Collaborative Care

Vet Visits, Grooms and Baths Should Be Fun!

Learn how your dog can enjoy personal grooming procedures!

This six week class curriculum is designed to help you help your pet. This program is facilitated by a Licensed Collaborative Care Partner™

Understanding the many uses for and learning how to teach essential collaborative care behaviours will help your pets happily cooperate in their own care. Collaborative Care skills lead to a reduction in stress and anxiety for you and your pet. These important skills help everyone to remain calm in what could otherwise be fear-provoking situations.

 

During this six week program you will learn 7 Key kills and 4 Key Concepts.

7 Key Collaborative Care Skills

  1. Shake Hands – A cute trick for saying hi that is also incompatible to jumping up – Indispensable for paw exams and nail trims. A default behaviour - For meet & greets and whenever the pet is unsure of what to do
  2. Hand Target – A nose to hand touch for use in husbandry procedures, to build confidence, & to effortlessly move and position pets.
  3. Sustained Chin (to hand or object) Target and Sustained (nose to) Hand Target for use in pet care procedures & to effortlessly move and position pets, keeping them in position for the required duration. These sustained behaviors also act as a clear signal of consent, allowing the pet to Say Yes or No!
  4. A Default sit, down or stand – For use in training; during husbandry procedures; to maintain a high rate of reinforcement and a means of the pet clearly letting us know that they are ready to participate in their care and to continue the collaboration.
  5. Paws Up – Two front paws up on object – Fantastic behaviour for grooming and examinations; getting in and out of vehicles…
  6. In Your Crate – A crate should be a pet’s safe-place to be; a place they willingly go to and happily relax in – Essential for transport; stays away from home; vet visits; when unable to actively supervise the pet
  7. On Your Mat – Imagine a dog who immediately runs to their mat when the doorbell rings; a cat who comfortably settles on a mat while at the vet’s.

4 Key Concepts

  1. Giving Pets a Choice – Teach behaviors that empower pets to become true collaborative partners, actively choosing to participate in their care procedures
  2. Enabling Pets to have a Voice – Help pets build the skills to clearly consent to procedures – to say “Yes” or to say “No”
  3. The Reduction of Anxiety, Stress and Fear - Supporting pets and their owners by creating, through education, more relaxed and enjoyable care procedures
  4. Improved Emotional, Environmental & Physical Well-Being – The building of positive behaviors and emotions towards a pets management, training and care procedures.