Cooperative Care and Low Stress Handling & Husbandry

We view cooperative care as a spectrum of procedures and practices that reduce or eliminate distress and fear in animals while increasing participation and positive outcomes for all things related to grooming and medical care. The spectrum runs from patterning predictable nonchoice moments and procedures to teaching the animals to “opt-in” to or participate in each part of a procedure. 

If those terms give you the “ick” I understand. After all your veterinary clinic is busy. From the time you open there isn’t a moment to spare. Back to back appointments. Cases that run long. Unexpected emergencies. Clients showing up late. It’s understandable then that phrases like cooperative care and low stress handling might give you the ick. Where does the time for that even come from? I get it. I’m not here to tell you how to do your job. But I am here to tell you how my job as a dog trainer can make yours easier, safer, and more efficient. 

Before I go there, let’s dispel some major sources of resistance providers have toward implementing these practices in the office. The questions I know you’re going to ask:

What happens when the dog decides not to cooperate with absolutely necessary medical care?

Simple answer: Triage. Acute medical care needs trump training a dog to participate in husbandry. In other words, we never ask a dog to participate in something if we can’t accept “no” as an answer. From ear infections to broken legs, sometimes care just has to happen, right now. In those moments your standard means of care apply. This inevitably leads to the second resistance to low stress handling.

Well then what is cooperative care and low stress handling good for anyway?

Participatory care almost exclusively involves routine, preventative medicine and husbandry; things like nail trims, vaccines, annual exams etc. Imagine all the time you’d save with dogs who are happy to participate. The lowered stress of your employees who aren’t wrestling dogs and getting growled and snapped at. Dogs who are taught to participate in body handling, who understand patterns of procedures like ear exams and listening to their heart are EASY dogs to treat. Bonus? Because they are able to have happy, low stress interactions with their owners and your staff, they’re building a positive behavioral bank account. Leaving them less defensive in triage situations without choices.I want these experiences for YOU, your clients and their dogs

When your clients work with NonStop Dog on cooperative care you can expect:

• Known routines around common procedures so that dogs aren’t surprised in the clinic.

• Safety risk dogs who have been basket muzzle trained for staff and client safety.

• Dissolved defensiveness around routine husbandry like nail clipping and ear cleaning.

• Clients who understand how to support you and their dog in having a safe and happy appointment.

• Faster routine appointments, happier technicians and staff. 

Ready to see it in action?