Cooperative Handling Classes

Veterinarians, vet nurses and animal technicians are at risk on a daily basis when working with dogs in their clinics and we can reduce this risk by teaching our dogs a set of skills that better prepare them for veterinary care.

Our new cooperative handling course will build confidence, reducing that element of fear and panic when both the dog and handler do not know what to expect.

The cooperative handling course is all about preparing your dog for vet visits using fear free methods, working with consent and choice. By allowing the dog to choose whether it wants to participate in its veterinary care, we reduce anxiety, panic, aggression and fear. This course empowers both the dog and handler so that both can make decisions that fit best for the individual with minimal stress.

By giving dogs a choice, working at their pace, working at their level, working with calmness and kindness, vet visits will no longer be traumatising, making the whole experience a far more positive experience.

In this course, we will teach dogs about stillness, chin rests, allowing someone to run their hands over the dog, to examine them, listen to their heart, take their temperature and check their vital signs. We will also prepare them for injections, IV catheters and blood draws, ears treatments, eye treatments, dental checks, muzzle training, nail trims and more.

We will provide tools for examinations, tables for smaller dogs so they are comfortable being off the ground and their training space will be set up like a consult room.

Each week we build on the skills required so that we can perform a full examination on your dog by the end of the course.

You will learn about the FAS (Fear, Anxiety, Stress) scale so you know as a handler, when to stop and when to proceed. You will be able to guide the vet also when they can approach, perform an examination or procedure and when to give the dog a break. You will learn about canine body language, thresholds, reinforcement rates, how to use continuous cues for duration, bridging and more.

You will learn how to set your dog up in various positions according to the upcoming procedure and we will explore all variations to the chin rest.

Your dog will have opportunity to investigate many items seen in vet clinics, from stethoscopes, to scrubs to clippers. By exposing them to what they may see, hear or smell, we allow them the ability to adapt and be better prepared for the future.

Cooperative handling is part of the Canine Beginners and Canine Level 1 course but we now feel it deserves its own dedicated space and time so we can solely focus on this subject.

This course is a great add on for those who have completed Puppy Classes or Canine Beginners.

If you are interested in this course and feel it would be a valuable asset to your dog’s skillset, please email us at info@pointcookdogtraining.com.au to go on the waitlist.

Course Information

Cooperative Handling classes will run on Thursday nights at our training centre in Hoppers Crossing
Classes will run at 7pm based upon demand
There are 6 dogs maximum in a course
Dogs must be minimum 5 months of age to enrol
There are 6 lessons in this course, each lesson runs for 1 hour
All classes are run indoors
Course fee is $380
Notes will be provided at the start of the course

Course Program

You will learn about the FAS scale, thresholds, body language, when to proceed and when to stop
Dogs will be introduced to the scales, explore equipment such as clippers, gloves, scissors, alcohol swabs and more
Dogs will be taught chin rests in all positions, focusing on stillness, consent, recognising when to stop and building on duration
Each dog will work on muzzle training, muzzle fitting and muzzle wearing
Each week, we increase the level of difficulty in the handling required
The centre will be slowly transitioned to mimic a consult room, giving dogs time to adapt to a shrinking space
The dogs will learn how to cope when a stranger presents themselves and at some point, places hands on them and examines them
Handlers will learn how to perform a basic check of their dog, including pulse checks, examining and treating ears and eyes, checking mucous membranes and teeth in the mouth
Small dogs will be conditioned to be lifted and examined on a table
All dogs will be conditioned to remain still while preparing for a blood draw, an ear swab, an eye check, a heart check, a dental check, injections and a temperature check
All training will be done following the fear free principles, no dogs will be restrained for any of the exercises in this course
Handlers will learn to hone in on their timing, their bridging, the frequency of reinforcers, how to build in duration and how to finish the exercises
Dogs will learn to trust their handlers and those working in close proximity

Cooperative Handling Classes FAQ's

Are there age limits for dogs joining this course?

Dogs must be minimum of 5 months of age as we need to wait for most of their mouthing to subside.

This course is most suited to adolescent dogs and adult dogs, dogs displaying fear or aggression towards veterinarians or nurses, dogs that find examinations difficult and stressful.

Can a dog with a fear of vets enrol in this course?

This course is designed for all dogs, especially those with a fear of the vets. By the end of the course, we may not have fully resolved the fear your dog may have but we will have given you the tools to build confidence and trust so that you can manage your dog more easily. You will also have the ability to transfer these skills in your victory visits in your local clinic.

Will the dog be restrained for any of the exercises?

At no point will any of the dogs in this course be forced or restrained to do anything. All the exercises and procedures taught in classes will only proceed if the dog cooperates, is willing to participate and gives us consent to go ahead. The important part of this course is knowing what our dog is saying and working within their tolerance thresholds.

What do we do if our vet is not respectful of our wishes regarding how our dog should be handled during a vet visit?

It is crucial your vet build rapport and trust when it comes to both you and your dog. If your vet is not willing to listen to you or take their time to work with your dog, then our advice is to seek a vet that is fear free accredited.

Discuss with your vet your needs for your dog and why and consider showing them what you have learned. Talk to them bout setting up victory visits to build these skills in at the veterinary practice with veterinary staff.

Your vet may not be aware of fear free techniques when it comes to handling and they may be open to new suggestions.

If your vet clearly is not interested, change vet!

What do we do if our dog already has bite history at the vets?

If your dog has already got history of biting a vet, a staff member of a veterinary clinic, a groomer or yourself, then we will need to discuss this further to see if we can consider this course for your dog.

We need to ensure the risk factors are all taken into consideration and that we have a plan of action to ensure your dog feels safe and comfortable.

Please email us at info@pointcookdogtraining.com.au to discuss this further.

Can my dog enrol in this course if it already had an ear infection or is unwell?

It is important that dogs enrolling in this course are fit and healthy and free of pain or discomfort. If your dog already has an ear infection, skin problems, eye problems or anything else that cause pain, we prefer you hold off until the issue has been resolved.

This course will be more successful if we are working with a dog that has a good tolerance threshold and it not already struggling with discomfort or agitation.

Why is muzzle training part of this course?

Whilst we are working with the dogs using fear free methods, there may be times when your dog is so unwell or in such discomfort, that moving quickly is necessary in the veterinary clinic or emergency clinic.

When we do have to move quickly, it means we have less time to prepare the dog. By muzzle training, we are teaching the dog to tolerate a tool that will keep everyone safe. A muzzle is only used as a last resort when cooperative handling techniques cannot be used. It does not mean the dog is muzzled and pinned down to the ground, this is not condoned at all.

We will fit each dog with the correct sized muzzle as we highly recommend everyone purchases their own muzzle so their dog only ever has its own scent on it. This is far less invasive than wearing a muzzle that dozens of other dogs have worn before.