Catherine Griffin CDBC, Consultant & Founder of Snout & About
Catherine is the founder of Snout & About and a Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant (CDBC) with the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC)
With over 15 years of experience in the field, she brings a wealth of knowledge, compassion and professionalism to every case she supports.
Her academic foundation includes advanced study under the esteemed Dr Emily Blackwell at the University of Bristol. A former Training and Behaviour Advisor for Dogs Trust, Catherine has built a reputation for excellence within the industry.
Her work is recognised internationally, with published case studies featured in respected journals and used as educational material by the prestigious ATN Animal Behaviour Academy in Europe.
Catherine also fosters strong networks within the professional community and among her clients, promoting collaboration and continued learning. She works with notable organisations including Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland, the ATN Academy for Applied Psychology, multiple educational bodies and across veterinary clinics throughout Ireland.
Catherine’s Triage services are approved for cover by Allianz Pet Insurance.
Professional Credentials & Standards
- Certified Dog Behaviour Consultant (CDBC) – IAABC
- Progressing Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CAB)
- Advanced academic study with Dr Emily Blackwell, University of Bristol
- Former Training & Behaviour Advisor, Dogs Trust
- Published case studies used in international professional education
- Regular collaboration with veterinary, physiotherapy, nutrition and training professionals
- Practice aligned with IAABC Code of Ethics & align with internationally recognised best practice
Clinical, Welfare-First Approach
Catherine’s work is grounded in a clinical, multidisciplinary and welfare-led model of canine care. Every case is approached through a behavioural health, pain-aware and emotional regulation lens, ensuring that training never happens on top of unmanaged anxiety, fear or discomfort.
Her role is to investigate why behaviour is occurring, not just what it looks like on the surface, and to build tailored pathways that bring together the right professionals at the right time for both dog and guardian.
Areas of Special Interest
- Pain-related behaviour and complex medical–behavioural cases
- Fear, anxiety and emotional dysregulation
- Stereotypic and Maladative Behaviours
- Legal Assessment & Policy Creation
- Rescue, trauma and welfare-sensitive cases
- Client education, advocacy and neurodiversity-aware support
Additional Services
- Education, seminars and lectures
- Operational kennel design and behaviour-led kennel practices
- Professional mentorship and case supervision
- Media & news contributions
- Legal case support and expert input
- Destruction order assessment
- Safety & risk analysis for dogs in home or community settings
- Quality of Life assessment
- Welfare assessment and recommendations
For all enquiries into specialist areas, please contact Catherine directly at
info@snoutandabout.ie.
How to Choose the Service for You
How to Choose Between Services
| Your Situation | Best Service |
|---|---|
| Early concerns, unsure what it is | Advisory Consultation |
| Suspected medical involvement | Advisory → possibly upgrade to Triage |
| High levels of anxiety, aggression, shutdown, extreme reactivity | Behaviour Triage Clinic |
| You just need training | Advisory → Trainer Referral |
| You want ongoing light support | Advisory Follow-Up |
| You want full investigation & treatment plan | Triage Clinic |
Book in for with Catherine
Choose an option below to read more on Consultation services available. For mentorship, please visit Mentorships. For Specalist Services, please email Catherine directly at info@snoutandabout.ie