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Cooperative Care: Needle Stick Practice (Patreon)

Published:
2025-07-14 11:00:04
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

In this video I'm working on Denver's cooperative care protocol. I thought it would be a good one to show how I completely stop what I'm doing when he lifts his head, and wait for him to opt back in before continuing. If he were to remove himself from the platform, we'd do a scatter and call it a day. But what's nice about him lifting his head is it gives me an opportunity to show him he is in control here and I will stop what I'm doing if he lifts his head, so he knows how to opt out if he feels uncomfortable.

The setup I use with the platform and the stool helps to keep him in position, and I utilize the chin rest as the opt-in behavior. My goal is to hopefully be able to eventually brush his teeth in this position (or potentially in a similar position but gripping onto a large stationary object to give me better access to his teeth), but we'll see! I know I'll be able to at least smear enzymatic toothpaste on his teeth in this position if we keep at it.

At :26 I start to do the skin lift but I realize I want to show him the pen first, so I stop what I'm doing to present the pen, which he thinks is a retrieve toy LOL
At :40 we haven't done the clicking of the pen yet so I want to expose him to the noise before doing it behind his ears and on his body.

Note: my hand is gloved because I cut it open pretty badly so I was protecting it from becoming infected. BUT it worked out great to add another element of a potential exam :)

Comments

AJ Wiseman

When at the vet do you do a chin rest on your hand or what? I assume you don't take the stool with you :)

Melanie Wonneberger

Looks awesome! 👏 I’m working on the similar set up with Kona for shots. I’m guessing you first built a pretty solid chin rest and either didn’t put it on a verbal cue—or like me, chose not to use the cue when working on cooperative care to keep that opt-out option clearer? I went with the latter. Kona’s chin rest does have a verbal cue, plus my hand acts as the environmental cue. But for her shot training, I introduced a new environmental cue (bed frame), so she recognizes that setup as its own “thing.” Keeps the communication a bit cleaner for her was my idea.

Jo Onthego

He has gotten so big while I have been busy dealing with life stuff. I really need to get back in here for more training and stick with it. ❤️

Adrienne Breeze

thank you for this!! So timely i just got back from vet for a detached-claw emergency... and the vet mentioned cooperative training which was the first time i heard of. then your video came! THANK YOU! My beagle is 22 months old SUPER stressed at vet visits i hope i'm not too late to start this! i have only trained her so far to "chin" on my hand and other hand flips her ears. but if i ever hold anything in my hand she'd go hide away in most cases. so I let her do that? and try again another day? Second question, most vets require her to be ON a table which stresses her out the most, on the floor it's already better. but how to train her to be ok to be examined by someone else other than me, and at the stressful vet clinic? Thanks Laura!! always love your videos!

DOGGY•U
>>180436809

1. I would work on holding things in your hand separate from cooperative care. You want to classically condition it - so item appears, good things happen (food). I think you can see me doing it when I first start with Denver's head collar. But basically, you need the appearance of things in your hand to mean something good is going to happen (and the ability to wave it around etc.) before incorporating it into a cooperative care protocol. That alone though will be helpful. 2. Consider looking for a fear free clinic. Some clinics are fear free certified and are more willing to work with you (like examining your dog on the floor instead of the table). At the same time, I'd work on having your pup get up on a variety of things so that getting up on the table is a fun game for him. I practice this before the vet walks into the room too - it's the way I start the process in the room - get on and off the table near the floor, do a few tricks etc.

DOGGY•U
>>180386948

Yes - the second. So I do have chin on cue but the setup cues the behavior for the cooperative care. I don't give any cues as that could put pressure on him to stay in position.

Amanda Bartholomew

So, last time we were at the vet, we had to do a blood draw, which was in his front leg. Would you just practice giving paw for that one? It ended up being an absolute nightmare with the tech straddling him. Me holding his leg and trying my best to keep him calm and the vet trying get best to get the blood as safe as possible. And they muzzled him to top it off, which I am certain didn't help matters to begin with, just because he's a big boy and an "aggressive breed." It's not something I ever want to repeat. If I can show them he will be cooperative, I think things would go better next time.

DOGGY•U
>>181260275

That sounds really traumatizing for all of you! To come back from that, I'd start small with cooperative care for touching before adding any tools. I'd also see if the blood draw can be in the hind which tends to go better than the front. Blood draws in general are one of the hardest behaviors to do (because you can't make the pinch not painful) so it's something you really have to work up to with lots of novel touch (pen, quarter rolling down their back, wet cloth etc). You can't replicate the needle but you can teach them to expect the novel. I would still use a chin rest for this because I'd assume they are doing it while the dog is standing which is easier than them pulling away with a foot. I would also teach him to willingly accept a muzzle. It's a great skill for all dogs to have so that it doesn't add to the stress of care - I'd much rather have my vet muzzle my dog (if my dog is conditioned to it) than act jumpy and afraid around them which can make care worse. Check out the Muzzle Up project for a good deep dive.