Dog Assessments for Child Foster and Adoption Agencies

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Ensuring a safe environment for children is crucial when dogs are present in a home. Daniel Shaw is a highly qualified and experienced dog behaviourist, and provides professional behaviour assessments for social services, and foster and adoption agencies across England and Wales.

Daniel provides comprehensive behaviour, welfare, and risk assessments for dogs that may pose a risk to children. His detailed behavioural reports offer expert insights and professional recommendations, evaluating the potential risks to children, including those with social, emotional, or behavioural difficulties.

Where needed, Daniel also provides families and social workers with expert guidance on safely introducing children and dogs, ensuring a smooth transition. His assessments consider a range of key factors, including:

• The dog's background and any health issues

• The dog's socialisation history and responses in a number of social situations

• Previous training 

• An assessment of the home environment and any changes that may be required to ensure safety

• Temperament and behaviour with members of the household, guests, strangers, and children of different age groups.  

Price Dependent on type of report required:

• For Internally Directed Assessments - £350 (plus VAT and Travel)

• For Court Directed Assessments Please Contact Us Directly For A Quote

We offer assessments throughout England and Wales. 

For more information contact daniel@animalbehaviourkent.co.uk or call 07930672387

Daniel Shaw BSc (Hons), MSc, CDBC is an expert witness in canine behaviour, providing court-admissible assessments and reports for legal cases involving dogs. His expertise is frequently sought by solicitors, barristers, and local authorities in cases under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (Sections 1 & 3), as well as family court cases where dog behaviour is a relevant factor. Daniel is a member of the UK Register of Expert Witnesses and has had evidence accepted in behaviour assessments in cases of dogs seized under section 1 and section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 as well as cases in the family court.  

Daniel Shaw is an experienced dog behaviourist and trainer who has been running a behaviour practice in the South East of England since 2019. His work focuses on dogs with serious behavioural issues, including aggression, trauma, and fear-related conditions. He also conducts expert assessments for foster and adoption agencies, ensuring that dogs are suitable for environments with children. In addition to his professional practice, Daniel is a member of the welfare team at Spirit of the Dog Rescue, where he assists with behavioural assessments, developing behaviour plans, and supporting the rehoming process for dogs in their care.

Daniel holds an MSc in Neuroscience from King’s College London and a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from London South Bank University. He is a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant (CDBC) with the IAABC, a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS), and a registered test user in human occupational, ability, and personality assessments. In 2018, Daniel Shaw completed a canine behaviour qualification with the Natural Animal Centre. Since then, he has obtained several well-recognised certifications in dog behaviour and training, including an Applied Ethology course with the Family Dog Mediation Centre, the Aggression in Dogs Master Course, and a Forensics of Aggression course. He also engages in continuous professional development (CPD) to further his expertise in dog behaviour and dog law.

Daniel has completed the Kennel Club Conformation & Movement Seminar and passed the Kennel Club Points of the Dog Assessment. In addition, he has further developed his understanding of canine conformation by completing the Canine Anatomy and Physiology Accredited Certificate with Canine Principles.

Daniel is a leading educator in the field of dog behaviour and training, regularly presenting internationally at in-person and online conferences on topics related to canine behaviour, neurobiology, and training methodologies. He has been invited to speak at leading industry events, including the LEGS in Motion Conference, Trauma in Animals Conference, and the Emotional Wellbeing in Animals Conference, as well as delivering webinars and seminars for organisations such as the Aggressive Dog, APBC and Grisha Stewart Academy. In March 2023, Daniel presented to the All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group (APDAWG) in UK Parliament on the rise in dog bites, focusing on the role of neurobiology in bite behaviour.