Animal Behaviour Clinic and Take the Lead Dog School
The principal behaviourist and trainer is Elaine Henley, who has an academic background in human psychology and who, having completed the Certificate in Applied Animal Behaviour and a Post Graduate Certificate in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling (both from Southampton University) is considering working towards a PHd. Elaine has also successfully completed the “Clinical application of PheromoneTherapy” from the University of Lincoln.
As well as running The Animal Behaviour Clinic, where she assists owners who are experiencing difficulties with their pet’s behaviour, Elaine is the behavioural practitioner at the veterinary Pet Therapy clinic in Glasgow where she sees owners and their pets on veterinary referral.
Research areas of interest include the prevalence of abuse towards pets when women are victims of domestic abuse in Scotland; the behavioural problems of “puppy farm” dogs; environmental enrichment for pets. Her research has been published in academic journals and she has been invited to give presentations at international conferences and also to chair a special session on Animal Abuse at the ISAZ conference 2005, which was held in Niagara Falls, USA.
She is principal lecturer on Animal Behaviour at Glasgow Metropolitan College; where she has written the teaching material for “Why does my pet…?” introduction and intermediate courses’ and a new HN level Animal Behaviour course.
Having showed her Hungarian Puli for several years at Crufts and other major shows, Elaine now trains her German Shepherd in Schutzhund which is a sport for German Shepherds incorporating three phases, tracking, obedience and protection. She also has a keen interests in both breeding and showing Cavalier King Charles Spaniels; and has campaigned against back street breeders who have contributed to the health and temperament problems that are prevalent in this charming small dog.
Elaine founded Canine Fostering in 2003, an organisation that fosters pets for women who are victims of domestic abuse. She is a member of C.A.B.S.T.G. (Companion Animal Behaviour Study Group), S.C.A.S. (Society for Companion Animal Studies), A.S.A.B. (Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour), A.P.D.T. (Association of Pet Dog Trainers), and ISAZ (International Society for Anthrozoology). Elaine has recently appeared on STV as Scotland's "dog whisperer".
