What if your dog could communicate?

This is where Bromhof-based qualified dog behaviourist Helen McKane steps in. She helps owners understand what their dogs are really trying to say – not with words, but through their behaviour and body language.

She likens her job to that of a detective. When she meets a dog, she looks beyond what the dog is doing to understand why it is behaving that way. She learns about the dog’s history, past experiences, home life, and daily routine, which all help explain a dog’s behaviour.

The 71-year-old explained that being a dog behaviourist makes her feel most alive. For years, McKane had only found time to pursue her passion on weekends, but following her retirement, she has the pleasure of doing it full-time. She added that, after her first two paid consultations, her close friends said her voice, posture and sense of humour had returned. “I am once again doing what I love – helping people to understand the dog in front of them.”

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Dogs have been part of her life for as long as she can remember. She became deeply interested in their behaviour when she realised how many so-called ‘problem dogs’ were actually misunderstood. “People often try harder and harder to stop the behaviour without first asking what the dog may be feeling, learning or communicating.”

McKane holds a diploma in companion animal behaviour and training. She said that although formal study matters, that is just the beginning rather than the end. In her opinion, a responsible behaviourist needs continued education, careful observation, practical experience, ethics and the humility to recognise when a dog needs veterinary assessment or a different in-person specialist. “Nobody should promise a result because they have completed a course.”

Her job is not just about teaching dogs to sit, stay, or come when called. She carefully watches the dog’s body language, such as its ears, tail, eyes, and posture, which can signal whether a dog is happy, worried, excited, scared, or uncomfortable. She said a trainer generally teaches socialisation, useful skills and responses, while a behaviourist first asks why a behaviour is happening. “We look at the dog’s history, environment, relationships, routines and triggers before deciding what may help. Training asks, ‘What would we like the dog to do?’ Behaviour work also asks ‘What is the dog trying to tell us?’”

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McKane works closely with owners to explain what their pets may be communicating and what they need. Sometimes a behaviour that looks naughty may actually be a sign that the dog is frightened, stressed, or unsure.

As every dog is different, McKane creates ways to help each dog feel safer and more confident. Her work requires patience, understanding, and kindness. She said she loves giving owners a few practical steps they can take, rather than leaving them overwhelmed. “The moment an owner begins saying, ‘I did not realise that my dog was communicating’, that change from blame to understanding can transform the relationship.”

She advised dog owners to slow down and observe what happens before, during and after the behaviour. “Watch the dog’s face, ear position, eyes, mouth, tail, posture and movement together, rather than focusing on one body part. Keep a simple note of the trigger, the dog’s response and what happens next. This takes practice. The patterns become much easier to see when we stop relying only on memory. Understanding a dog does not mean allowing unsafe behaviour. It means that we begin with the right question, use humane practical steps and know when to ask for further help.”

By helping owners understand their dogs, McKane helps create happier and stronger relationships between people and their four-legged friends.

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