DOG BEHAVIOUR ASSESSMENTS
Get the professional assessment and clear report you need
Qualified dog behavioural assessments for menacing and dangerous, legal and Greenhound requirements, delivered with care, experience and clear guidance at every step.
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DOG BEHAVIOUR ASSESSMENTS
Get clear information before taking your next step
A qualified assessment provides a professional evaluation of your dog’s behaviour, practical guidance and clear documentation to help you confidently navigate the process ahead.
- Notice of Intention received
- Menacing dog declaration
- Dangerous dog declaration
- Council assessment requirements
- Solicitor or legal proceedings
- Greenhound muzzle exemption
Know what to expect
See how the assessment works, what happens on the day and how we support you from booking through to your completed report.
Choose the right assessment for your situation
Two straightforward options, transparent pricing and professional guidance from your first enquiry through to the completed assessment.
♥ Not sure which option applies?
Send us your paperwork and we’ll help you choose.
Dog Behavioural Assessment
Best choice for:
Dogs with a Notice of Intention or a Menacing or Dangerous Dog Declaration, including matters involving council, a solicitor or legal proceedings.
One Assessment per dog - $700
- Approximately one-hour assessment
- Initial feedback on the day
- Detailed report within seven days
- Location - Kotara, Newcastle NSW
Greenhound Assessment
Best choice for:
Greyhounds completing the Greenhound assessment required when applying for an off-lead muzzle exemption.
One Assessment - $240
- Approximately 45-minute assessment
- Clear preparation guidance
- Assessment outcome explained
- Location - Kotara, Newcastle NSW
What to expect
A clear process from booking to report
Book online or contact our team and send through any council notices, legal correspondence or Greenhound paperwork. We’ll confirm the appropriate assessment, explain what to bring and secure your appointment once payment has been received.
Your assessment takes place at our home office in Kotara. We begin with you present, then complete most behavioural observations while you remain nearby. This allows your dog to be carefully assessed within a calm and controlled environment.
Once the assessment is complete, you’ll be reunited with your dog and we’ll talk you through our initial observations. Your detailed written report will be provided within seven days. Additional fees may apply when liaison with a solicitor or another professional requires extra time.
Why Dogaholics
Professional experience you can rely on
Behavioural assessments require more than a quick opinion. They call for careful observation, sound judgement and clear documentation that can be understood by pet parents, councils and legal professionals.
With more than 24 years of dog training and behaviour experience, the Dogaholics team brings a calm, objective and welfare-focused approach to every assessment.
We explain the process clearly, assess every dog as an individual and provide practical feedback without judgement. You’ll understand what has been observed, what the report covers and what your available next steps may be.
From your first enquiry through to the completed report, you’ll receive responsive communication, respectful support and professional guidance at every stage.
Frequently asked questions
Which behavioural assessment should I book?
The dog behavioural assessment is for dogs involved in council or legal matters, including Notices of Intention and Menacing or Dangerous Dog declarations. The Greenhound assessment is specifically for greyhounds applying for an off-lead muzzle exemption. Send us your paperwork if you need help choosing.
Where are assessments conducted?
All assessments are conducted at our home office in Adamstown Heights, conveniently located for pet parents throughout Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. We’ll provide the appointment details and preparation instructions when your booking is confirmed.
Do I stay with my dog during the assessment?
You’ll be present at the beginning of the appointment. Most behavioural observations are then completed without you in the assessment area, while you remain nearby. You’ll be reunited with your dog as soon as the assessment is complete.
When will I receive the written report?
You’ll receive initial feedback after the assessment and your detailed written report within seven days. Please let us know before booking if the report is required by a council, solicitor or for legal proceedings.
What are the required steps for a Greenhound Assessment for Greyhounds?
If you have a pet or retired racing Greyhound and would like to undertake the assessment for muzzle exemption, here are the steps you will need to follow:
STEP 1 Contact GREENHOUNDS NSW to enrol your greyhound in the in-home re-training program.
Contact Greenhounds NSW to enrol in your Greyhound in an in-home re-training program. This is a self-guided 6-week course designed to help owners prepare their greyhound for the Greenhound assessment.
In order to participate, an existing pet Greyhound must be:
- Microchipped
- Lifetime registered with a council
- De-sexed (unless the greyhound is registered with Dogs NSW for the purposes of showing)
NOTE: There is no charge for participating in the in-home 6-week re-training program.
STEP 2: Undertake the in-home 6-week re-training program.
The aim of this program is to assist owners to prepare for their Greyhound’s green collar assessment. It covers many different situations that a Greyhound may come across in its daily life as a pet. If your Greyhound has been a pet for some time, parts of this guide may seem very basic. However, it has been written to also take into account the Greyhounds who are new to pet life, some of whom may have come straight from the race track or an impound facility.
You will be sent a workbook by Greenhounds which will enable you to record and self-assess your Greyhound’s progress through the 6-week in-home re-training program.
STEP 3: Book your Greenhound Assessment with us
At the end of the 6-week in-home program and completion of the workbook, please book in for your Greyhound’s Greenhound assessment with us. We are fully certified with Greenhounds as an approved assessor.
The assessment is undertaken to determine if your Greyhound is suitable for a muzzle exemption.
The focus of this assessment is safety and socialisation in public. For this reason, Greenhounds stipulates that the assessment not be carried out at the owner’s home. We conduct the assessment at our premises in Adamstown, NSW.
As pets may act differently in the presence of an owner, owners are expected to be absent during the test. It is expected that an owner will present their Greyhound for assessment in good health and a clean condition.
The Greenhound assessment is designed to identify that a Greyhound is:
- Friendly, approachable and manageable;
- Shows no aggression towards other dogs (particularly small ones); and
- Shows no aggression towards humans (particularly in the presence of food and toys etc.)
- Immediately following the assessment, we will advise owners of the outcome.
If a Greyhound is found to be suitable, it is eligible for an exemption from muzzling when in a public place. If a Greyhound is found not to be suitable, it will not be eligible for the muzzling exemption, however, the Greyhound will able to re-take the assessment at a future time.
We will provide feedback to owners as to the reasons why a Greyhound was unsuccessful, advice on how to overcome the issues and when it might be appropriate to re-book an assessment.
STEP 4: If your dog passes, Greenhounds NSW will issue you a Green Collar
If your Greyhound passes the assessment, we will advise Greenhounds of the outcome and your greyhound will be recorded on the Companion Animals Register as “muzzle exempt”.
Once Greenhounds receives the completed workbook from you and assessment documentation from us, the Greenhound collar with ID tag and certificate will be issued. The fee for the green collar and associated administration costs is $49.50 paid directly to Greenhounds NSW.
Need help before you book?
Send us your notice, declaration or Greenhound requirements and our team will help you select the correct assessment.
Move forward with clear, professional guidance
Book your dog behavioural assessment and take the next step with the right information, documentation and experienced support behind you.