An animal behaviourist who previously worked extensively with wolves is helping dog owners in the North East to gain a better understanding of and better behaviour from their own canine companions.
Dr Isla Fishburn started Kachina Canine Communication to increase our understanding of both the animals that live with us (pets) as well as understanding the animals we live with (wild animals).
A qualified zoologist with a PhD in conservation biology, Dr Fishburn returned to her native North East after spending time in the South of England researching and working with wolves.
She said: “I researched how wolves interact, and offered wolf encounter courses where people could come and experience time with them.
“Many of the visitors had dogs and it was seeing people’s reactions to their own dogs, never mind the wolves, that convinced me that a lot of people need help in understanding how their dogs think and communicate with us and how they can work with them to overcome the problems that are all too common.”
Originally from Newton Hall in Durham, Dr Fishburn has based Kachina Canine Communication in Acklington in Northumberland. She has worked with police and prison dog handlers and used her techniques to address a range of behavioural issues with rescue dogs.
Kachina – the Native American Hopi collective for ‘spirit teacher’ – focuses on the holistic approach, teaching people how their dog’s innate character, diet, environmental factors, trauma and our own emotions can influence their dog’s behaviour.
Dr Fishburn, who has worked all over the UK and in Italy and Belgium, uses natural healing to work on the dog, and has successfully tackled a range of serious canine behaviour from fighting to unpredictable biting, and problems of poor recall skills, stealing food and those associated with traumas in the past. Her techniques use the biological framework that dictates dog behaviour, plus a combination of scientific understanding and a calm natural approach.
She said: “As I work holistically, my focus is improving the individual wellbeing of each dog and its owner and creating mutual trust and respect.
“Dogs are our mirror image and being social group animals, they are excellent at reading body language. This includes human body language and if our wellbeing needs are not being met, we need to concentrate on improving them alongside improving the dog’s wellbeing.”
Dr Fishburn has four dogs of her own, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a Labrador and two wolf dogs. She is a recognised UK authority on wolf dogs – a wolf/dog cross breed.
She is running natural dog behaviour & communication courses at Acklington Village Hall and an equestrian centre in County Durham, in addition to offering private consultations with dog owners in their own homes.
Dr Fishburn, who also runs workshops and seminars on dog behaviour across the UK, said: “Ultimately, I’m aiming to set up a canine behaviour and research unit here in the North East.
“I’m also keen to build relationships with local vets, so I can help more people and their canine companions coexist in harmony.”
