Online consultations with an animal behaviourist are becoming increasingly popular, offering a convenient way for pet owners to get professional help with their pet's behavioural problems. How exactly does an online meeting with a behaviourist work? Let's go through it step by step.

What is worth knowing before the consultation?

Preparing for an online consultation with a pet behaviourist is all about making sure the consultation goes smoothly and gets the results you want. Before you sit down in front of the camera, it is worth taking a few steps to help you make the most of your time with a professional.

• First of all, think about the problems you are facing in your relationship with your pet. Prepare a list of the most common behaviours that cause you concern.
• Gather your pet's health records, if available. It's a good idea to keep a history of vet visits, test results or information on medications used. Some behavioural problems may be related to a medical condition.
• If the problematic behaviour occurs regularly, consider taking some videos that document the behaviour. Such footage can be extremely valuable during a consultation, as it will allow the behaviourist to see exactly what is happening and how the animal reacts in certain situations.

It is worth remembering that the effectiveness of the consultation largely depends on your commitment and willingness to make the suggested changes.

What happens during an online consultation?

The start of an online consultation usually involves an introduction by the behaviourist, who explains how the meeting will take place and asks the pet owner to detail the problems they are experiencing. These may include questions about the pet's daily routine, its environment, its relationship with household members and any changes that may have affected its behaviour. The next stage is to analyse material provided by the owner, such as videos or photographs that document problematic behaviour. The behaviourist may ask to show the animal live, if possible, to better understand its reactions in different situations. During this part of the consultation, the specialist carefully analyses the animal's behaviour, paying attention to its body language, reactions to stimuli and the way it interacts with its environment. This makes it possible to identify the causes of the problem and determine what factors are contributing to the undesirable behaviour. At the end of the online consultation, the behaviourist summarises the information obtained and presents his conclusions and recommendations. This may include specific training techniques, changes to the animal's environment, suggestions for diet or daily routine, as well as tips on how to deal with difficult situations. The behaviourist may also suggest further sessions if the problem requires a longer period of work or monitoring of progress.

During the online consultation, it is crucial that the owner actively participates in the conversation, asking questions and clarifying any concerns. It is a two-way process where cooperation between the behaviourist and the pet owner is key to achieving positive results.

Next steps and implementation of recommendations

Once the online consultation with the animal behaviourist has been completed, the crucial step of implementing the recommendations into your pet's daily life begins. It is the systematic and consistent implementation of the specialist's advice that will determine whether the desired results can be achieved.

In many cases, the behaviourist may suggest further meetings to monitor progress and make any adjustments to the action plan.