Dr Robert Falconer-Taylor BVetMed, DipCABT, MRCVS
Robert has worked in the veterinary profession for nearly 30 years, as a partner in an innovative small animal hospital group and as a locum. Alongside his role in day-to-day clinical medicine, Robert has also been very much involved in the management, communication, and education side of veterinary practice. During this time, he was directly involved in the conception and implementation of computerisation into the profession. This included a cross-fertilisation with the human healthcare system in the UK and the development of cross-platform coding and classification systems for disease identification, tracking and surveillance. This is now an integral part of the World Health Organisation’s One Health initiative.
Robert was also veterinary director and head of education of the Centre of Applied Pet Ethology (COAPE), the first organisation in the UK to develop government-regulated courses to degree level specifically in companion animal behaviour and training. COAPE also developed the renowned EMRA system used by behaviourists and trainers all over the world, now summarised in their book – EMRA Intelligence: The revolutionary new approach to treating behaviour problems in dogs.
He teaches and consults around the world along with writing for the veterinary and other professional press. He is also author of the informative PET CPD Blog, published on this website, which has been taken up and endorsed by many training and behaviour organisations all over the world.
Robert was actively involved in the development of the ‘The Puppy Plan’, first launched in February 2012 and updated in 2014, a collaboration between Dogs Trust and the Kennel Club. He is an international consultant to the pet industry where he has been engaged in the development of pet ‘toys’ targeted specifically at promoting the welfare of pets and their relationships with their owners. He also wrote the first risk assessment protocol to ensure high safety standards for pet toys. He is currently engaged in several ongoing commmercial projects such as the development of tools to help guardians quickly monitor their pet’s ongoing happiness (dogs, cats, and horses so far), and helping behaviour supplement companies with providing accurate and evidence-based product information.
Robert is also Academic Advisor to The Association of INTODogs and a Trustee for Springer Rescue for Scotland.
His current primary academic interests include companion animal cognitive science and emotionality, nutrition and its effects on behaviour, and applied neurophysiology, pharmacology, and therapeutics in companion animal behaviour therapy. For launch in 2023 – 2024, Robert is working on a number of tools, resources and a book, as part of a range of accessible online education resources for the companion animal community.
He promotes the idea wherever and whenever he can that –
The key to better animal welfare is through education