Sara McIver Training and Behaviour

20/04/2024

Continual Professional Developmnet is so important! Sara is supporting the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors - APBC Conference 2024 as a Committee member!! So many great talks. Let's do this!!!

16/04/2024

A little off our normal canine posts!!

We have welcomed Joey the cob to the McIver family and over the last 3 months, Sara has been getting to know him and focusing on building a relationship built on trust. She has also been very lucky to have placed Joey on a livery with plenty of friends, forage and freedom!! Can't wait to see what the future holds ❤️🐴

26/03/2024

Super proud to have achieved my second certification - this time with CCAB Certification!!

Congratulations to Sara McIver for achieving full CCAB Certification.

"I am so excited to have achieved this accreditation. I have been working within the training and behaviour field for over 16 years and its wonderful to have achieved a huge lifetime goal. I look forwards to continuing to work within the field and grow my knowledge and expertise further. Thank you to all those (including the dogs!) that have supported me along the way, and allowed me to learn from them, I consider myself very fortunate."

04/11/2023

Great advice from Companion Minds ❤️🐶🥰

It's that time of year again, when our pets have to deal with the difficulty of random, sudden, extremely loud noises from all directions. Firework season is a difficult time of year for a lot dogs and puppies. 🐶

It's too late in the year now to effectively do any training around firework noises. Desensitisation needs to take place well outside of the context to start with, and built up very gradually for it to be effective.

However! There are lots of ways we can try and protect our dog's from the full extent of the worry. It is much better to prepare all of this even if your dog has not been worried before, or you have a young puppy, rather than be caught out by a severely anxious dog with no way of supporting them.

🐾 Close curtains/blinds to block their visual access
🐾 Play the TV/radio loudly to block the sound of fireworks as best as possible (as long as your dog is not worried by the TV noises- playing music loudly is normally more 'normal' than sudden having a film or eastenders very loud!)🎵
🐾 Make sure you've stocked up on a variety of chewing material and have stuffed kongs/lickimats/snuffle mats ready to aim to distract the dog from the noise. They won't eat if they are very worried, but if you can set everything else up and get them eating before fireworks start and throughout you may have more success in distracting them. Likewise make sure the puzzle/chew you're offering isn't 'too hard work' that the dog can't be successful in gaining the food quickly enough or they may not bother with it when they are on edge.
🐾 Every time a bang goes off, 'act silly' to try and behave in a way that is incompatible with being worried- offer them treats or a game with a toy.
🐾 Walk your dog before it gets dark, or not at all, to prevent being caught out by fireworks on a walk.
🐾 Make sure your dog has had a toilet break in the garden before it gets dark too and only take them into the garden supervised and when you are certain there are no fireworks going on!
🐾 Ensure your garden is fully secure before allowing them out (back gates etc) in case they bolt (and/or keep them on a secure lead if you need to go into the garden). Be careful of opening the front door too (shut them away to answer the door). Lots of dogs bolt from home during fireworks in an attempt to escape (and of course they can't escape so keep running).
🐾 Be at home by the time it gets dark and available to your dog. They will likely cope much better if you are around. You CAN provide confident calm reassurance to your dog if they come to you for it, but try and behave 'normally' rather than in 'worried' fashion. Some dogs won't want to be touched when they are worried either so read what your dog needs.
🐾 Make sure your dog can access a den or 'safe haven'- a place where they feel safe. If they don't have one of these you can set one up now and sprinkle treats in there from time to time to encourage its use.
🐾 In moments of real worry they may want to bolt under a bed/into a cupboard/behind the sofa- allow this to happen as preventing them from doing so may exacerbate their worry! Don't force them to come out.

❗️FINALLY- if you are concerned that your dog will struggle despite all of this planning, speak to your vet ASAP. There are several medications licensed for noise events and plenty of others that will be useful in reducing your dog's anxiety.❗️

And remember it's not just dogs who will be worried about fireworks- make sure:
👉 Cats are shut in the house early during this period and allow them to hang out where they want to.
👉 Small furries have plenty of appropriate bedding to hide in or better still, bring them inside too.
👉 Outdoor birds are secured in coops/runs.
👉 Indoor birds are secured in their nighttime cages and covered up.

🐶🐱🐭🐹🐰🦜🐔

If your dog has a difficult time of it this year, prepare them for it next year. Dogs Trust has freely available resource to work through: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/understanding-your-dog/sound-therapy-for-pets

Get in touch if you have any questions.

03/11/2023

I am a big advocate for owners learning about their dogs body language. Listen to the whispers so they don't have to shout!

This and beyond, look out for signs that your dog could be stressed so you can keep your pooch and other people happy and safe 💛

Lots more helpful info here 👉 https://bit.ly/3KBhsWK

Image description: Signs a dog could be stressed. Lowered body posture, tail tucked. Ears back, tail lowered, paw lifted. Yawning, leaning away. These are just some of the signs to look for when reading your dog's body language. Go to dogstrust.org.uk for more advice.

23/08/2023

23/08/2023

The first line of support is amazing and if you need more, you may be put referred to the Community Clinical Animal Behaviour team!

25/06/2023

Huge apologies everyone, I have not posted here in a while due to life getting a little busy. However, I wanted to share some information about a wonderful little dog, and her caregiver, who I have been working with.

This little dog was rescued from a shelter 2 months ago and her lovely caregiver contacted me for extra support as it became apparent that this little girl had some fears of new people and dogs.

Within 2 weeks, after an initial consultation, she has been doing really well. Due to information on body language given during the consultation, she is no longer placed in situations she cannot cope with but is beginning to learn that she can cope with people and dogs at a distance. She now has some coping strategies in the home for when visitors come to the house and even was able to interact with me for short periods on her 2 week follow up. This is all down to her caregivers hard work and understanding!! Cannot wait to see how this little one progresses ❤️🐶

02/02/2023

I have numerous conversations with people lately that will take experience over research but they can work hand in hand!!!!

13/01/2023

Things have been a little quiet on this page for a while. I apologise! Work has been a bit busy!

I had the absolute pleasure of working with Rollo the Rottweiler just before Christmas. Rollo presented with frustration based behaviours which included jumping up at people to gain attention and barking and jumping at the living room window.

Rollo's caregivers were absolutely brilliant at setting Rollo up for success, implementing all advised strategies and getting some lovely results on the run up to Christmas!!

How lucky is Rollo to have such compassionate owners!! Below is some feedback I received just after Christmas!

18/09/2022

This is such an important post which really does bring it home how important veterinary referrals and close relationships with veterinary surgeons are!!! Please read!

Sara will only work on behaviour consultations via veterinary referral for these reasons 🐶❤️

We are picking up with again 🐾 🐶🐱⚡️

🤔 Over the next week or so, I will share a couple of case studies.

🐶 Meet Bertie❣️

Bertie was referred to me earlier this year for “compulsive“ behaviour and “resource guarding“.
❗️Bertie would spend prolonged periods of time licking cold surfaces, for example the kitchen floor or wall tiles, he was often uninterruptible, and if the family tried to distract or stop him from doing this, he would growl and snap.
❗️He was also showing dangerous behaviours when anybody approached him near his bed, & when he had food. Without a lot of preamble, he would growl, snarl, lunge, and bite. His caregivers had received multiple bite injuries, two of which were severe & required medical care. They were understandably very upset - they loved their dog, but were finding it difficult to cope.

😱 They had already consulted two trainers, one of which had recommended teaching Bertie to be calm when they approached him/his resources, using positive reinforcement, which did not work. Then they worked with a punishment-based trainer who recommended disciplining Bertie, which made things worse. By the time they came to me they were considering euthanasia as they couldn’t live with the situation 😢

✅ As part of my extensive behavioural diagnostics & liaison with the referring vet, I realised that something was not right from a medical perspective.
❌ Bertie was not sleeping well at night, but pacing, stretching, holding a so-called “praying“ position, was asking to go out and frantically eating grass very often, there was a lot of gurgling noises from his tummy, and he was vomiting bile in the early hours.
❌ He showed aversion to his food when it was presented, then wolfed it down really quickly, often vomiting shortly afterwards.
- At this point he would either begin licking the surfaces, or attempt to hide in his bed (which was positioned in the middle of the room, with no ability to rest and relax).

✅💚🐾 His vet and I worked closely together and Bertie was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.
- He had been suffering with this condition, which causes gastrointestinal pain, as well as other signs, AND feeling threatened and defensive with both attempts at positive reinforcement training and – of course – the punishment.
- He had come to view his family as unpredictable and potentially threatening, particularly when he wasn’t feeling well.
- He would’ve been experiencing both anxiety, related to his health condition, and the inconsistent interactions with his people; frustrated at his inability to feel safe/escape pain or negative interactions; and conflicted due to his bond with his family, but concern over potential interactions.

✅ We put in place a safety and management protocol; as well as giving Bertie a “cloak of invisibility“, so that the family did not inadvertently put any pressure on him or cause further conflict
✅ We created a safe place for him to be, as well as an appropriate and comfortable resting place.
🤔 This was “1st aid“, in conjunction with his veterinary treatment, which we wanted to instigate ASAP and give time to “bed in“.

🥳 As soon as his treatment had had an opportunity to take affect, and with the social and environmental management and changes we had put in place at home, Bertie’s family had their dog back! 🎉

🤔 Ongoing care was needed in terms of his environmental and social interactions, and caregiver education was a large part of what we did, but this team have gone on to be very successful, and Bertie remains well 🐶😁

💡✅ This was certainly a case where an appropriately qualified and accredited Clinical Animal Behaviourist should have been involved from the outset, and close collaboration with the veterinary team was essential.
❌ Attempts to correct this type of behaviour without addressing the underlying cause, even with positive reinforcement, is unfair and inappropriate.
❗️Use of punishment based techniques is always inappropriate, dangerous and no qualified, knowledgeable and experienced trainer would recommend this, under any circumstances.
💡 Caregivers are often unaware of this, or the connection between physical and mental health, and much education is needed to help understanding of this. (Including the roles of trainers and behaviourist, and the differences between those who are qualified and those who are not. For further the The Animal Behaviour and Training Council) We can and should all work together for the benefit of the animals at the centre of our care.

🐶🥳 A great outcome for Bertie & his family, based on a team approach 🎉💚

10/09/2022

No words. Rest In Peace Your Majesty. Thank you.

05/09/2022

Sara is on her holidays this week and having some well needed down time with her family, so will reply to any messages on Saturday 10th September ☺️

03/09/2022

03/09/2022

Sara had another great chat on Talk TV today. This time all about ethics around bringing a new animal into your home! Have a listen!!

31/08/2022

This is such an important post to recognise all the hard work which goes on behind the scenes whenever myself and colleagues do behavioural consultations. I often get asked about my services and as soon as I mention costs, people often then look elsewhere for "cheaper". Cheaper will not mean better!

Behind the Scenes of a Dog Behaviourist….

🐶 The first thing you should know is that any behaviourist worth their salt has spent (and continues to spend) thousands of pounds on their education. They have spent hundreds of hours researching, studying and reading. They have written thousands of words in assignments and case studies; they have volunteered in rescues; shadowed and observed experts in their field; assisted in many classes; spent hundreds more hours attending Continuing Professional Development (CPD) webinars/presentations/conferences to ensure their knowledge is current and in line with the most recent scientific developments and that’s all before the client has even been in touch, or spent a penny with us.

🐶 Then, we get an enquiry. An owner struggling with their four legged friend. We get back to them (often at anti-social hours), we might email them or have a chat with them to discover a bit more about the issues they’re experiencing (they still haven’t spent a penny). We then send out a form to fill in and return. And, yes, that form might be detailed and it might take some time and effort to complete but it really helps us collect the kind of info we need to help (and, no, they still haven’t paid us a penny yet).

🐶 The client then books an appointment and returns the form. We will probably then send an invoice ahead of the appointment time because a) we want to know the client is serious about this appointment and b) we start to work on the case….. We will read through the form carefully, making notes and highlighting key pieces of information; we’ll sketch out a plan based on the info given. If the breed of dog is one we haven’t worked with much, we will research the breed thoroughly so we know and understand what that breed needs to be happy. If necessary, we’ll do some research around the issues the client is experiencing and we’ll consider all the possibilities that might be causing these behaviour struggles. We may communicate with the owner’s vet to discuss health or pain complications that might be contributing to the struggles. We will print out some handouts we’ve written that will contain really useful and helpful information and, GUESS WHAT? We still may not have received a penny from the client or even met them at this point.

🐶 Then, we do eventually meet our client. We spend our time during that session observing the pup, asking more questions, double-checking facts/info, observing pup some more and explaining the why’s and wherefore’s behind pup’s struggles and we propose how we’re going to help owner and pup move forward and we start to implement our plan. We then book the next session. When we get home, we write up our notes and make any necessary adjustments to our plan.

But it doesn’t stop there……

🐶 In between sessions, our client will email us, or call us, or message us. They might have questions, they may need reassurance, they may need to clarify something or they may just want to share a mini triumph or achievement. And we LOVE these points of contact - it tells us the client is invested, committed to the journey and we WANT to share the highs and help them in the lows. These little communications help us plan the journey forward so we add them to our notes, ready for our next session.

We only ever want the same thing for our clients - a happy pup and happy owners. We will ALWAYS try to achieve that as simply and quickly as possible but some struggles are more complex and will take more time.

My point?

🐶 When you get in touch with a doggy professional and enquire about their costs, please think about the work they do that goes on behind the scenes. Work that you are probably (and rightly) unaware of. The preparation beforehand, the reviewing after and all the communication in between. To you, the client, you may just see an hourly rate that makes you swallow hard. For us, there are many more hours of work we put in that, just because you don’t see them, doesn’t mean aren’t there.
Once you factor in our study time, CPD hours, admin time, prep time, travel time, fuel costs, review time and all the time we spend communicating in between our sessions, actually, our hourly rate is pretty low. And, yes, sometimes (rarely), we can solve your problems in one session, with little preparation, communication and no review-writing. Does that make us a rip-off? No. Why? Because you’re not just paying for the two hours we spent in your home with your pup, you’re paying for the years and hours we have spent before we even knocked at your door.

🐶 If we make behaviour modification look simple then it’s because we’ve studied hard, we continue to study hard and we’re good at our jobs. There is a cost attached to that.

🐶 If we tell you that this may take more time and you’ll need more sessions, it’s because we know and understand what’s involved in your struggles and the time and effort required to resolve them. There is a cost attached to that. If we could wave a magic wand, trust me, we would. 🐾❤️

30/08/2022

This is so important to read and why what you see on TV is often not accurate and also uses unethical techniques!!

Some of us are huge fans of TV shows with dogs, writes animal behaviour expert Karen Wild.

26/08/2022

It's International Dog Day today!!!! Our dogs work so hard to fit in with our lives and we are so lucky to have them in our families!

To celebrate this Sara spoke to Rob Rinder on Talk TV to celebrate our furry family members!!! Skip to 1hr 5 mins to watch!!!

https://watch.talk.tv/watch/replay/47656914?fbclid=IwAR29kYcP-5ajNQF7U84Cbpido-1F5q5C3_mOM84WQq0XSiM3wULKQ1SdR7I

The latest innovation from News UK, TalkTV is a major new free-to-air 24/7 television channel which will launch on 25 April 2022, available to everyone across the UK and delivering a bold new voice in news, current affairs, debate and opinion.

08/08/2022

Such an important point!!!

We hear lots of people say "Oh, he will grow out of it!" when talking about problem behaviours in their puppies or teenage dogs.

Unfortunately, the opposite is true. The more a dog gets to practise unwanted behaviours, such as, pulling on the lead, barking, jumping up and taking items off the side, the better they become at doing it!! Practise makes perfect!

This is usually due to the fact that they will be receiving some form of reward for that behaviour such as attention or getting where they want to go.

The good news is, we can change where the reward is coming form and help them learn more appropriate behaviours to practise and become even better at!!!

For more information on how we can help, have a look at our website: www.petbehaviourcompany.co.uk.

27/06/2022

So important!!!

It may surprise you to know that the field of training and behaviour is currently unregulated. This means that ANYONE can call themselves a trainer or behaviourist, no matter what their qualifications, knowledge or skills.

For this reason, we thought we would give you some pointers to look for when choosing a trainer or behaviourist to work with!!

First, check their education and credentials. If they are not registered with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC), check that they have relevant qualifications in training and behaviour.

Ensure that the trainer or behaviourist regularly undergoes CPD. The field of training and behaviour is ever changing and developing so its important those working in the field keep up with relevant research.

Lastly, if anything about their techniques gives you cause for concern, do not ever be afraid to ask WHY. Any trainer or behaviourist with good knowledge and skills will know the answers (or know where to find them).

Hope this helps, for further information on the qualifications and accreditations we have at the Pet Behaviour Company, have a look at our website: www.petbehaviourcompany.co.uk.

19/06/2022

If you need behavioural support - look no further than Pet Behaviour Company!!!

If you are not sure how to access our behaviour support services, have a look at the information below. Its so simple and easy! You are only a few clicks away from receiving the help and support you need!!

Visit the website for more information: www.petbehaviourcompany.co.uk

04/06/2022

❤️🐶

Next in our team member introductions... Sara McIver, our consulting behaviourist and trainer.

For further information on our team members and services we provide, do have a look on our website:
www.petbehaviourcompany.co.uk

21/05/2022

Next in the series of trusted and recommended Canine practitioners is...

Dog Trainer and Behaviourist Sara from Sara McIver Training and Behaviour. To say Sara is outstanding in her field is an understatement. With 15years experience working with dogs in a training and behaviour capacity, she has a MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour (Distinction), is accredited with PACT, APBD and a full CAB member. To name only a few!
She has presented nationally and internationally on training and behaviour topics and works for an assistance dog charity where she builds and sets training programmes for trainers across the UK.
Sara also presents webinars with Tiny Feet and Furry Paws where both Caroline and Sara help guide dog owners and expectant/new parents juggling family life with both little humans and dogs.

www.saramciver.co.uk

20/05/2022

This is the fab company Sara consults for!! Show the page some love to see our up and coming posts!!

Happy Friday everyone!!

We have been very busy in the background with our classes, behaviour and training consultations recently, but it is time we showed our page and followers some love!!

Expect some introductions from our talented team members, interesting facts, videos and other posts to show you what we have all been up to!!!

26/04/2022

The relationship between health and behaviour is so complex!!!

The behaviour patterns Clinical Animal Behaviourists (CABs) commonly observe when there is a fundamental underlying clinical problem include:

21/04/2022

What a week this has been already!! Sara is really proud to be able to announce that she has been fully assessed and is now an accredited Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CAB) with the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC).

14/04/2022

So true and so important! Always keep this in mind if you have a behavioural issue with your pet 🥰🐶🐴

Myth-busting Monday: "But my dog runs around like a lunatic on walks....he can't possibly be in pain!"

Behaviourists will commonly refer clients to vets and physios due to suspicion of pain, either before or during our work with your dog. Clients are often understandably resistant because their dog is still running about on walks, playing with toys and not crying or limping.

However, around 60% of dogs who see behaviourists for behaviour problems are thought to be in chronic pain.

Chronic pain is not like acute (sudden, temporary) pain. The dog is unlikely to be crying and may not be lame. They may still run around and not show any obvious physical problems. This is because chronic pain goes on and on and on. The dog may have been suffering for months or even years, (s)he may have even been in pain since birth.

Just like humans, dogs with chronic pain adapt. This doesn't mean the pain has gone, it just means they have learnt to compensate for it: they shift weight onto other parts of the body; they guard their body parts with tense muscles; they develop behavioural changes to protect themselves (such as aggression or avoidance); and they learn ways to 'just get on with it'.

It's also worth bearing in mind the powerful effect of adrenaline and endorphins. These act like painkillers. When our dogs are romping around, playing with their buddies or chasing a toy, they have high levels of adrenaline and endorphins, so may not be noticing much pain at that moment in time.

Often these behavioural problems will come out once the dog has been resting for a while. They may snap at people 'out of the blue' whilst being cuddled, when you are putting their harness on or wiping their paws. They may guard their beds or their spot on the sofa, because they don't want to have to get up. They may be aggressive when they are startled or reactive to sounds which cause them to jump, because this hurts their sore muscles. They may be hyperactive because they cannot find a comfortable place to rest, or lethargic and 'stubborn' because it's hurts to do what we ask.

Many behaviour problems can be caused or exacerbated by pain. So please don't think we are wasting your time or money when we ask you to take your dog to a veterinary professional for an assessment. We are doing this because we have significant reason to believe your dog may be in pain. Modifying behaviour in a dog whose behaviour is fuelled by pain is incredibly difficult, if not impossible, so it's important to rule this out. Pain is also a major welfare concern and, if left untreated, can shorten a dog's life.

14/04/2022

Great Infograph on the difference between training and behaviour ❤️🐶

10/04/2022

Tickets are selling fast for our webinar this Wednesday!

Join our next webinar this Wednesday evening covering how to prepare your dog for the new arrival so they feel as comfortable as possible before you bring baby home.

Wednesday 13th April 7.30pm £35

To book please message us 👍

23/03/2022

Sara had the most amazing opportunity to represent Guide Dogs at Crufts in the main arena on the run up to Best in Show!! An amazing experience which made all the hard work worth it 100%. Very proud of the team that helped put this together!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05dJ9MVTgHM

The Guide Dogs ring show at Crufts 2022.Ring show content © Crufts 2022. With thanks to The Kennel Club & Channel 4.