to observe behaviour first hand and explain typical rottweiler traits, such as fixations. The book that you recommended was also a great insight into the fact that every dog is an individual and needs to be treated accordingly. Once again, thank you for your help.
#27 by Rien Sach on January 17, 2013 - 11:16 am
Melanie visited us a few months ago to help address some issue we were having with our 19 month old dog, Izzy the Siberian Husky, and possible issues we would have with our incoming puppy, Tilly the PomChi. From the get-go, it was clear Mel knew what she was talking about, and had a ‘way’ with dogs – Izzy, normally hyperactive and jumpy when meeting “new” people, sat and was calm when Mel entered. After spending over two hours talking to us, and giving out a lot of good reading material, we felt much more confident with Izzy and had a good plan on how to positively reinforce the behavior we desired, and address some of Izzy’s less-than-desirable characteristics.
A week later Tilly arrived, and things were going brilliantly until one day Izzy was a little food-aggressive with Tilly – obviously we were concerned, so we contacted Mel who phoned us to talk over the issues. Since then, now three months later, we have had no problems, and due to Mel’s excellent, wise, informative advice we now have a 22kg Siberian Husky living and playing happily with a 4kg PomChi with no dominance issues, no food issues, and just an endless string of “cute” photos of the two dogs ‘cuddling’, sharing bones, chasing each other etc.
Before Mel arrived we, unknowingly, were doing things that we thought were helping, but in fact were only reinforcing undesired behavior or making things worse. Mel set us on the right track, told us what we needed to do, and was always available should we need her help. Obviously, I strongly recommend Mel for any dog issues, and i’m sure she can help with issues small and large, as sometimes it’s the little things that build up into the big issues.
#28 by Steve Gater on December 27, 2012 - 6:46 pm
We were having trouble introducing a new cat and her kitten to our established group of three siblings who are quite nervous cats anyway. The new cat was chasing the original three away when they came anywhere near her. Melanie came to the rescue and devised a plan for us to try to help develop a more harmonious household. Within a very short time there were big improvements and now after less than two months the chasing behaviour has all but stopped and everyone in the house, including me, are much more relaxed. Thanks Melanie. The transformation is miraculous!
#29 by Patricia Gregory on December 17, 2012 - 6:56 pm
Our rescued Yorkshire Terrier Bonnie had become very agressive towards me whenever I gave my husband anything to eat or drink. Within seconds she could turn from cutie to terrifying.
Melanie was able to show us where the problems lay and her suggestions resulted in an immediate improvement in behaviour and consequently a much happier dog and owner.
I would not hesitate to recommend Melanie to anyone with problems with their pets.
Many thanks Melanie.
#30 by Zuzanna Kupitz on December 16, 2012 - 1:52 pm
I called Melanie few months ago to help me with my 1 of 8 cats.
Parker has been aggressive to wards 2 other cat(Gustav and Dux) and we didn’t know what to do any more, so I decided to call for help 🙂
Melanie give me very good tips about how to keep healthy relationship between 8 cats and also she has got a very good knowledge about multi-cats house hold . I took her advice on board and me and my husband working every day with Parker.
Since Melanie visit Parker is absolutely different cat now.
BIG THANK YOU MELANIE from us and our little cat family!!!!
Zuzanna and Adam
#31 by Helen King on December 14, 2011 - 5:51 pm
I was extremely fortunate to have come into contact with Melanie just before getting our giant breed puppy from the breeder. With her advice, we were able to set up a training plan and domestic environment to best suit our type of dog, and avoid many of the problems associated with puppydom. I’m so pleased with how well adjusted and friendly our dog is, and attribute this to the fantastic start we had, based on Mel’s sound advice and ongoing support. I would recommend Melanie wholeheartedly.