Introduction to Cooperative Care for Dogs (self-paced course)

Course overview

This course introduces learners to the key principles of cooperative care to minimize fear, anxiety and stress, and improve safety for staff and dogs during medical care in the shelter and other environments, such as foster homes. Cooperative care training originated in zoos and other institutions involved in the husbandry of wild animals and is considered standard practice in modern accredited zoos and aquariums worldwide. The techniques taught here are helpful for all dogs, but learners should practice with dogs who are generally tolerant of mild handling and restraint to develop your skills and comfort level with cooperative care. There is often an immediate need for medical handling for dogs upon intake into a shelter. The examples in this course reflect "real world" shelter situations, where dogs who are unfamiliar with cooperative care require immediate treatment. While some procedures will likely require the dog to be muzzled or sedated, many less invasive procedures can be successfully performed with cooperative care. Additional safety measures, like muzzles, should be employed for dogs exhibiting escalated levels of fear, anxiety and stress during medical handling.