On his best behaviour
Monday, May 18 2009
Animal behaviourist Ryan Neile tells us how animals are the best teachers.
Ryan Neile, animal behaviourist at The Blue Cross, has worked with animals for nearly 18 years. As a schoolboy, Ryan would visit The Blue Cross, walking dogs whenever he had the chance. He then worked at the Southampton adoption centre, before moving into animal behaviour in 2001. “The transition from animal welfare assistant to animal behaviourist occurred very naturally. I knew that if I was going to truly help animals, I needed to learn to understand them on a much deeper level.”
Ryan’s days at The Blue Cross are never predictable: “Anything can happen – and it often does!” The 11 adoption centres and four animal hospitals constantly need Ryan’s expertise. Not only does Ryan work with the animals, he also offers advice and training for the thousands of adopters of Blue Cross animals all over the country.
When training as an animal behaviourist, Ryan quickly realised that observing dogs was the best way of learning. “Dogs are the best teachers you will ever fi nd and I still learn from them every day. I’ve always loved animals, but this alone wasn’t enough when I was trying to reach animals that were experiencing problems. It was only when I started to consider life from their perspective that I was able to start making a difference. Since then I haven’t looked back.”
What’s more, it soon became apparent to Ryan that he wasn’t the only one that could teach. “When my dog Ringo was younger I employed him as my assistant. His job was to set nervous dogs at ease and teach them to feel safe in another dog’s presence. I was always amazed that he could teach dogs so effortlessly when I had to work so hard to achieve the same thing.
“Recently I worked with a Labrador called Sky, whose aggressive behaviour towards other dogs prompted her owner to contact us. I observed Sky in different situations to get to know her and understand her behaviour. We learned that Sky’s response towards other dogs was not aggressive at all; she was merely frustrated at being prevented from approaching things that interested her. So, rather than focusing on an aggression problem, we focused on a dog that lacked awareness of how to behave on a lead. We tried to teach her the simple concept that all good things come to those who wait!
“The best thing about being an animal behaviourist is when, against all odds, we have a breakthrough with a complex case that ultimately results in a happy ending,” says Ryan. “When a behaviour problem is resolved, the ripple effect is huge. The animal’s future becomes so much brighter, and this in turn affects the owners and all who care for the animal.
“The difference The Blue Cross makes to the lives of animals and people is something really worth being proud of. It’s all about the relationship between people and animals.” Ryan is adamant that anybody can increase their understanding of their pets. “A relationship shared between a person and an animal has to work both ways if a mutual bond is to develop. Animals should be treated with kindness and respect, but they also need structure, stability and opportunities to carry out normal behaviour if they are to be truly balanced and happy.”