Who am I?
Support with behaviour and training can begin from before you even bring your puppy home so that you have the right equipment available and know what you’re doing from day one. You can book a single session to ask for advice or help on a single issue or book a series of sessions at a reduced fee per session, to cover everything that you need to know.
When things don’t go to plan, and behaviour problems develop, I can help to resolve or improve most behaviour problems that border collies present with. I have extensive experience of working with collies over many decades and I am proficient at developing successful behaviour modification plans, and supporting owners and their dogs as they work through the training.
All my behaviour and training methods embrace humane, scientifically-sound training practices based on learning theory and an understanding of dog behaviour. This will always exclude any pain-inducing, fear-inducing, or avoidance-based techniques.
Rachel Rodgers
Rachel is the founder of The Collie Consultant and is based in Spalding, Lincolnshire. She is currently the ONLY ABTC-registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist and Animal Training Instructor specialising in collies. This means that she has passed the ABTC rigorous assessment to prove that she has the knowledge AND experience required to be listed as a clinical animal behaviourist and trainer on the ABTC website.
She has lived and worked with collies for almost 40 years and has competed in many dog sports including obedience, agility and flyball and she currently trains her 4 collies to work her small flock of pet sheep. She has been focusing exclusively on collie training for 20 years, and border collie behaviour problems for six years, and has built up a wealth of knowledge and experience about the breed.
Rachel is a full member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC). She has an MSc with distinction in Clinical Animal Behaviour and is also a Certified Training Partner of the Karen Pryor Academy, one of the highest accredited awards for positive animal training. She has completed the Canine Principles Accredited Canine Coaching Diploma and regularly updates her knowledge by attending various events and webinars.
These qualifications mean that most pet insurance companies will cover you to work with me for behaviour problems, but always check your policy.
How I work
I can meet you in-person by travelling to your home if you live within a 1- hour radius of Spalding (travel charges may apply) or we can meet by video call. Working virtually proves incredibly successful, but you will be required to send over multiple videos of your dog’s behaviour and training.
Although I specialise in border collies, we’re qualified and experienced with most breeds.
It’s important to get in touch as soon as the problem behaviour starts; problems are easier to solve when you seek help early as a dog’s behaviour can become worse the longer an issue goes unresolved.
I operate between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm Monday to Friday. I may not reply to any emails or messages sent outside of these hours. However, if any enquiry is marked as urgent, I will do our best to respond asap.
If you have any queries, would like more information or to book a session in, please email collieconsultant@gmail.com or contact me here. You can also call me on 07931 409307, but signal is not great here.
Fees
- Border Collie Puppy Training – £200 for 3 sessions
- Border Collie Puppy Training – £70 per session
- Border Collie Clicker Training – £400 for 6 sessions
- Adolescent/Adult training – £70 per session
- Behaviour Consultation and 3 months follow-up – £490
Terms and Conditions
- These are the terms and conditions on which I supply the services of The Collie Consultant to you.
- They apply to any training package, consultation, whether in-person or by telephone or video call, and any additional advice and support I may provide to you.
- Please read these terms and conditions carefully.
- By making a booking, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and fully accept the following terms and conditions.
Bookings
- Confirmation of your booking will be sent in advance of the visit, once your questionnaire is returned and on receipt of your dog’s medical history and veterinary referral.
- All bookings are confirmed via email, even if your original enquiry is taken via social media or telephone.
- The Collie Consultant works under the Code of Conduct of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC). To ensure there are no medical issues contributing to your pet’s behaviour,
- The Collie Consultant may ask for your pet to be assessed by your vet ahead of a consultation.
- The Collie Consultant works on veterinary referral only.
- The Collie Consultant will provide services to use within the period that is agreed, which will typically be during or within the agreed time following any consultation.
- All relevant information requested should be given, as well as video footage, if applicable, in order for The Collie Consultant to provide the most appropriate behavioural advice.
- Please be aware that the success of any behaviour modification program always depends on whether or not the owner/handler follows the advice given. I am always on hand to offer advice or clear up any confusion, so always ask if you are unsure about how to implement the training techniques.
- If you are working with me remotely, it’s important that you send over any videos of the training you are doing with your dog. This will ensure that I am able to help you.
- Please note that I do not usually work weekends or evenings, in order to spend time with my family and own animals, so we may not respond to any communication until the next available opportunity.
- We always check emails every day, so if you need an answer to a query as soon as possible, please email. Social media messages and chats are not checked as frequently.
- For all urgent requirements, please email with the word “URGENT” in the subject line.
Privacy Policy
Our privacy policy is available to view online here: https://collieconsultant.co.uk/privacy-cookie-policy/
- Your privacy and personal information are important to us. Any personal information that you provide to us, will be dealt with in line with our Privacy Policy. This explains what personal information we collect from you as well as how and why we collect, store, use and share these details. It also sets out your rights in relation to your personal information and how to contact us and relevant authorities, should you have a query or complaint about the use of your personal information.
- By accepting these terms, you agree that we have your permission to discuss your pet’s case, verbally, or in writing, at any time. Written reports will be sent to the veterinarian who referred you to The Collie Consultant.
- Where appropriate, verbal consent for use of photographs or videos will be obtained prior to use by The Collie Consultant, for commercial purposes such as physical marketing, used on our website or social media pages, and for research and teaching purposes.
- All use will be anonymous, only your pet’s name will be used.
- If you do not wish you or your pet to be included in any material, please make The Collie Consultant aware, in writing.
Fees
- The price agreed at the time of the booking applies. Fees which apply to our services are set out above.
- The fee covers:
o Any time spent discussing your pet with you, to date.
o The training and/or any consultations.
o A written report and behavioural modification plan – emailed to you and your vet
o Any vet correspondence if required
o Any follow-up sessions within the time period set out by the package - If you require an in-person visit, then there may be additional charges for travel expenses depending on your location. We will always let you know of any travel expenses in advance.
- The full fee must be paid ahead of any training or a consultation, by BACS transfer, at least 24 hours before the appointment.
- If we have agreed to split the payments into regular invoices, these will be sent at the time of booking in advance of the consultation or training session, and must be paid in full by the invoice date.
- The fee only covers the behaviour(s) presented at the time of the training and/or consultation. Behaviours that may arise later and are unconnected may be considered separately.
- In the event that our services include providing advice in relation to more than one animal at one consultation, we may charge additional fees, due to the time taken. The Collie Consultant will provide details of any such additional fees in advance, if required.
Refunds and Cancellations
- If you need to alter the time or date of the training or consultation, The Collie Consultant require 48 hours’ notice, in writing in order to reschedule your appointment.
- If less than 48-hours’ notice is given or you do not attend the training or consultation, you may not be eligible for a refund.
- We will always try to give you as much advance warning if we have to delay or cancel training or a consultation, however, there may be circumstances in which this is not possible.
- In the event that your training or consultation has to be cancelled by The Collie Consultant, your appointment will be rescheduled to the next first available appointment and this will be confirmed via email.
Consultations
- It is your responsibility to ensure you are available on the agreed date, time and place for the training or behaviour consultation according to the information provided by The Collie Consultant.
- Every effort is made to ensure safety of both clients and pets during consultations. By making a booking you are accepting that participating in an activity with animals poses a risk of injury to yourself and your pet, and you agree to indemnify The Collie Consultant for all personal injury and damage to property owned by you, while attending the consultation. You agree to make any person who accompanies you to the consultation aware that they attend at their own risk.
- The Collie Consultant has public liability and general insurance suitable for training and behaviour consultations. You remain responsible for your pet throughout the training and/or consultation and when applying any recommended behavioural or training techniques. You are advised to seek adequate pet or household insurance cover for liability in the unlikely event of damage or injury caused by your pet to property, or to a third party.
- Reports will be sent within ten working days of the consultation.
- Terms and Conditions apply to all follow-up sessions.
Behaviour Modification and Training
- All behaviour and training methods embrace humane, scientifically-sound training practices based on learning theory and an understanding of dog behaviour. This will always exclude any pain-inducing, fear-inducing, or avoidance-based techniques.
- The use of certain training devices is prohibited during consultations. This includes choke chains, prong collars, spray collars, electric collars and any other device or handling deemed unsuitable during our work together. If you are at all unsure, please don’t hesitate to ask, so that The Collie Consultant can find appropriate and effective alternatives, as needed.
- The use of physical force and punishment-based training techniques are not condoned during The Collie Consultant behaviour consultations.
- Instructions provided in advance of a consultation, via email, are for the safety of the owners / handlers of the pet, the Behaviourist and the pet itself. The Collie Consultant reserves the right to leave the consultation if these instructions are not adhered to and no refund will be given.
- Advice given is based only on the facts that are provided to The Collie Consultant. We are therefore unable to accept any liability for unwanted outcomes from the application of our suggested behavioural techniques.
- Working with animals can be unpredictable and as such, no behaviour plan comes with 100% guarantees. The Collie Consultant provides advice and training techniques, considered, from research and experience, to benefit your pet.
- There are no guarantees that a problem behaviour will be completely resolved. Some issues have a genetic input; and/or a problem behaviour may have been going on over a long period of time. All successes will depend on the work put in by the client, people involved in the training, sending over videos of any training you are doing if working remotely, environmental factors (for example, your household, your walking routes, the influence of other people and animals) and physical factors (for example, diet, neutering status, medical conditions).
Complaints
- We aim to provide a high level of service.
- We will try to resolve any disputes with you quickly and efficiently. If you are unhappy with The Collie Consultant’s services, our service to you generally, or any other matter, please contact us as soon as possible.
- Please address any complaints in an email to Rachel Rodgers – collieconsultant@gmail.com with the subject line: COMPLAINT.
Insurance
Your pet insurance
Insurance claims can be fully supported. Many insurers will cover the fee of behaviour modification,
but please check your policy for more details. We do not deal with direct claims, so will ask for payment in advance, which you can then claim back from your insurer. They usually request that you fill in the claim form at the end of the behaviour support period. I’m happy to fill in the required section on the claim form for no additional fee.
Our insurance
We are fully insured to practise as UK dog behaviourists and trainers. In the unlikely event that you decide to take us to court under the Professional Indemnity part of the insurance, any legal proceedings would need to be done in a UK court under UK law.