Understanding behaviour
is the beginning of rehabilitation.
The behaviour presented by the dog is the starting
point of the assessment, not the diagnosis.
Fear, frustration, anxiety, conflict and emotional arousal
influence behaviour in different ways. Identifying the
underlying emotional state guides every rehabilitation decision.
Fear, frustration, anxiety, conflict and emotional
arousal influence behaviour in different ways.
Identifying the underlying emotional state guides
every rehabilitation decision.
Every previous experience contributes to future behaviour.
Understanding how behavioural patterns developed provides
context that observation alone cannot reveal.
Every previous experience contributes to future
behaviour. Understanding how behavioural
patterns developed provides
context that observation alone cannot reveal.
Behaviour is shaped by the environments in which it occurs.
Daily routines, surroundings and social interactions are assessed
to identify factors maintaining behavioural patterns.
Behaviour is shaped by the environments in
which it occurs. Daily routines, surroundings
and social interactions are assessed
to identify factors maintaining behavioural
patterns.
Physical wellbeing forms part of every behavioural assessment. Pain,
illness and neurological influences are considered alongside
behavioural observations to ensure rehabilitation is appropriately informed.
Behaviour develops within relationships. Communication, expectations,
consistency and daily interactions between people and dog all influence
rehabilitation outcomes.
Every behaviour serves a purpose from the dog's perspective. Identifying
that function allows rehabilitation to address the underlying cause rather
than the visible symptom.
Assessment findings are integrated into an individual rehabilitation plan
designed specifically for the dog, the household and the behavioural
concerns being addressed.
Every rehabilitation
programme begins here.
Behaviour is rarely an isolated event.
Aggression, fear, anxiety and reactivity are often
the visible expression of interacting emotional,
environmental and behavioural processes.
Rather than asking how behaviour can be stopped,
behavioural rehabilitation begins by asking why it exists.
Only after those influences have been understood can meaningful rehabilitation begin.
Behaviour is rarely an isolated event.
Aggression, fear, anxiety and reactivity are often
the visible expression of interacting emotional,
environmental and behavioural processes.
Rather than asking how behaviour can be stopped,
behavioural rehabilitation begins by asking why it exists.
Only after those influences have been understood can
meaningful rehabilitation begin.
Behavioural rehabilitation begins
long before behaviour changes.
Behavioural rehabilitation begins
long before behaviour changes.
Behavioural rehabilitation begins
long before behaviour changes.
UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOURAL REHABILITATION
UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOURAL REHABILITATION
Experience informs
every rehabilitation decision.
Benjamin McGill, B.C.C.B., is the founder and Clinical Behaviourist
of The Cognitive Canine, a behavioural rehabilitation practice
specialising in aggression, fear, anxiety and complex canine behaviour.
Rather than focusing on obedience, Ben's work begins by understanding
why behaviour occurs. Every rehabilitation plan is developed through
careful behavioural analysis, considering the emotional, environmental and
behavioural variables influencing each individual dog. His approach combines
evidence-informed behavioural science with decades of practical
rehabilitation experience. Before specialising exclusively in canine behaviour,
Ben worked in behavioural health supporting children on the autism spectrum
and adolescents receiving treatment for chemical dependency.
That foundation in behavioural intervention continues to shape the structured,
compassionate rehabilitation model that defines The Cognitive Canine today.
Ben has worked extensively with families, rescue organisations, working dogs
and complex behavioural cases throughout Australia and the United States.
Today, he combines academic study, behavioural science and practical
experience to help families navigate some of the most challenging canine
behaviour cases with clarity, confidence and lasting change.
SELECTED CREDENTIALS
Board Certified Canine Behaviorist (B.C.C.B.)
Director of Behavioral Rehabilitation
Canine Stroke Foundation
Psychological Science
Western Kentucky University
Former Behaviour Therapist
American Kennel Club Evaluator
Therapy Dogs United Evaluator
Author
A Is For Aggression
Benjamin McGill, B.C.C.B., is the founder and Clinical Behaviourist
of The Cognitive Canine, a behavioural rehabilitation practice
specialising in aggression, fear, anxiety and complex canine behaviour.
Rather than focusing on obedience, Ben's work begins by understanding
why behaviour occurs. Every rehabilitation plan is developed through
careful behavioural analysis, considering the emotional, environmental and
behavioural variables influencing each individual dog. His approach combines
evidence-informed behavioural science with decades of practical
rehabilitation experience. Before specialising exclusively in canine behaviour,
Ben worked in behavioural health supporting children on the autism spectrum
and adolescents receiving treatment for chemical dependency.
That foundation in behavioural intervention continues to shape the structured,
compassionate rehabilitation model that defines The Cognitive Canine today.
Ben has worked extensively with families, rescue organisations, working dogs
and complex behavioural cases throughout Australia and the United States.
Today, he combines academic study, behavioural science and practical
experience to help families navigate some of the most challenging canine
behaviour cases with clarity, confidence and lasting change.
SELECTED CREDENTIALS
Board Certified Canine Behaviorist (B.C.C.B.)
Director of Behavioral Rehabilitation
Canine Stroke Foundation
Psychological Science
Western Kentucky University
Former Behaviour Therapist
American Kennel Club Evaluator
Therapy Dogs United Evaluator
Author
A Is For Aggression
Benjamin McGill, B.C.C.B., is the founder and Clinical Behaviourist
of The Cognitive Canine, a behavioural rehabilitation practice
specialising in aggression, fear, anxiety and complex canine behaviour.
Rather than focusing on obedience, Ben's work begins by understanding
why behaviour occurs. Every rehabilitation plan is developed through
careful behavioural analysis, considering the emotional, environmental and
behavioural variables influencing each individual dog. His approach combines
evidence-informed behavioural science with decades of practical
rehabilitation experience. Before specialising exclusively in canine behaviour,
Ben worked in behavioural health supporting children on the autism spectrum
and adolescents receiving treatment for chemical dependency.
That foundation in behavioural intervention continues to shape the structured,
compassionate rehabilitation model that defines The Cognitive Canine today.
Ben has worked extensively with families, rescue organisations, working dogs
and complex behavioural cases throughout Australia and the United States.
Today, he combines academic study, behavioural science and practical
experience to help families navigate some of the most challenging canine
behaviour cases with clarity, confidence and lasting change.
SELECTED CREDENTIALS
Board Certified Canine Behaviorist (B.C.C.B.)
Director of Behavioral Rehabilitation
Canine Stroke Foundation
Psychological Science
Western Kentucky University
Former Behaviour Therapist
American Kennel Club Evaluator
Therapy Dogs United Evaluator
Author
A Is For Aggression
Benjamin McGill, B.C.C.B., is the founder and Clinical Behaviourist
of The Cognitive Canine, a behavioural rehabilitation practice
specialising in aggression, fear, anxiety and complex canine behaviour.
Rather than focusing on obedience, Ben's work begins by understanding
why behaviour occurs. Every rehabilitation plan is developed through
careful behavioural analysis, considering the emotional, environmental and
behavioural variables influencing each individual dog. His approach combines
evidence-informed behavioural science with decades of practical
rehabilitation experience. Before specialising exclusively in canine behaviour,
Ben worked in behavioural health supporting children on the autism spectrum
and adolescents receiving treatment for chemical dependency.
That foundation in behavioural intervention continues to shape the structured,
compassionate rehabilitation model that defines The Cognitive Canine today.
Ben has worked extensively with families, rescue organisations, working dogs
and complex behavioural cases throughout Australia and the United States.
Today, he combines academic study, behavioural science and practical
experience to help families navigate some of the most challenging canine
behaviour cases with clarity, confidence and lasting change.
SELECTED CREDENTIALS
Board Certified Canine Behaviorist (B.C.C.B.)
Director of Behavioral Rehabilitation
Canine Stroke Foundation
Psychological Science
Western Kentucky University
Former Behaviour Therapist
American Kennel Club Evaluator
Therapy Dogs United Evaluator
Author
A Is For Aggression
Benjamin McGill, B.C.C.B., is the founder and Clinical Behaviourist
of The Cognitive Canine, a behavioural rehabilitation practice
specialising in aggression, fear, anxiety and complex canine behaviour.
Rather than focusing on obedience, Ben's work begins by understanding
why behaviour occurs. Every rehabilitation plan is developed through
careful behavioural analysis, considering the emotional, environmental and
behavioural variables influencing each individual dog. His approach combines
evidence-informed behavioural science with decades of practical
rehabilitation experience. Before specialising exclusively in canine behaviour,
Ben worked in behavioural health supporting children on the autism spectrum
and adolescents receiving treatment for chemical dependency.
That foundation in behavioural intervention continues to shape the structured,
compassionate rehabilitation model that defines The Cognitive Canine today.
Ben has worked extensively with families, rescue organisations, working dogs
and complex behavioural cases throughout Australia and the United States.
Today, he combines academic study, behavioural science and practical
experience to help families navigate some of the most challenging canine
behaviour cases with clarity, confidence and lasting change.
SELECTED CREDENTIALS
Board Certified Canine Behaviorist (B.C.C.B.)
Director of Behavioral Rehabilitation
Canine Stroke Foundation
Psychological Science
Western Kentucky University
Former Behaviour Therapist
American Kennel Club Evaluator
Therapy Dogs United Evaluator
Author
A Is For Aggression
Experience informs
every rehabilitation decision.
Behavioural labels describe presentations.
Rehabilitation begins with
understanding the individual dog.
Behaviour directed towards people or animals arising from fear, conflict, resource protection, frustration or other underlying influences.
Heightened behavioural responses to environmental triggers resulting in barking, lunging, avoidance or loss of behavioural regulation.
Competition over valued resources including food, objects, resting places or people.
Emotional distress associated with isolation or the absence of significant attachment figures.
Repetitive behavioural patterns that persist beyond their original function and interfere with normal behaviour.
Behavioural conflict occurring between dogs living within the same household.
Multi-factorial behavioural presentations requiring comprehensive assessment and long-term rehabilitation planning.
Persistent emotional responses affecting confidence, recovery, social interaction and day-to-day wellbeing.
Every behavioural rehabilitation programme is developed individually.
While no two cases are identical, many share common underlying behavioural processes.
The behavioural
conditions we
most commonly
rehabilitate.
Complex Behavioural Cases
