Jackie's job is animal magic!

Jackie is also actively involved in research into animal behaviour

Never work with children or animals? Try telling that to Jackie Hough!

Jackie is a Pet Behaviour Counsellor and Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare at Myerscough College in Preston.

And the fact that she's allergic to our furry friends doesn't put her off sharing her home with a menagerie!

Jackie tells us about her job, and offers her advice on dealing with some of the tricky problems our faithful friends can present.

"I have always been massively interested in pretty much all animals and would have gone to Veterinary School after my A levels if I could have afforded it! It's a family joke that the reason I work with animals and have a menagerie at home is as a result of being 'deprived' of animals as a child!"

What was the first pet that you had? "As I was growing up we did have a lilac point Siamese cat called Sasha and a budgie who my parents re-homed as I apparently was very allergic (and still am!) to most animals, but birds in particular.

Furry friends

"I manage my allergies very effectively with the marvels of anti-histamines but you'll always know if I've forgotten to take them - so if that's not dedication to our furry friends I don't know what is!"

Jackie's been married for nearly 21 years and shares her husband with four horses including two huge Shire horses, two dogs, six cats, a rabbit, hens, reptiles and five British saddleback pigs!

"Over the last five years due to being so busy at work I've allowed our numbers of animals to gradually reduce and I've stopped taking in the majority of rescue animals as at one point there were 16 chinchillas, circa 60 rabbits and even more reptiles living at our house!"

After graduating from Myerscough College with a First Class Honours Degree in Animal Behaviour in 2002, Jackie went on to gain her Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), enabling her to teach at BSc and FdSc degree level at Myerscough College.

She is also actively involved in research into animal behaviour and is a member of several professional bodies that promote research into animal behaviour and animal welfare.

Happy bunny

"I became specifically interested in animal behaviour when we had a major problem with two of our dogs many years ago, when they both tried to rip each other apart.

"We took and paid for behavioural advice for our dogs that was ineffective and with hindsight was never going to work, resulting in a very unpleasant situation for us all, something I would never wish on anyone. As a result of this I decided that I was going to focus all my energy into studying and researching this field and as they say the rest is history!

We as human beings make excuses and tolerate the intolerable! Jackie Hough Jackie's advice on how to deal with troublesome pets

"One of my first ever cases involved an older person whose dog would bite them when they tried to pass it, as it waited for them at the top of the stairs. They realised that if they passed the dog by crawling up the stairs on their hands and knees it would let them pass.

"This continued for several years until the dog started to bite them even if they were on their knees - they then decided they needed some help!

"I always relate this case to my degree students as I feel it clearly shows how much we as human beings make excuses and tolerate the intolerable!"

It's a worthwhile job: "I really wouldn't change it for the world - I love the interactions with my clients, the animals and the students so all in all I'd consider myself a happy bunny and I do it for the love and not the money as you'll never make your fortune in this field of work."

And the downside? "If anyone is considering this as an area that they would like to get involved in then I'd ask them to consider how they would feel being presented with aggressive animals week in week out - as the majority of animals you will see are aggressive, often towards people and I've certainly seen my fair share of dogs that would have liked to eat me!"