Dogs Trust Lecture - how to communicate behaviour to your colleagues

How we talk about animal behaviour matters. Language used in clinical records, team discussions, and client communication can shape how patients are perceived, influence clinical decision-making and handling approaches, and ultimately affect patient welfare. This session explores how subjective labels can inadvertently create assumptions about an animal, and how more objective, contextual descriptions can support clearer communication and more individualised care. Attendees will reflect upon the benefits of critically evaluating behavioural language, distinguishing labels from observable descriptions, and applying behaviourally informed communication principles to clinical records, patient management, and multidisciplinary handovers. The session will also consider how client-facing written and visual materials can represent behaviour accurately, challenge common misconceptions and promote animal welfare. By the end of the session, participants will be better equipped to communicate about behaviour in a way that is precise, constructive and supportive of safe, compassionate veterinary care.

• Critically evaluate how the language and labels used in veterinary communication influence perceptions of animal behaviour, clinical decision-making, and patient welfare.
• Differentiate between subjective behavioural labels and objective, contextual descriptions of observed animal behaviour for use in clinical records and across teams.
• Apply principles of behaviourally informed communication to clinical record-keeping, patient management, and multidisciplinary handovers to support safe, individualised veterinary care.
• Develop client-facing communications, including written materials and visual media, that accurately represent animal behaviour, promote animal welfare, and dispel common behavioural misconceptions.