Pet Matters - Pet Behaviour and Training in Devon
Kirsty Peake, DipCABT, CABP, MAPDT681, MPSAinfo@kajpeake.ndo.co.uk Tel: 01364 621287Rachael Forrest, VN, DipCABTrachlf20@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 01626 854811Chrissy Beckhurst, DipCABT, MAPDT01015beckhurst.christine@gmail.com Tel: 01647 252478THE CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR PET MATTERS IS 01626 854811THERE WILL BE AN ANSAPHONE ON THIS NUMBER AND IF WE ARE NOT AVAILABLE YOU WILL BE CONTACTED WITHIN 24 HOURS
New Service: We are continually asked of we can recommend a dog walker or house sitter. We are therefore delighted to be able to welcome Gary Bray to Pet Matters. Gary is currently studying with COAPE and is offering a dog walking and house sitting service. Please contact Gary direct on either 01626 830094 or 07596088685
Kirsty holds an Advanced Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour and Training. She also holds an advanced diploma specifically in dog behaviour. She is a COAPE Association Behaviour Practitioner, one of the first to achieve this when it was started in 2005. She is the Senior Behaviourist for Pet Matters, which she founded in 2000. She holds the post of chair of the COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and Trainers (CAPBT) www.capbt.org and is also a Tutor with COAPE. Visit www.coape.org for more information on COAPE. The CAPBT represents 200 + specifically qualified behaviourists for referral of pet behaviour and training problems. Visit www.capbt.org to find out more about the Association.
Chrissy and Rachael also have the COAPE Advanced Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour and Training. We have a team of Happy Helpers who give us lots of support and obviously help! Pet Matters continues to grow as one of the leading pet behaviour and training practices in the South West
We are strongly committed to using only positive methods in working with pets. We do not use aversive techniques such as shock collars, sprays, rattle tins, or choke chain to name but a few. Click on the link here and see why we say Ask Why? Say No to punitive and aversive methods of working with dogs. .
All animal behaviour work is carried out on veterinary referral only. Our animal behaviour practice works alongside many veterinary practices in the south of Devon. Veterinary Surgeons are delighted to be able to include this service within their practice. They, like Doctors, are now restricted to the amount of time for each consultation. For animal psychological problems it is a real plus to be able to refer them confidently to a Behaviour and Training Practice such as Pet Matters. Kirsty, Chrissy are qualified in pharmacology and this enables them to discuss with consulting vets the need, if appropriate, of medication to help with a behavioural problem. Rachael, as a Veterinary Nurse, brings all her experience to Pet Matters.
Chrissy and Rachael also run Pet Dog Training Classes in the evening based at Bovey Tracey Town Hall, Devon. Clients have the option of taking their Kennel Club Good Dog Citizen Scheme at Puppy, Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. We have passes at all levels. The classes are geared for puppies, beginners, intermediate and advanced. We are not training competition level obedience but how to have a well behaved dog when out and about in the modern world.
Classes are run using positive methods and we introduce owners and their dogs to the benefits of clicker training. We leave it up to the owners as to whether or not they use this system.
For dates of new terms please check with the diary page and download the application form and submit this to the address detailed on it.
It is very satisfying to run these classes as they act as a balance to the behavioural cases seen by Chrissy and Rachael. Some of which are very sad but most have a happy ending. They enjoy running these classes and watching dogs and their owners learn to live as a partnership and not a mastership. The behavioural cases are a challenge but it is very rewarding watching both animal (be it dog, cat, horse, rabbit, guinea pig, parrot) and owner start to enjoy being together.
Kirsty, with the help of the team, now runs rehabilitation classes for reactive dogs. Entry into these classes is through a behaviour assessment carried out by either Kirsty, Chrissy or Rachael. These are very challenging classes but can have a huge impact on improving life skills for the dogs. It also gives support to the owners and makes owning a reactive dog a bit less stressful.
Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme
Kirsty is a Kennel Club approved Examiner at Bronze and Silver level of the KC GCDS. This means that although she cannot test her own groups she can test others but also knows what Examiners are looking for when her group is being tested. See the diary for dates for the KC GCDS.
