How much does a dog behaviourist cost?

If your dog is lunging, guarding, biting or panicking, you want help fast. You also want to know what it will cost before you pick up the phone. Lots of behaviourists don't publish prices, which makes it hard to compare. This guide sets out typical UK prices, what you should get for your money, and my own prices in full.

Typical UK prices

There's no official price list, and behaviourists set their own fees. Two 2026 UK price guides, from The Right Guy and VetCost, agree on the shape of the market rather than on exact numbers:

• A first consultation is usually the biggest single cost: typically 1.5 to 2 hours, priced between roughly one and two times what you would pay for a good 1-2-1 training session, and higher in London and the South East.
• Follow-up sessions are shorter and cheaper, usually priced per hour.
• Online consultations cost less than a visit.
• Veterinary behaviour specialists (vets with a behaviour qualification) cost several times more than a trainer-behaviourist, and usually need a vet referral.
• Residential (board and train) is priced per week, and the weekly price varies a lot with who actually trains the dog and how many dogs they take at once.
• Day training is priced per day; group sessions cost the least per session but are the least individual.

Both guides say prices vary and should be checked with each provider. Dogs Trust also offers paid one-to-one sessions with its behaviour coaches, online or in person.

What changes the price

• Time. A 1-hour visit and a 2-hour visit are very different things. Ask how long the first appointment lasts.
• Where it happens. Seeing a dog in person costs more than an online call, because of the time involved, and travel if the behaviourist comes to you. For most behaviour problems, meeting in person is worth it.
• Travel. Some behaviourists add a mileage charge outside a set area. Ask before you book.
• Qualifications and experience. Vet behaviour specialists and some clinical behaviourists charge more.
• What's included afterwards. Some prices include support by email or phone after the visit. Others charge for every contact.

My prices, in full

I publish my prices because you should know them before you get in touch. You can also see them on the prices page.

1-2-1 behaviour session: £160 at our Chelmsford field, or £190 at your home

1.5 hours together, at our secure training field at Roxwell, west of Chelmsford, or wherever the problem happens, such as your home. We talk about your dog's history, health and routine. I watch how your dog behaves and moves, and look for anything that could be adding to the problem, including signs of pain. Then we agree the first steps together, and I show you how to do them. More about behaviour help.

Follow-up training: £100 an hour at the training field, £120 an hour at home

At home or out on walks, wherever the problem shows up. How many you need depends on your dog, and some owners need none. More about follow-up sessions.

Residential training: £850p/w, most dogs stay around three weeks (four for behaviour problems)

Your dog trains every day to a plan I set, so deep-rooted habits change faster than weekly sessions allow. You get video updates, a handover session and aftercare. More about residential training.

What that looks like in practice

These are examples only. What your dog needs may be different.

• First 1-2-1 session only: £160 at the field, or £190 at your home.
• First session plus two follow-ups at the field: £160, then £100 an hour at the field (£120 at home).

Is a behaviourist worth it?

Owners ask this a lot, often after spending money on things that didn't help. A UK study of owners who'd sought help found that over half had seen more than one dog professional for the same problem. The researchers suggested reasons such as the first help not working, or the cause being missed at the start. A good behaviourist should be worth it because they:

• look for why your dog behaves this way (fear, frustration, pain or something else)
• check whether pain could be involved and send you to your vet if so
• show you what to do and why, so you can keep going between visits
• keep everyone safe while the work happens
• explain clearly what they'll do with your dog, and why

One of my clients, Deborah F., had seen four other behaviourists before me. She later wrote that she was "so pleased that he can be the dog we thought he could be." Another, Gemma V., wrote simply, "Worth every penny." Every dog is different, and I won't promise a result before I've met yours.

Questions to ask before you book

• How long is the first appointment, and where does it happen?
• What's included in the price, and what costs extra?
• Do you charge for travel?
• What support do I get after the visit?
• What methods do you use, and why?
• Will you check whether pain could be involved?
• Do you promise results? (Be wary of a yes. No one can honestly promise a result before meeting your dog.)

No-cost and low-cost help

If you can't afford a behaviourist right now, there is help:

• Dogs Trust Behaviour Support Line costs nothing to call, on 0303 003 6666.
• Battersea runs a Behaviour Advice Service by phone and email.
• If you adopted your dog, the rescue centre may offer support.
• Your vet can check for pain, which can be part of a behaviour problem.

Meanwhile, keep everyone safe. Avoid the situations that set your dog off, and never punish growling.

Questions owners ask

Related

• Prices
• Dog behaviourist or dog trainer?
• Is residential dog training worth it?

Last updated 1 November 2026. This post is general advice, not a diagnosis. If your dog may be unwell or in pain, please see your vet.