Expert Canine Behaviour Consulting for Veterinary Professionals, Shelters & Legal Cases

Led by Dr. Liam Clay, Australia's first Veterinary Behaviour Technician (VTS) with a PhD in Canine Behaviour. Evidence-based assessments, expert witness services, and industry consulting across Australia.

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What We Do

We combine applied animal behaviour science with real-world dog training and clinical experience to support:

Families and pet owners needing help with behaviour problems at home.
Veterinary teams facing complex behaviour cases in clinic.
Shelters and rescues working to improve welfare, assessments and adoption outcomes.
Councils and legal professionals managing dangerous dog matters and evidence.
Trainers, groomers and daycare facilities building low-stress, welfare-focused services.

Our work spans behaviour consultations, behaviour and temperament assessments, expert reports, assistance dog evaluations, research, and education.

ABOUT

AABA

Applied Animal Behaviour Analysis in practice

Applied Animal Behaviour Analysis (AABA) uses the principles of learning and behaviour science to understand why animals behave the way they do – and how we can change behaviour humanely and effectively.

At AABA, we use this approach to:

Identify the underlying motivation and function of behaviour.
Design tailored behaviour modification plans for individual dogs and households.
Develop robust behaviour and temperament assessments for shelters, councils and legal contexts.
Support One Welfare and Five Domains frameworks in everyday practice.

The goal is simple: better welfare, clearer decisions and safer, more sustainable outcomes for dogs and people.

ABOUT

Dr Liam Clay

Dr Liam Clay is a canine behaviour scientist and veterinary behaviour technician with a background in dog training, shelter welfare and clinical behaviour.

His qualifications include:

Bachelor of Applied Science (Veterinary Technology)
Honours in canine stress and behavioural problems
PhD in canine behaviour assessments, behavioural problems and adoption suitability in Australian shelters

Dr Clay works closely with shelters, veterinary teams, councils and industry partners to develop and refine behaviour assessments, training programs and welfare frameworks. He continues to teach and supervise in animal behaviour and research, and is committed to making evidence-based behaviour knowledge accessible to both professionals and the wider community.

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Key Services

Behaviour & Temperament Assessments

Canine behaviour & temperament assessments

We conduct behaviour and temperament assessments to support:

Dangerous and menacing dog matters
Shelters and rescues assessing suitability for adoption
Councils and legal professionals needing independent opinion

Assessments are grounded in current research and may include:

Structured behavioural testing
Review of history, incident reports and environmental factors
Detailed written reports with clear, balanced recommendations

Where required, we also provide expert opinion for hearings and tribunals.

Clinical behaviour referrals (vet-only pathway)

Behaviour consultations for pet dogs are provided through our partnered clinical behaviour service, Future Proof Training Academy (FPTA), and are accepted on veterinary referral only.

Pet owners: please speak with your veterinarian about a referral to FPTA for behaviour support.
Veterinarians: clinical behaviour cases can be referred via FPTA using our behaviour referral pathway; AABA provides assessment input, interpretation and reporting as needed.

Assistance Dog Assessments

Assistance dog behaviour & public access testing

We provide Behaviour & Obedience Assessments (BOA) and Public Access Tests (PAT) in line with Western Australian requirements.

We work with:

Owner-trainers and assistance dog teams.
Allied health professionals referring clients.
Organisations seeking consistent, welfare-focused assessment.

Our assessments focus on suitability for work, welfare and safety across real-world environments.

Education, Courses & Workshops

The Behaviour Institute – education for owners and professionals

Through the Behaviour Institute, we offer online courses, webinars and workshops for:

Dog owners and adopters wanting to understand their dogs better.
Veterinary teams building confidence with behaviour in clinic.
Shelter, rescue and foster networks working with complex dogs.
Trainers, daycare and grooming professionals refining low-stress handling and behaviour skills.

All programs are grounded in evidence-based practice and designed to be practical, accessible and directly applicable in the real world.