Social Services Family Placement

We conduct canine behavioural assessments for and on behalf of various organisations specialising in fostering and adoption agencies.

  • Assessment of general dog behaviour
  • Psychological profile of dog and owner
  • Establish canine status using specifically designed tests
  • Recommendations and results presented in formal report
  • Advice relating to new child/baby introduction if required

When placing children in to temporary or permanent new homes where a dog already resides, it is often useful to have the dogs temperament professionally assessed as to the stability and suitability of the dog when considering placing a child.

Our canine assessment appointments generally last for two hours. Prior to a meeting in the potential carers homes, we ask that our specifically designed psychological profile forms are completed in regard to owner, dog, environment and attitudes. During the assessment meeting; we conduct a variety of tests designed specifically that replicate as closely as possible the child’s likely handling in a variety of ways that potentially would provoke a response in the dog.

Owner attitude towards the dog, knowledge of canine care and responsibilities are also looked at as a matter of course as well as the standard of care for and well-being of the dog and social conscience.

We also frequently conduct assessments when a child has already been placed in a home. This is most useful to observe child and dog interacting together. Some young people through previous experiences can be unwittingly and occasionally knowingly antagonistic towards family pets. This can be discerned and worked with.

Our findings are then presented in a formal report to the relevant person (social worker/other).

To find out more or hire an expert, get in touch today.

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Thank you from

Wythall German Shepherd Dog Training Club

The trainers at Wythall German Shepherd Dog Training Club wanted some guidance with how we could work with dogs in a class environment that we were unable to accommodate due to their behaviour. Especially so we didn’t disrupt the calmer dogs.

Ross McCarty was asked to do some training with our trainers and a few of the dogs in the club that were struggling to stay calm in a class and were also aggressive when on lead out and about. Some of the dogs were only aggressive to other dogs, but a couple of the dogs did not cope well with people either.

Ross was more than accommodating in swapping the session around, putting the trainer’s session at the end, so owners could get away with their dogs (due to the heat) while the training was aimed at class structure.

The whole session was great. We had 8 problem / aggressive dogs enter the room and 8 relaxed dogs at the end of it, some were so comfortable they were drifting off to sleep.

It was a great mix of general theories and methods and also targeted one to one solutions to specific problems, all well managed between Ross and his colleague Vicky.

There was a relaxed atmosphere and everyone’s questions were welcomed and well answered.

Overall a brilliant session and some great ideas to take forward into our classes to help all the dogs, whether the ones that can react or the ones that don’t want to be reacted to.

The feedback from all who attended has been excellent!

Thank you

Thank You From

Four Paws Dog Training Club

Four Paws Dog Training Club would like to thank Ross for his teaching session which was very helpful to our trainers and Committee members. We asked Ross to talk to us about handling dogs who were disruptive. We were particularly interested in helping handlers with dogs who bark a lot in class.

Ross shared many ideas on managing the class differently, and on helping individual owners improve their dogs’ behaviour, and we have used this successfully. We found his interactive and informal manner very enjoyable and this helped us to relax and ask plenty of questions.  Ross was also able to assist in a particular case:  making an assessment of one of the dogs who attended our classes and giving specific behavioural advice.

The dog’s owner implemented Ross’s advice, which we reinforced in the class, and she now has a very well behaved dog.

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