Training a dog start button behaviour for cooperative care.
Cooperative care is a dog training philosophy that focuses on building trust and consent with your dog during grooming, veterinary care, and other handling procedures. One way to do this is to teach your dog a start button behaviour.
This way they can opt in or out of a treatment.
A start button behaviour is a simple action that your dog can perform to signal that they are ready for you to begin a procedure. This could be anything, this video shows how your dog can show you what they want it to be!
You only begin the treatment after they have opted in by offering their start button behaviour. This gives your dog control over the situation and helps to build their confidence.
Control is the enemy of fear and anxiety.
Bear doesn't like having his wrinkles cleaned so we're starting on some cooperative care with the cleaning wipes.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to train a dog start button behaviour for cooperative care:
1. Pair treatment with rewards
e.g. nail trimmers. Have this in one hand and a handful of treats in the other. Place yourself in front of your dog and hold these behind your back.
Bring the treatment item out from behind your back to show your dog, then bring the treat hand out and give them a treat, then return both hands. Repeat 5 times.
2. Look for yes
Now pause - look for any small behaviour your dog shows to indicate they want to continue, could be a paw raise, look at you, head nod, sit down etc. Present treatment item and reward as before.
3. Reward for yes and no
Now wait for the yes behaviour then show the treatment item and reward.
If they say no e.g. don't lift a paw, looks away etc - still reward but without showing the item. Rewarding no's will lead to more yeses. Repeat plenty of times in plenty of different situations.
It is important to be respectful of your dog's consent. If your dog says no or opts out, this is also rewarded. Remember control over situations your in diffuses great and anxiety.
Rewarding 'no's' leads to more 'yeses'.
If at any point your dog seems uncomfortable or stressed, just stop. We're building their trust and confidence.
It takes time but you can help to make grooming, veterinary care, and other procedures more positive and stress-free for both of you.
What's the first treatment you're going to work towards making cooperative?
We're doing wrinkle cleaning first, then maybe nails or ear drops as Bears prone to ear infections.
