HOW TO HIRE · PETS

How to hire a dog behaviour consultant in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

The title is unregulated; a vet check first and a written plan matter. Here is what to ask.

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  • One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews

THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a dog behaviour consultant in five steps

  1. Get a vet checkRule out pain or illness first.
  2. Write down the historyWhen it started, triggers, incidents.
  3. Ask about methodsReward-based, no pain or fear.
  4. Expect a written planSteps, management and follow-up.
  5. Keep in touchFollow-up support as agreed.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

No law licenses or protects the title dog behaviour consultant in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, and no qualification is required. Only a vet may diagnose and treat medical causes — the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 restricts veterinary surgery to registered vets.

Ask about training and experience, and whether they work on vet referral. legislation.gov.uk →

A vet check first

Pain and illness can drive behaviour. A consultant cannot diagnose them; a registered vet can. A careful consultant asks for a vet check before starting.

Book a vet check and share the notes; search your vet on RCVS Find a Vet. rcvs.org.uk →

Animal welfare law

The welfare law follows the animal, not the owner. In England and Wales the Animal Welfare Act 2006 treats anyone in charge of an animal, even for a day, as responsible for its needs; Scotland's Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and Northern Ireland's Welfare of Animals Act 2011 impose the same kind of duty on a dog behaviour consultant.

Ask for their emergency plan and which vet they would call for your dog. legislation.gov.uk →

Insurance

There is no compulsory insurance for a dog behaviour consultant. A professional will carry public liability and cover for the animals they look after, and can tell you the insurer's name and what happens if your dog is injured.

Ask for a copy of the insurance schedule.

VAT

A behaviour consultation is standard-rated, so 20% VAT applies to the first visit, the written plan and the follow-up support. Once taxable turnover is above £90,000 a year, registration is compulsory, and the VAT must then appear as its own line on the bill.

Ask for the VAT number, and see the consultation fee, the plan and the 20% VAT itemised. gov.uk →

“Do you need a vet referral before the behaviour consultation?”

A good answer: A good dog behaviour consultant usually asks for one.

“What training and experience does the behaviour consultant have?”

A good answer: Specific to your dog's problem.

“What methods will you use?”

A good answer: Reward-based, with management for safety.

“Will I get a written behaviour plan?”

A good answer: Yes, after the first consultation.

“How much follow-up support is included?”

A good answer: Calls or emails for a set period.

“What if my dog's behaviour is dangerous?”

A good answer: A safety plan and, if needed, referral.

“Is the consultant insured?”

A good answer: Yes.

Getting the quote right

  • Who actually attends the consultation — the consultant whose qualifications you checked, or an associate, employed or subcontracted
  • First consultation length and price
  • Written plan included
  • Follow-up support period
  • Travel and cancellation
  • The VAT number, with VAT on the consultation as a separate line

Walk away if

  • No interest in a vet check
  • Promises of a quick cure
  • Pain or fear-based methods
  • No written plan
LOW
£125
TYPICAL
£250
HIGH
£540

What a dog behaviour consultant costs: £125–£540 per session

A dog behaviour consultation is priced per session — usually a long first visit with a written plan — with follow-up support listed separately. 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.

  1. Vet checkMedical causes ruled out.
  2. HistoryBackground taken.
  3. ObservationYour dog seen at home or on a walk.
  4. PlanA written plan with management and training steps.
  5. Follow-upProgress reviewed.

Vet referral
Your vet's go-ahead and notes.
Trigger
What sets off the behaviour.
Desensitisation
Gradual, gentle exposure to a trigger.
Counter-conditioning
Changing the emotional response to a trigger.
Management
Preventing incidents while training.
Separation distress
Anxiety when left alone.

AFTER

When the job is done

Follow the planSmall steps, consistently.
Keep a diaryIncidents and progress.
Use the follow-upAsk before things slip.
Leave the reviewReviews on Locufy come only from booked jobs, so yours counts. If something was not right, the make-it-right step goes first and the consultant can fix it before the review is published.

STEP 1Tell the consultant, in writingDescribe what went wrong and what you want. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires the service to be carried out with reasonable care and skill.
STEP 2Use the make-it-right step on LocufyScore the dog behaviour consultant under four stars and you are asked whether the consultant should see it first; we follow it through, then your review goes up.
STEP 3Trading Standards, through the helplineThere is no licensing body for a dog behaviour consultant. If the consultant will not put things right, the consumer helpline for your nation can refer it to Trading Standards — Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 in England and Wales, Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060, and Consumerline on 0300 123 6262 in Northern Ireland.
STEP 4Take it to small claimsWhere money is owed back for the dog behaviour consultant, you can claim without a solicitor: up to £10,000 in England and Wales, up to £5,000 under Scotland's simple procedure, and up to £5,000 in Northern Ireland.

Hiring a dog behaviour consultant: questions people ask

No. The title is not regulated in any UK nation. Ask about training, experience and whether they work on vet referral.

Pain or illness can cause behaviour changes, and only a registered vet can diagnose and treat them.

Yes, while in charge; welfare law requires protection from pain and suffering.

Expect £125–£540 per session, around £250 on average. Our dog behaviour consultant price guide has the detail, and your postcode above brings up dog behaviour consultants close to you.

Weeks to months, depending on the problem; there is no instant fix.

Tell the consultant in writing; the Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires reasonable care and skill.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in pets

How to hire: Dog TrainingHow to hire: Puppy TrainingHow to hire: Mobile VetHow to hire: Dog WalkingHow to hire: Doggy Day CareHow to hire: Dog BoardingHow to hire: Pet SittingHow to hire: Group Dog WalkingAll 701 hiring guides →

Dog behaviour consultants near you

Dog behaviour consultants in LondonDog behaviour consultants in ManchesterDog behaviour consultants in BirminghamDog behaviour consultants in GlasgowDog behaviour consultants in BelfastAll dog behaviour consultants on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, section 19
  2. RCVS — Find a Vet
  3. Animal Welfare Act 2006, section 9 — duty to ensure welfare
  4. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  5. gov.uk — make a court claim for money: court fees
  6. mygov.scot — make a court claim for money
  7. nidirect — small claims process
  8. VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
  9. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register