looking beyond the behaviour

My name is Bethany Steele and I am a fully insured and qualified behaviour practitioner. I first developed a passion for working with dogs in 2017, when I adopted my border collie, Rainie. I was halfway through a degree in French and Spanish at the time, but bringing Rainie home made me realise that I wanted to help other dogs just like her. After completing my degree, I began to study dog behaviour. I have completed many courses, including courses in  holistic canine behaviour, nutrition, pain detection and management, trauma, reactivity, functional behaviour analysis, ACE freework and many other topics. I have worked in rescue for the last 4 years, gaining experience with a multitude of animals with complex behavioural needs. My particular areas of interest include reactivity, border collies and the connection between pain and behaviour.

After finding herself in a council pound, Rainie ended up at Assisi Animal Sanctuary at 2 years of age. When I adopted her I knew nothing about dogs, but it was love at first sight and I knew we were meant to be together. I was told that she was just a little nervous, but nobody realised the true extent of her behavioural needs until she had decompressed and settled into the home. 

If a stranger made eye contact with Rainie, she would try to run away. If she heard a loud noise, she would lie down and wet herself. If she saw another dog even far off in the distance, she would hyperfixate, lunge, and then jump up and bite my face and arms. I used to return home from every walk covered in bruises from her redirection bites.

She had spent so much of her life afraid, and she was asking for help in the only way she knew how. I started to read books, and take courses, and most importantly, listen to her. Rainie showed me what was right and what wasn't. Above all, Rainie taught me what true bravery looks like. She had been through so much, but she was still willing to trust people and trust me to keep her safe, even though I had failed so many times at the beginning.

These days, Rainie has dog and human friends. She has competed in scentwork trials, and she loves to show off her tricks. She loves to go exploring and especially loves her holidays to England where she gets to charm a whole new country of people who instantly fall in love with her!

She is such an incredible dog and I have learned so much from her. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for Rainie, and she has been such a wonderful teacher.