HOW TO HIRE · PETS · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a dog behaviour consultant in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A dog behaviour consultant in Ireland costs €80–€250 per session, typically around €130. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
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THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a dog behaviour consultant in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers dog behaviour consultant work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — follow-Up Sessions — many consultants offer follow-up sessions to track progress and make necessary adjustments to the training plan.
- How does consultant's experience change the price?A licensed provider costs more than an unlicensed one, and should. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the behavioural issues being addressed change the price?Complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of the sessions required change the price?A full day is the cheapest way to buy a lot of hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Owner Education — part of the service involves educating the dog owner on effective training techniques and behaviour management — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a dog behaviour consultant job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO LICENCE OR REGISTER APPLIES TO DOG WALKERS, PET SITTERS OR GROOMERS IN IRELAND. Anyone may trade as one. The protection is insurance and what is written down — and the insurance that matters is not the obvious one.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
CARE, CUSTODY AND CONTROL cover, not just public liability — public liability pays if your dog bites a stranger; care, custody and control is what pays if your dog is injured, lost or killed while in their charge, and plenty of walkers carry only the first; How many dogs are walked at once, and whether yours is walked with strangers' dogs; Whether they are insured to drive your dog in their vehicle, and how it is secured; What happens if your dog is hurt or runs — the plan, and which vet; Keys: who holds one, how it is returned, what happens if it is lost, in writing; Two references from current clients, called not read.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers dog behaviour consultant work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — follow-Up Sessions — many consultants offer follow-up sessions to track progress and make necessary adjustments to the training plan.
A good answer: A licensed provider costs more than an unlicensed one, and should. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A full day is the cheapest way to buy a lot of hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Owner Education — part of the service involves educating the dog owner on effective training techniques and behaviour management — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a dog behaviour consultant job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability — behaviour Assessment — A dog behaviour consultant will conduct a thorough assessment of your dog's behaviour, identifying triggers and underlying issues.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the dog behaviour consultant starts, and an itemised invoice after — follow-Up Consultations — offering follow-up sessions to assess progress and make necessary adjustments to the training plan.
Getting the quote right
- Consultant's experience — a licensed provider costs more than an unlicensed one, and should.
- Complexity of the behavioural issues being addressed — complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job.
- Duration of the sessions required — a full day is the cheapest way to buy a lot of hours.
- Travel distance — a provider already working nearby can quote more keenly.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: consultant's experience — a licensed provider costs more than an unlicensed one, and should
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the behavioural issues being addressed — complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job
- They will not talk about it: duration of the sessions required — a full day is the cheapest way to buy a lot of hours
- A price for the dog behaviour consultant before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the dog behaviour consultant has begun
What a dog behaviour consultant costs: €80–€250 per session
The figures are for the job, per session, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Behaviour assessment and Training plan development each carry their own band. Dog Behaviour Consultant price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Dog behaviour consultants near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstConsultant's experience — a licensed provider costs more than an unlicensed one, and should — that is what the dog behaviour consultant is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the behavioural issues being addressed — complexity usually means a more experienced person on the job — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfDuration of the sessions required — a full day is the cheapest way to buy a lot of hours — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherTravel distance — a provider already working nearby can quote more keenly — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the dog behaviour consultant is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, need for follow-up consultations — getting this clear up front avoids a change to the price later.
- Behaviour Assessment
- A dog behaviour consultant will conduct a thorough assessment of your dog's behaviour, identifying triggers and underlying issues.
- Owner Education
- Part of the service involves educating the dog owner on effective training techniques and behaviour management.
- Follow-Up Sessions
- Many consultants offer follow-up sessions to track progress and make necessary adjustments to the training plan.
- Training Plan Development
- Creating a customised training plan that addresses the specific behavioural issues identified during the assessment.
- One-on-One Training Sessions
- Conducting training sessions with you and your dog to implement behaviour modification techniques.
- Group Behaviour Workshops
- Facilitating workshops that allow dogs to interact with others in a controlled environment while learning social skills.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a dog behaviour consultant: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on the consultant's experience, location, and the complexity of the behavioural issues being addressed. More severe issues may require longer sessions or multiple visits, increasing the overall cost.
While general dog trainers can assist with basic training, a qualified dog behaviour consultant is recommended for complex behavioural issues. They possess specialised knowledge and training to address specific problems effectively.
Emergency consultations are not typical but may be available depending on the consultant's schedule. It's best to check with individual consultants regarding their availability for urgent situations.
Yes, many consultants offer package deals for multiple sessions or related services, which can be more cost-effective. Discussing your needs with the consultant can help in arranging this.
Services such as medical assessments or treatments for physical health issues are generally out of scope for behaviour consultants. They focus on behavioural modification and training rather than veterinary care.
NO LICENCE OR REGISTER APPLIES TO DOG WALKERS, PET SITTERS OR GROOMERS IN IRELAND. Anyone may trade as one. The protection is insurance and what is written down — and the insurance that matters is not the obvious one.
MORE GUIDES