David Okafor
David is a certified applied animal behaviourist (CAAB) specialising in separation anxiety, reactivity, resource guarding, fear responses, and inter-dog conflict. His guides help owners understand the function behind their pet's behaviour using humane, science-based modification strategies, drawing on CAAB, IAABC, and Fear Free Pets research.
- Credentials
- CAAB, PhD Animal Behaviour, Fear Free certified
- Focus
- Behaviour
Authored Guides
How to Socialise a Puppy at Daycare Safely
Puppy daycare socialisation requires careful management of group size, staff ratios, and stress signals. This guide covers age-appropriate protocols, overstimulation warning signs, and essential questions to ask before enrolment.
Canine Body Language: A Guide for Daycare Staff
Daycare staff who can read canine stress signals prevent bites, reduce injuries, and create safer play groups. This guide covers the body language cues, breed play differences, and intervention strategies every handler needs.
New Puppy Meets Senior Dog: A Two Week Integration Guide
Introducing a puppy to a senior dog requires careful territory sharing, energy management, and feeding separation. This science based guide provides a day by day two week integration timeline.
Adopting a Retired Greyhound: Behaviour and Care Guide
Retired greyhounds carry unique behavioural traits shaped by their racing background. This guide covers prey drive management, sleep nesting, transition timelines, and science based strategies for a smooth adoption.
Rescue Cat Outdoor Transition: A Spring Safety Guide
Transitioning a rescue cat from shelter life to outdoor access requires careful, graduated steps. This guide covers territory marking, neighbour cat conflicts, and the safety milestones to reach before unsupervised outdoor time.
Spring Bearded Dragon Mistakes New Owners Must Avoid
New bearded dragon owners often repeat the same preventable husbandry errors each spring. This guide covers UVB bulb replacement timing, basking temperature accuracy, insect overfeeding risks, and safe outdoor sun exposure setups.
Cat-Proof Windows and Balconies Without Blocking Airflow
Spring ventilation and feline safety can coexist. This guide covers mesh screens, catio kits, tilt window guards, and the behavioural science behind high rise syndrome in cats.
Adopting a Dog in Late Spring: Reading Past the Chaos
Late spring shelter surges compromise screening quality and skew behaviour assessments. Learn how to ask the right questions and spot a dog's true temperament despite overcrowded conditions.
Anticipatory Grief When Your Vet Recommends Euthanasia
Anticipatory grief begins the moment a veterinarian raises euthanasia as an option. This guide walks through the emotional stages, quality of life assessments, and practical steps to prepare yourself and your family before the appointment.
Why Your Dog Barks More in Spring and How to Help
Spring triggers a surge in territorial barking driven by increased foot traffic, wildlife activity, and open windows. This guide explains the behavioural science behind the spike and offers humane modification strategies owners can start today.
Why Adopting a Bonded Pair of Cats Is Easier
Bonded cat pairs often settle faster, show fewer stress behaviours, and require less human intervention than single cats. This guide explains the behavioural science behind bonded pairs and why two cats can be less work than one.
Litter Box Mistakes First Time Cat Owners Make
First-time cat owners often follow outdated advice on litter box placement, quantity, and cleaning schedules. A feline behaviourist's guide corrects the most common errors using science-based strategies.