Second Nature Behaviour for parrots, cats and dogs

🌟 Meet the team: Rachel Swift

Rachel is one of our wonderful administrators, nearing the end of her placement year with us as part of her BSc (Hons) Clinical Animal Behaviour and Welfare degree at Harper Adams University.

After attending Hartpury College and studying a Level 3 Diploma in Animal Science, she became interested in human-animal interaction and evidence-based practices. Having completed various work experiences, including hydrotherapy centres, veterinary practices, and independently handling multiple species (exotics, reptiles, livestock, companion and aquatics) at Hartpury, she hoped to further expand her handling expertise in canine companions.

With us, Rachel's been growing her expertise with dogs while keeping the whole practice running smoothly behind the scenes.

We're so grateful for everything Rachel brings to the team 💙

🐾 Better Together - and what a Sunday it was!

This weekend, we welcomed like-minded, force-free pet professionals to our 'Better Together' CPD networking event in Birmingham.

Every dog and cat has a whole team around them, even if that team doesn't always know it - the groomer who notices a flinch, the walker who spots a change in energy, the physio on a recovery plan, the behaviourist piecing together the emotional picture. When we talk with each other and collaborate, the animals we work with benefit enormously.

Our own Keely Needham and Megan Richardson opened the afternoon, exploring how stress, fear, frustration and pain show up across different species, and why behaviour matters in every animal-care role, not just ours. We were then delighted to welcome Victoria from Happy Henry’s Grooming and Training, who shared her reward-based, fear-free approach to grooming and why "pushing through to get the job done" does more harm than good.

A huge thank you to everyone who gave up their Sunday to be part of it. This is exactly the kind of local, reward-based network we love being part of here in the West Midlands - professionals who put welfare first and are always happy to learn from one another 💙
Here's to working better, together 😺

🦜 Happy International Parrot Day 🦜

Did you know parrots have touch receptors along the inside edges of their hooked beak so they can dextrously explore objects within their beak much like we do with our hands?

Teaching your dog how to settle is one of the most valuable life skills you can work on 🐾✨

A calm settle is a transferable skill that can help your dog in so many everyday situations; at home, in cafés, at the vets, when guests visit, during training classes, or simply learning how to switch off and relax 💛

Dogs aren’t always born knowing how to relax in busy environments… it’s something we can teach through patience, consistency, and positive experiences.

The more your dog practises calmness in different places, the easier it becomes for them to cope with the world around them 🌎🐶

Puppy classes! 🐾

Got a new puppy? Our 6-week puppy training course is the perfect way to set them up for a happy, confident life.
Starting Thursday 11th June, 7–8pm @ Keele Village Hall, you and your pup will learn real-life skills together - from settling on a mat and coming when called, to loose lead walking, gentle handling, polite play, and so much more. We finish with a group social walk so you can put it all into practise!

Our classes are fun, friendly, and 100% reward-based. No harsh methods, just great training built on trust.

✅ Puppies up to 20 weeks welcome
✅ Small class sizes
✅ Qualified, accredited instructors
✅ 6 weekly sessions + social walk

Spaces are limited - get in touch to book your spot!

📩 [email protected]
📞 0121 299 0188
🌐 secondnature.bio

Puppy classes now booking! 🐾

Got a new puppy? Our 6-week puppy training course is the perfect way to set them up for a happy, confident life.
Starting Thursday 11th June, 7–8pm @ Keele Village Hall, you and your pup will learn real-life skills together - from settling on a mat and coming when called, to loose lead walking, gentle handling, polite play, and so much more. We finish with a group social walk so you can put it all into practise!

Our classes are fun, friendly, and 100% reward-based. No harsh methods, just great training built on trust.

✅ Puppies up to 20 weeks welcome
✅ Small class sizes
✅ Qualified, accredited instructors
✅ 6 weekly sessions + social walk

Spaces are limited - get in touch to book your spot!

📩 [email protected]
📞 0121 299 0188
🌐 secondnature.bio

Why you should let your dog stop and sniff?

Its your dogs opportunity to read the world around them, dogs use sniffing to help understand their environment, communicate with other dogs and gather information 🌎

Giving your dog time to sniff on walks can provide mental stimulation, reduce frustration and make walks far more enriching 🧠

Sometimes the most beneficial part of a walk isn’t how far you go, it’s what your dog gets to discover along the way! 🐾

The team last week had a brilliant time attending the British Veterinary Behaviour Association (BVBA) CPD networking event 🐾

It was such a valuable day, learning about multi-species households from understanding interspecies relationships to creating more harmonious home environments for the animals we live with 🐶

It was great to connect with like minded professionals and continue to learn how best we can support our clients and the pets 🫶

Spring has officially arrived 🌿 which means more livestock in our fields.

I hope we are all enjoying the longer days just as much as we are, but remember keep your dogs on lead around farm animals, be aware of your surroundings, and always follow countryside guidelines.

Livestock worrying is a criminal offence in the UK, farmers are legally permitted to take action to protect their livestock, this can including shooting a dog if necessary.

Read our managing dogs around livestock and wildlife blog for everything you need to know about livestock etiquette 🐑🐄
https://secondnature.bio/blog/canines/managing-dogs-around-livestock/

To the cat mums who give their whole hearts every single day 🐈💛

Today’s for you✨

Second Nature Behaviour celebrates all the incredible cat mums supporting their cats through behaviour challenges this year

Your patience, compassion, and commitment don’t go unnoticed 🫶