Sara McIver - Training and Behaviour Thoughts

12/03/2025

Love this post! And so so true!!!

I’m going to keep saying this until I stop hearing horror stories about puppies being left to cry it out in their new homes

‘All of the rest of the family (2 dogs and 4 humans) are in the sitting room but the puppy has chosen to go in the kitchen (two rooms away) all on her own to sleep on the Big Dog Bed. It shows how secure she feels to not need to be with us all. She feels safe as we’ve never excluded her- never put her in a crate in another room etc or left her alone to get upset at night. She sleeps with me on the bed at night, she has as much cuddles and company (from humans and Sylvi) as she wants all day and the end result is that she feels secure, she feels safe and confident as she’s formed a secure attachment.

There’s no need to ‘start as you mean to go on’ with puppies and leave them to cry or exclude them. Just let them be fully part of your family and give them choices and the time to develop emotionally without stress. Really, all they want is to be fully integrated into your family and to feel safe. When they feel secure they can then cope with their own company, gradually and at their own pace. (Puppy is 8 weeks old in this photo and has been with me in foster and hand reared since she was 6 days old)’

This was 4 years ago today and this puppy has grown up to be the most fiercely independent dog I’ve ever had- we have zero separation issues and she’s not at all ‘clingy’ . She is brave as she had a safe and secure attachment at an early age. Please don’t ever worry that meeting your puppies needs will make them have separation issues as it’s entirely the opposite outcome ❤️

Laura McAuliffe Dog Communication 2025

11/03/2025

A bit delayed but this one is worth the wait!! New episode of What's your why? featuring Tom Candy from Simplifying Shelter Behaviour. A great episode where we delve into his journey into the field, mental health and self care alongside making tough decisions!!

Please join us in another dive into What's your why?

This is a fantastic episode where Tom and I delve into how he found his "home" within rescue shelters. We talk about aspects such as making difficult decisions, why training if often not perfect and we also touch on some sensitive topics such as self care and looking after ourselves in often difficu...

24/12/2024

***MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE***

Just want to say a massive thank you for following me this year!

It's been a busy one training and behaviour wise:
- Over 95 dogs supported through Dogs Trust.
- 3 workshops at Maggie's Voice Equestrian Center.
- 1 workshop for Hope Meadows Equine Assisted Recovery CIC and multiple meetings.
- Started a podcast What's your why? Which now has 3 episodes.
- Attended multiple CPD courses and supported the APBC Conference.

There is probably more but for now, I need some rest!

Hope everyone has a wonderful festive period!

24/12/2024

Very important advice!!!

Here's your Christmas Eve reminder of festive foods that should stay out of reach of your pooches 🎄☕

[Image description: An infographic about Festive Food Safety. The advice includes keeping human treats out of reach of dogs, teaching your dog to 'leave it', no christmas cake, mince pies, christmas pudding or chocolate, no hot chocolate, mulled wine or alcohol, watch out for holly berries and mistletoe as they can cause vomiting and avoid onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives.]

20/12/2024

Well I have a fabulous Christmas treat for you!!! In episode 3 of What's your Why? I speak to my wonderful friend and colleague Emily Harvey!

Emily is a clinical animal behaviourist with me at Dogs Trust. We delve into her past to find out about her fascinating career progression! If you want to find out more about training Sea Lions, hamsters, goats and Guide Dogs... have a listen!!!

Can be found on Podbean and Spotify 🥳

I'm listening to What’s your why? | What's your why? Episode 3 - Emily Harvey on Podbean, check it out!

Very excited to introduce you to Emily Harvey, an accredited clinical animal behaviourist. Emily currently works for Dogs Trust as a community clinical animal behaviourist and we hear about the great work she is doing for this phenomenal charity, but we also hear about her background in sea lion tra...

19/12/2024

The next episode of What's your why? Will be available soon!! Last minute editing being done. You will love the next guest ❤️🐕🐾🐐🦭
Picture for comedy😂

16/12/2024

Anyone looking for an easy to read guide on dog body language, make this a must for your Christmas list!!!! Currently in The Works for £3. Perfect little stocking filler!!! 🥰❤️

16/12/2024

So important to recognise this Christmas! Not all dogs want to be social at Christmas. It can be very overwhelming with all the excitement, change of routine,Christmas crackers and extra people. Such good advice here!!!

07/12/2024

Lovely morning with Hope Meadows Equine Assisted Recovery CIC doing a little workshop before the rain came 🥰 Beautiful ponies and wonderful people who are making such a HUGE difference to the community whilst keeping equine welfare in mind ❤️🐴

27/11/2024

Such a fab post from The Mutty Professor 🥰

Here’s a picture of me climbing on the Pembrokeshire coast.

When climbing we not only have to lean back into our harness to weight the anchor or rope, but we also have to be ready to fall and that involves a sudden yank/stop/tug on the rope.

Notice how my climbing harness …

a) Is positioned around my body and not around my neck. You also get climbing harnesses that include straps on the upper body too.

b) Is not lined with metal prongs that dig into my body.

When my climbing harness catches me from falling, it doesn’t make me think of my mother catching me with her hands when I fell as a toddler.

The reason climbing harnesses don’t go around necks is because the neck is not as able to withstand force as the larger section of the body.

My harness also doesn’t make me more likely to fall! My learned and practised climbing skill is what helps me not fall. Although, the wide straps of my harness does make falling more comfortable.

The reason it’s not lined with metal prongs is because that would be really uncomfortable, probably very painful in fact. I’d probably get really stressed desperately trying to avoid any pressure of the harness on my body and I wouldn’t fully enjoy climbing.

The reason it doesn’t make me think of my mother catching me is because it’s a) a piece of equipment and not a person and b) being used in a totally different context - most notably in my adulthood!


Online you can read all sorts of reasons for using aversive tools, including prong collars, such as “it’s perceived like the mother correcting them as a puppy” or that alternatively, a harness causes dogs to pull on the lead.

There’s often plenty of reassurance online that they don’t hurt. They’re just a mild annoyance, an ickle wickle irritant.

My body can grow a bit tired of leaning back into my nicely padded harness after an hour or so. Taking a fall in a harness can still be a shock to the body. But I need to wear one to stay safe.

But I’m sure as hell that it would be less enjoyable and at times unbearable if it were lined with prongs or around my neck.

This above experience and rationale is why I don’t like teaching dogs to walk on a loose lead while they wear a collar, let alone using corrections or uncomfortable equipment, such as prong collars, to correct undesired behaviour.

NB! If a dog can walk impeccably without pulling on a comfortable, flat collar then that’s not personally an issue for me!

There may also be genuine reasons dogs cannot be walked on harnesses, such as the dog experiencing a structural issue or emotional aversion to the harness, or the client not being able to physically hold their dog whilst the dog is wearing a harness.