Dynamic Dog Functional Assessment
Unlocking the missing piece of the puzzle, and addressing the root cause of most behaviour problems.
What is a Dynamic Dog Assessment?
A Dynamic Dog Assessment looks at your dog’s physical function to identify potential areas of pain, discomfort or dysfunction that may otherwise go unnoticed. Rather than focusing only on how your dog behaves, I assess how they move, stand and function in everyday life, including their gait, posture, movement patterns and physical habits. I also consider their history, lifestyle and any changes you may have noticed. Dogs are incredibly good at compensating, and pain doesn’t always look like limping or obvious sensitivity. Subtle changes in movement, posture, behaviour, activity, tolerance or even their fur pattern can sometimes be the first indication that something isn’t quite right. Dogs often communicate their discomfort in subtle ways, like weight shifting, reduced weight bearing and most commonly, what we describe as behaviour problems. Dog's might be reactive, hyperactive, anxious, and even sensitive to noises. The subtle signs can be easily missed or not noticed in a standard veterinary consult. I've even worked with dogs who were assessment by an orthopaedic vet and were cleared, only to find the issue after completing the assessment.
The assessment is hands-off and observational, allowing me to assess your dog in a more natural environment and identify areas that may warrant further investigation or professional support. You’ll receive a detailed assessment and recommendations, which can help you better understand your dog’s physical needs and provide useful information to share with your vet or other professionals involved in their care.
Step One: Deep Dive Consultation
After our initial discovery call, we book in a detailed 90 minute video consultation. Be warned: I will ask you EVERYTHING about your dog, their behaviour, their routine, their environment and all the nitty gritty. I want to know your dog inside out.
My job is to put all the pieces together and start understanding how everything is connected; the whole dog. I don't need to see your dog for this part, that comes later.
Step Three: Analysis
I go away and go through every single piece of evidence with a fine tooth comb; looking for potential physical issues that might be causing or contributing to behaviour problems. I annotate photos and videos to supply as evidence to your vet, and create a detailed clinical report in "vet speak" to support your vet's investigation and/or treatment plan. I will provide you with recommendations, and help you advocate for your dog to get the best results.
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Step Two: Evidence Collection
I will ask you to gather very specific photos and videos of your dog's posture, gait and functional movement. Some of these are strict and staged, and some you capture naturally when your dog does them. I will show you examples of everything, and be there to guide you every step of the way. You send everything to me on whatsapp as soon as you capture it (even if it's 10pm!), and I will let you know if anything needs to be re-done.
Step Four: Follow On Support
Once the report is complete, we will meet again for a 30-60 minute call to review all the findings. I will talk you through what everything means, where to go from here, how to ensure your vet listens to you and most importantly, how to manage your dog's behaviour in the meantime. At this stage, with your consent, I forward the report over to your vet with a summary of my findings and what we would to do next. I can even 'join' (virtually) you during your vet appointment for additional support.
"I booked in for Karolina’s Dynamic Dog Assessment for my 14 year old Border Terrier, Badger, after noticing changes that we had put down to old age. I honestly couldn’t recommend her highly enough. The assessment was incredibly thorough and gave us a completely different perspective on what Badger might be experiencing. The detailed report was shared with our vet and physiotherapist, who both commented on how valuable it was and how it highlighted subtle changes that can be much harder to identify during their own assessments. This helped us move forward with further investigations and a pain relief trial. Badger is now on pain relief and we’re exploring stronger medication to keep him comfortable. Since starting treatment, his noise sensitivity and several behaviours we had assumed were simply part of ageing, or even dementia, have improved significantly. Karolina was so easy to talk to, professional from start to finish and, most importantly, genuinely caring. It was obvious how much she cared about Badger, and there was never any judgement. She adapted every recommendation around what Badger was comfortable with and what was realistic for us, always putting his welfare first. Her whole approach is about exploring why a dog is behaving the way they are, rather than simply treating the symptoms, and that really shines through in everything she does. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone who wants to better understand their dog and give them the best possible quality of life." - Kathy & Badger
The Dynamic Dog Assessment is designed for:
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Dog owners whose dogs are beginning to show signs of behaviour problems, or have had a sudden change in behaviour
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Owners who have worked with 1, 2 or even 3 previous trainers with limited results - we get to and address the root cause of behaviour issues
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Owners experiencing longstanding behaviour challenges such as aggression, reactivity, anxiety, hyperactivity
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Owners of dogs who just don't switch off
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Owners of dogs who describe them as Jekyll & Hyde; they're unpredictable and you never know when they will react
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Dogs who have been cleared by a vet; we often find issues that the vet cannot see in their consult room
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Dogs who cannot be handled by a vet; due to severe behaviour issues. The assessment is 100% remote and helps your vet assess your dog without touching them.
Does this sound like you?
Dynamic Dog Functional Assessment
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90 minute behaviour deep dive consultation & initial behaviour recommendations if needed
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Unlimited whatsapp support throughout the process
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Hours of photo and gait/functional/movement video analysis
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A comprehensive, clinical report and corresponding evidence detailing your dog's assessment for your vet
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up to 60 minute follow up consultation to review findings
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Recommendations for the next steps for you and your vet
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Advice on advocating for your dog
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Liaising with your vet and any other professionals like physiotherapists
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A month's free access to the Whole Dog Hub
Start the journey to transforming your dogs behaviour.
Get in touch to discuss your individual case.
Real Client Progress Checks
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Ready to get started?
Not Sure Which Service You Need? Reach Out to Discuss Your Case
Get in touch by booking an initial call to briefly talk through the issues you're struggling with and what you would like support with. I will help you decide whether 1:1 support is the best step forward and answer any questions you may have.
Make a meaningful commitment to yourself and your dog today
Questions?
Choosing the right support for your dog is a commitment, both in terms of time and investment, and it’s important you feel confident before taking the next step. I offer free 15 minute phone consultations to discuss your case and run through the best programme suited for your needs.