Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need your help?​​

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We assist people and pets with a range of behaviour related issues, from basic training for normal healthy pets, to therapeutic intervention for pets with complicated medical and psychological problems such as behaviour disorders or mental health problems.

You would benefit from our services if any or all of the following apply:

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• Your pet is displaying problematic or undesirable behaviour

• Your pet's behaviour is causing stress to you or your family 

• You are confused, upset, frustrated or concerned about your pet's behaviour

• You would like advice and support in regards to changing your pet's behaviour

• Your pet is struggling with aspects of every day life such going for walks, traveling in the car, visiting new places, interacting with people or other animals, being left home alone

• Your pet has not been making progress with training or attempts to address the undesirable behaviour

• You think your pet may be suffering from anxiety or a behaviour disorder

• You have been referred or recommended to see us by your vet or trainer

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What does a behaviour vet consult involve?

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• Consultations are tailored to your needs and include a veterinarian and certified trainer, enrichment for your pet and comfortable, 'fear-free' surroundings in our clinic (or if preferred, in your home)

• Sessions can be 60 or 90 minutes and involve history collection, behaviour observation, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning.

• The presence of a qualified trainer in our consults is a unique offering, keeping your pet calm and assisting with handling and teaching basic skills.

• Ideally, all family members should attend the initial session to ensure a united support team.

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Are your staff competent and qualified?

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​Yes, absolutely! Pawly Understood is a team of highly qualified professionals:

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• Dr. Elle, Dr. Lizzie, Dr. Carol, Dr. Channy, and Dr. Ellie C have post-graduate qualifications in veterinary behaviour from the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists.

• Our Director and Head Veterinairan, Dr. Elle Parker, has extensive experience in behaviour medicine.

• Dr. Olivia and Dr. Amy have a special interest in animal behaviour.

• Our trainers hold formal qualifications and certifications from the Delta Society or other institutions.

• Our team members are certified "Fear Free" professionals.

• We stay updated with the latest research and attend (and present at) conferences, seminars, and webinars.

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What sort of techniques do you use? Are you force-free?

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Yes - we are force-free. Your pet is safe with us.

 

• We use positive reinforcement techniques. 
  The use of aversive training methods such as fear and punishment in behaviour modification and training is inappropriate, out-dated, unethical, anti-scientific and dangerous. Punishment based techniques are proven to cause worsening of anxiety and increased aggression as well as degradation of the human-animal bond. 

• We will never support nor recommend the use of fear, force, confrontation, pain or coercion in modifying behaviour.

• Our techniques are based on science and a thorough understanding of animal psychology. We are trained to recognise and distinguish normal vs abnormal behaviour and adjust our behaviour interventions accordingly.

• We assess and address the underlying problems, emotional motivations and diagnoses for each pet as an individual and can then apply the best and most appropriate interventions for your pet based on their needs and your situation. 
   

This is why our techniques are are effective.

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Do you use medication?

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• Yes, if necessary for behaviour disorders or mental health problems.

• Medication is part of a holistic behaviour therapy plan, addressing abnormalities in the brain and body, improving functioning, and facilitating learning.

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What are the ongoing commitments? 

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This depends on your pet's needs and what you are wanting to get out of our services:

 

• Behaviour intervention for pets does involve financial, emotional and time committments. 

• If your pet needs medical treatment then multiple or regular consultations may be required to reassess and adjust their therapy. How often your pet needs to be seen by one of our vets depends on many factors such as their diagnosis, the severity of their behaviour issues and how well they respond or stabilise with treatment. 

• Commonly a pet will require a follow-up revisit consultation within 1 to 3 months of their initial appointment. The frequency of consultations may then be able to reduce to approximately every 6 months if your pet is doing well.

• For training and behaviour modification consultations, the frequency of training consultations can be variable but the more frequent they are, then the better and faster progress your pet will make. 

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Do you keep my regular vet informed?

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• Yes, we work with your regular vet and can send updates and reports.

• Vet-to-vet consultations are available.

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What does it cost? What are your fees and charges?

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• Contact us for a chat and a quote based on your needs and your pet's requirements.

• Fees vary with services, and we offer multiple options to fit your budget and preferences.

• Discounts available for clients referred by approved trainers.

• We can arrange bill payment plans, including Vetpay, to ensure finances are not a barrier to getting the help you need.

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What are your consulting hours?​

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Veterinary behaviour consults:

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• Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-5pm

• Tue, Thu 9am-7pm

• Sat 9am-2pm; urgent cases on Sun
   

Behaviour training consults:

 

• Mon-Sat

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Where are you located?

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We consult out of our new clinic at: 116 South Road Torrensville, SA 5031. 
 

• Car park entry is off North Parade

• North Parade can be accessed via South Rd coming south or northbound, however South Rd can be congested at times

• Consider coming via George St or North Parade to avoid congestion on South Rd.

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Do you offer home visits?

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• Yes, we understand that coming to a clinic can be stressful and challenging for some pets with behaviour problems and special needs.

• For clients wanting a consultation in the comfort of their own home, we can offer a mobile service. A travel fee and callout surcharge does apply to house calls. 

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Do you offer Telemedicine?

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Yes, we offer a telemedicine service and can consult via Zoom or phone call.

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• For initial veterinary behaviour consultations conducted via telemedicine (when we are not seeing the patient in the flesh) we will need to liaise with your regular veterinarian to have them implement our recommended medical treatment. This is because we are not legally permitted to prescribe / dispense medication for pets who we have not actually seen face to face.

• There may be additional charges payable to your regular vet for their time and services in this instance. 

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Why should I choose you over another pet behaviour service provider?

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• Our team is caring, compassionate, and highly competent, dedicated to achieving the best outcomes for your pet with exceptional customer service and patient care.

• The pet training industry is unregulated, leading to many unqualified providers using outdated and harmful techniques, which can worsen your pet's behaviour and waste your resources.

• We often need to undo the damage caused by unqualified providers, re-educating clients and pets with updated, effective methods.

• Unqualified providers may fail to recognise when pets need specialised help, delaying necessary treatment.

• Few providers in SA are truly qualified to help pets with serious behaviour problems, making our expertise invaluable.

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I already have a trainer - why do I need you?

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• We provide behaviour therapy and veterinary behaviour services, not just training.

• Training focuses on making a pet behave in certain ways, while behaviour therapy addresses the emotional causes of behaviour, helping pets feel and behave differently.

• Problematic behaviours often stem from emotional distress and should not be addressed solely with training, as this can worsen the pet's condition.

• We help distinguish between normal "problem behaviours" and abnormal "behaviour problems" that indicate psychological issues.

• Even if you have a trainer, our services can offer a second opinion or new insights if your pet isn't progressing as expected.

• We specialise in pets with anxiety and behaviour disorders that need tailored training.

• Not all trainers are equally knowledgeable; some may inadvertently worsen behaviour problems.

• If your trainer is a qualified, approved force-free professional, we can work together for your pet's benefit.

• If your trainer is not qualified or force-free, we recommend discontinuing their services for your pet's well-being. For a list of accredited force-free trainers, refer to RSPCA SA's list.

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Which species of pet do you see?

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• We see pets of any species, most commonly dogs and cats.

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I’m keen to proceed, what’s the next step?

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• Contact us to book a consultation. We may have waiting times for non-urgent cases.

• We recommend a check-up and blood test at your regular vet before your consultation.

• We will request medical records from your vet and any reports from trainers.

• We will send you a questionnaire and reading materials before your appointment.

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What GP services do you offer?

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• We can be your regular GP vet for any non-hospital or emergency related care

• Clients that utilise our GP services tend to have pets that experience anxiety attending vet clinics and therefore require our different approach (e.g. fear-free, trainer assisted, desensitisation techniques)

• We are highly experienced dealing with anxious, aggresive and/or frightened pets and acheiving positive outcomes with their ongoing veterinary care