Meet Erik Prins, an Expert Dog Behaviourist at Talk Of The Dog

At Pata, we’re passionate about connecting pet care professionals with pet owners, but we also love sharing the stories behind the experts. That’s why we’re launching a new series of blog posts "Meet Pata Pet Carers", where we speak to pet carers who use Pata to manage their businesses and ask them about their journey, approach to pet care, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

Our first guest is Erik Prins, a dog behaviourist from Atherstone who turned his lifelong love of animals into a profession and created Talk of the Dog training classes. Erik’s background in psychology and behaviour science led him to specialise in helping dogs and their owners understand each other better.

From discovering how pheromones can influence pack dynamics to debunking the myth that a misbehaving dog means a bad owner, Erik shares his fascinating insights, biggest training misconceptions, and how Pata helps him keep his business running smoothly.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to become a dog trainer/behaviourist?

E: "I’m a proud Dutchman who sometimes refers to himself as ‘3D Erik’ — Dyslexic, Diabetic, and Determined! Animals have been part of my life since childhood, from dogs and cats to parrots, ducks, and even hamsters. I was also fortunate to have a close friend whose parents owned a farm, which gave me early exposure to a variety of animals and the responsibilities of caring for them.

My background is in psychology, and many of the principles used in dog training and behaviour modification are rooted in psychological research. My journey into behaviour work truly began when we adopted our first Greyhound. I quickly noticed the challenges people faced with their dogs — often due to misunderstandings and unintentional humanisation of their pets.

When my wife and I moved from London to Atherstone to start a family, we planned for me to take on school runs while also building a career in dog behaviour. However, life had other plans! During the COVID lockdown, I was made redundant, and the opportunity to turn my passion into a business was suddenly right in front of me. What started as dog walking soon evolved into training and, finally, behaviour consultations.

Now, as a Provisional Clinical Animal Behaviourist (as of May 2024), I’m proud to help dogs and their humans better understand each other. It’s been an unexpected journey, but one I wouldn’t change for the world!"

What services do you offer, and do you specialise in any particular behavioural conditions (like puppy training, obedience, behaviour correction)?

E: "I offer behaviour consultations for both puppies and adult dogs, as well as Dog Behaviour First Aid, 1-2-1 training sessions, and dog/puppy training classes when there’s enough interest. My focus is on understanding the emotional and psychological factors behind a dog’s behaviour, helping owners build stronger, more positive relationships with their pets."

What are the most common behavioural issues do you help pet owners with?

E: "Aggressive behaviours in various forms are the most common issues I see. However, aggression is often misunderstood—it’s usually a symptom of something deeper, such as fear, anxiety, pain, or past experiences. My job is to get to the root cause and help both the dog and their owner move forward."

What’s one training myth you’d love to debunk?

E: "There are so many I could talk about for hours, but one of the biggest misconceptions is that a dog misbehaving means the owner is irresponsible or a “bad” dog parent. While in rare cases, lack of guidance can contribute to unwanted behaviours, the reality is that behaviour is complex and influenced by multiple factors—medical conditions, emotional states, pain, developmental stages, medication, and even age-related changes."

E: "It’s easy to judge someone when their dog is acting out, but unless you’ve lived with a dog struggling with aggression, fear, or anxiety, it’s hard to understand the emotional toll it takes. In veterinary literature, we don’t use the term “reactive” to describe dogs; rather, we recognise different types of aggression based on specific triggers and motivations."

E: "If you ever see a dog displaying unwanted behaviour, try to show compassion rather than judgment. Many owners are actively working to help their dogs, and a little understanding can go a long way. Let’s take a lesson from our dogs—be kind and considerate to those who might be dealing with a tough case."

Do you have a favourite behavioural success story?

E: "I have many, but one that stands out involved a Greyhound owner who was initially very sceptical of my advice.

She managed a Greyhound rehoming kennel and was struggling with a situation where one of her Greyhounds was being attacked by his packmates — completely unprovoked and quite aggressively. She even had a video showing that the “victim” wasn’t instigating anything, yet the other dogs were targeting him.

There were no obvious environmental changes or illnesses, but she mentioned that the behaviour shift had been sudden. That triggered a memory from a veterinary text I’d read about pack dynamics changing due to pheromone shifts caused by gland infections. I suggested she take the “victim” to the vet for a check-up.

At first, she was doubtful—after all, she had 16 years of experience running a Greyhound rescue and had never encountered this. But to her surprise, the vet confirmed that the dog had an anal gland infection. Once treated, the pack settled back to normal.

This case was particularly satisfying because it highlighted the value of formal qualifications in behaviour work. Experience is invaluable, but having a solid foundation in science-backed principles can make all the difference in solving complex cases. It also reinforced why I pursued my Provisional Clinical Animal Behaviourist status with the APBC—being held to high standards benefits both dogs and their owners."

Which feature of Pata's pet care software do you find the most helpful with your dog behaviour consultation business?

E: "I can keep this one short and sweet — Pata is brilliant because it’s so easy to set up! I’ve tried many platforms, and some are so complicated that it feels like you need a degree in digital tech just to get started. One system even required me to pay £80 per month just to access support!

With Pata, everything is straightforward, and if you do need help, their team is just an email away. As someone who isn’t particularly tech-savvy, I really appreciate that level of simplicity and support."

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to dog owners struggling with behaviour challenges?

E: "If you notice a behavioural issue, don’t wait until it becomes a big problem. Just like in human psychology, the more a behaviour is practised, the more ingrained it becomes. Over time, this makes it harder, more time-consuming, and ultimately more expensive to change.

This is why I offer a service called Dog Behaviour First Aid — it’s all about catching issues early before they escalate. If something doesn’t seem right with your dog’s behaviour, seek professional guidance sooner rather than later. And when choosing a behaviourist, do your research. Many people claim success without the qualifications to back up their knowledge, so it’s important to find someone with the right expertise to help you and your dog move forward."

Are you a Pata user with a story to share? We'd love to hear it! Email us at info@pata.pet with the subject line "Pata Pet Carer Story", and we'll be in touch soon!