meet Clare | pet behaviourist in oxford and oxfordshire

Kind, Expert Support from a Dog and Cat Behaviourist in Oxford

Helping you understand your pet’s behaviour with kind, practical advice and a plan that fits your everyday life.

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A woman playing with a black Labrador dog outdoors on a garden lawn with trees and shrubs.
Clare sitting with a ginger cat named Ginger on her lap

Helping You Understand Your Dog or Cat’s Behaviour

When something is not right with your dog or cat, it can take over your whole day. You may find yourself managing visitors carefully, avoiding certain situations or lying awake searching Google and asking ChatGPT what to do.

With so much information available, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. You try one suggestion after another, only to end up going around in circles and doubting whether you are doing the right thing.

My approach is not about throwing ideas at the problem to see what sticks. I take time to understand your animal’s behaviour, health, history, environment and everyday life. This helps us explore what may be driving the behaviour and create a clear, logical plan that is manageable for you.

I am Clare, a qualified dog and cat behaviourist in Oxford and a Registered Veterinary Nurse with 23 years of experience. I support clients across Oxfordshire and online throughout the UK. I also teach group puppy training classes in Oxford City.

Ways We Can Work Together

  • A cute adorable dachshund dog with a blue leash sitting on a yellow blanket indoors, looking curiously with its head slightly tilted.

    Puppy Classes in Oxford

    Practical, reward based puppy training for biting, toileting, jumping, settling and socialisation. Build your puppy’s confidence, strengthen your bond and feel more confident about their training.

    View puppy classes
  • Black Labrador Retriever sitting on dirt ground with grass, looking to the side, wearing a red collar with a bone-shaped tag.

    Dog Behaviour Support

    Personal dog behaviour consultations in Oxford and online for concerns including reactivity, guarding, barking, anxiety and toileting difficulties. Understand what is driving your dog’s behaviour and what to do next.

    view dog support
  • puppy looking at owner worried

    Separation Anxiety Support

    Specialist online support for dogs who bark, pace, become destructive or show distress when left alone. Receive a gradual, manageable plan created around your dog and their individual needs.

    view separation help
  • A close-up of a gray tabby cat lying on a light-colored surface, with a white plant pot and green background.

    Cat Behaviour Support

    Cat behaviour consultations in Oxford and online for spraying, toileting difficulties, fear and tension between cats. Understand your cat’s behaviour and make practical changes that help restore calm at home.

    view cat support

Why Work With Me?

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    Experienced

    I hold an MSc in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling and have worked as a Registered Veterinary Nurse for 23 years. I continue to work clinically, keeping me closely connected to veterinary practice.

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    Accredited

    I am an Associate Member of the APBC*, having completed the academic requirements and now gaining the practical experience needed for Full Membership.

  • Medical stethoscope icon inside a purple circle.

    Vet Recommended

    Veterinary teams refer to me because I bridge the gap between medicine and behaviour, helping ensure your pet’s wellbeing is considered from every angle.

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    Personal to You

    No generic advice. I take time to understand why the behaviour is happening, then build a plan that suits your dog or cat, your lifestyle and your goals.

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    Kind and Ethical

    I use reward based approaches that put your animal’s emotional and physical wellbeing first. I do not use punishment, fear or outdated dominance methods.

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Why This Work Matters to Me

Helping you and your pet feel happier and more confident is at the heart of everything I do. With honest communication, genuine care and thoughtful guidance, I want you to feel supported and never judged. My nursing background informs my particular interest in separation anxiety, while living with my cat Thomas’s territorial and toileting difficulties brings personal understanding to my work with cats.

Clare training a black lab to sit

Clear Advice With Support Along the Way

“Clare gave us manageable and easily understandable tips and behaviour changes. The difference we have seen in our dog has been incredible. He is so much happier and more confident, and so are we.”

I will not simply hand you a plan and leave you to manage alone. I will help you understand each step, answer your questions and make adjustments when needed.

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Small brown and white dog standing on a woven rug inside a living room, looking upward with an alert expression. There is a gray sofa with pillows and a large potted plant in the background.

Let’s Work and Figure This Out Together

I offer behaviour consultations in person across Oxfordshire and remotely throughout the UK.

If you would like to find out whether I am the right person to support you and your animal, book a free introductory call.

book your free introductory call