We have been helping creatures great and small, furry, feathered and scaly since 2006.

As a Clinical Animal Behaviourist, Hanne works with a range of species including rabbits like Charlie and Ginger.

Important notice: Often problem behaviour can be caused by a physical issue. Please ensure your pet has been checked by your veterinary surgeon prior to a consultation and complete the referral form below which should then be sent to us at: [email protected]

For veterinary surgeonsplease click here or on the image to download the behaviour consultancy referral form

Rabbit behavioural support

The domestic rabbit is one of the few species commonly kept as companion animals and who are also used for research and are farmed for their meat and fur. After the dog and cat, the rabbit is the third most common mammalian pet in the UK, numbering 1.1 million and they make up two per cent of pets owned per household, according to Pet Food Manufacturers Association (2021).

Rabbits have a superb sense of smell, have long-distance vision and sensitive hearing that helps alert them to potential danger. The domestic rabbit’s life expectancy is around eight to twelve years compared to the wild rabbit which averages one year. Therefore, having a rabbit should be considered a long-term commitment just as with a dog and cat.

Rabbits are herbivores, and their diet needs to be 85% hay or grass, 5% pellets, 10% vegetables and safe plants with fresh drinking water always available. Hay is extremely important for rabbit health, yet Rooney et al. (2014) conducted a study involving 1,254 rabbit owners and found that 98% of owners did feed hay to their rabbits but for 10% this was less than daily, which is cause for concern.

Rabbits and other small animals can exhibit a number of behavioural problems, and these may include but are not limited to:

  • Over-grooming
  • Aggression such as fighting, biting, scratching
  • Fears and phobias
  • Stereotypies

Many of these behaviours may stem from fear. Some of the behavioural signs associated with fear include:

  • Crouching
  • Hiding away 
  • Huddled in a corner
  • Restlessness
  • Being very still, nose twitching fast when handled
  • Heavy breathing
  • Grunting
  • Squealing or screaming when handled
  • Boxing and biting when owner in their environment
  • Destruction of their accommodation
  • Thumping the ground

Rabbit and other small animal behavioural consultancy services are available.

The Consultation Process

  • Typically, a phone call to briefly discuss your case and confirm how the process works
  • You will be sent a pre-assessment form to complete and return a minimum of seven working days before your first appointment
  • Depending on the case, the consultation is, typically, one session lasting around 1.5 to 2 hours.
  • A follow up session[s] can be booked and are usually around 1 hour.
  • Your animal’s daily routine, history and family’s expectations of your pet will be discussed and your pet’s behaviour observed either in-person or via video conferencing, and or via video previously filmed by the owner.
  • Hanne will help you to understand why your pet is displaying unwanted behaviours and more importantly, how to deal with them.
  • An accurate behavioural diagnosis and treatment plan will be provided.
  • Follow up letter to the referring veterinary surgeon.
  • Telephone, video and email back up support will be available to you following your consultation for up to six weeks, so you have the support and coaching you need to ensure success.

Pricing

The in-person ‘other animals’ consultation fee is £350, virtual consultancy is £300. This includes:

  • Your consultation.
  • Mileage (within an 8-mile radius) where a face-to-face session has been conducted. 
  • Full set of notes and behaviour modification action plan.
  • Back-up advice and on-going coaching via email and telephone for approximately six weeks.
  • Access to early bird offers, downloadables and printed resources.

Additional Coaching

Any follow-up video conferencing sessions are charged out at £80 per hour for one appointment or £75 per hour for blocks of 2 or more appointments, plus mileage for any in-person appointments.  Payment should be made via BACS transfer prior to the consultation to secure your booking.

Mileage

Mileage outside the 8 mile radius of Tring is charged at 0.47p per mile for any face-to-face sessions.

Please read our Terms & Conditions.

Cancellations

72 hours’ notice of Hanne Grice Training & Behaviour business hours is required if you need to cancel or change your appointment. Our business hours are from 9am to 5pm Mondays to Fridays. Failure to do so will result in you being charged 50% of the full fee. This also applies for no show appointments.

Other animals – general

Many animals can be trained, whether that is for cooperative behaviours such as grooming and health checks or to provide for enrichment to the animal’s health and well-being as well as improve the owner-pet relationship. Some of the animals Hanne has worked with include Rea and smaller birds, skunks, marmosets, tortoises, and meerkats. Over the years, Hanne has also kept a number of more unusual pets including her mynah bird Morris, Giant African Snails and stick insects, to name a few.

The range of animals Hanne has worked with includes species located at University Centre Bishop Burton where Hanne is a Animal Sciences Lecturer, lecturing in Animal Behaviour Consulting, and Human-Animal Interactions & Psychology for the MSc Applied Animal Behaviour & Training degree, and MSc Animal Behaviour & Welfare degree.

Experiencing problems with your pet?

Hanne’s classes (and general advice) have been invaluable to us – the techniques are all simple to learn and work on. Definitely recommend.

Jonny Greenberg

Awards

  • BBWA 2021 silver award
  • CorporateLiveWire Global Awards winner 2021/22 award
  • Lux Pet Product and Services 2021 award
  • CorporateLiveWire Oxfordshire Prestige Award - Dog Trainer of the Year 2020-22 two-times winner
  • BBWA 2015 finalist award
  • Scoot Headline Award winner 2015

Memberships

  • Victoria Stillwell Academy Dog Training Mentor badge
  • PPGuild Member badge
  • IAABC Supporting badge
  • Victoria Stillwell Academy Faculty Advisor badge
  • BIPDT logo
  • APDT member logo
  • APBC member logo