Seger’s a sensitive soul who hasn’t appreciated being physically restrained or manipulated since he was a wee pup. Because his early veterinary visits were quite stressful he remembers them well, which has resulted in Seger not even wanting to walk towards the clinic. Inside, the necessary exams intended to be delivered with great care turned out to be nightmarish emotional experiences for him. As I began to picture a lifetime of fear and anxiety at visits to my compassionate veterinarian and her very kind staff for my soon-to-be 100 pound German Shepherd I knew something had to change.

I began looking into the concept of cooperative care, an approach which involves training an animal to actively and willingly accept handling and restraint. Thankfully a friend turned me onto Dr. Deb Jones’ online course called Cooperative Canine Care at Fenzi Dog Sports Academy.

Having already cleared her busy schedule and an exam room once a week to meet with me and Seger, when I told my veterinarian Dr. Cheryl Holmes at the Animal Medical Hospital at Glenwood about the course she welcomed the training with open arms.

I also started using some of Suzanne Clothier’s Relationship Centered Training techniques into my training at the vet clinic.

Shortly after we began the online course I noticed that Seger was limping on and off on his left front. We continued working through the course the best we could. When the limping continued, even after three weeks of on & off exercise restriction, I decided to have him evaluated by Dr. Hummel at Skylos Sports Medicine. My choice not to have his regular vet evaluate him was deliberate. We had already made such significant progress in Seger’s feelings about being at the clinic that I didn’t want to undo them, especially since he was already painful.

I chose Skylos because I had heard the great folks there were flexible and accommodating with their clients and patients. While I developed a plan for how I could help Seger through cooperative care during his visit I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in a new place, using our mostly brand new skills.

Seger had learned being on his mat was a very good place to be, and that choosing to jump on a table with his mat on it also yielded lots of yummy treats, so I packed his mat and planned to ask if he could be examined on a table rather than the floor, which had resulted in a fair amount of drama for him in the past.

His favorite trick had become resting his chin in my hand and holding it there until the treats came. We had practiced it once on the exam table with Dr. Holmes simply running her hands across his back and under his abdomen. But this time he’d be having a full orthopedic exam – while already painful. I could only hope that our work-to-date would pay off in some fashion.

Realizing there would be radiographs I trained Seger to lay on his left and right sides and sternally using hand gestures and voice cues just two days before our appointment and prayed it would be enough to help him through x-rays.

On the day of our exam Seger and I walked into Skylos toting a large bag that contained different sized matting and a very large bag of treats. We were invited into an exam room by a technician who was there to take his history. I noticed there was no table in the room so I asked if it would be possible to examine him on a table. The tech seemed to scan the facility in her mind for a bit and then said they didn’t have anything like a table they could bring in. Then she left to deliver Seger’s history to Dr. Hummel. I wondered if we could make something into a table when I noticed the chair I was sitting on and the one next to it were perfectly flat and easily slid together to create a narrow table. While I waited for Dr. Hummel I unpacked Seger’s bath mat and laid it across the two chairs. He gladly hopped up and we practiced a few chin rests before the doctor came in.

When it came time for the exam I explained that things would be a thousand times easier for everyone if it could be done on the makeshift matted table I had created. Dr. Hummel heard me and was more than willing to give it a try. Seger jumped up onto the chairs and placed his chin in my hand when I asked him to. And he didn’t budge the entire time the good doctor palpated him from stem to stern. While Seger wasn’t thrilled with the whole idea, he willingly tolerated what was being done to him. He could have chosen to lift his chin out of my hand and jump off the chairs at any moment. But he did not.

Next it was time for radiographs. I asked if I could put his mat on the xray table. After examining the mat the doctor agreed. Once his mat was laid out on the very tall table two techs, side by side, positioned themselves to lift Seger onto the table. After I asked for a chin rest they lifted him onto the table while Seger held the chin rest throughout. I asked for a down. Seger was a little concerned but obliged. Then I asked what side they wanted him to lay on – his right – so I asked him to lay on his right side. He wasn’t sure about that so I waited and asked him again, and he rolled onto his right shoulder and hip and put his head down. The techs patiently explained that they would need to position his legs to get the right views, and kindly waited for Seger to rest his chin in my hand while they moved his legs. He did so without any resistance. I asked him to stay and stepped out of the room but stayed in sight while they took the xrays. The same was repeated on Seger’s left side and sternally with full cooperation of my seven month old puppy, and no restraint whatsoever. He even gave kisses to the nice ladies when he was done. Another chin rest while they lifted him off the table and we were done.

On the way back to the exam room I noticed the muzzle that had been placed just outside the door and I smiled, so proud of what we had accomplished. We played catch the cookies in the room while waiting for Dr. Hummel to review the radiographs. And when he came into the exam room to share his findings Seger curled up and fell asleep. I cannot express my gratitude enough to Dr. Hummel and the staff at Skylos for respecting Seger’s needs, my needs as a client, and for giving us the space and time we needed to make it the most comfortable experience possible for my dog.

Why was this experience so vastly different than any other veterinary experience Seger has encountered, which has also included visits two veterinary chiropractors in his short life? Because we gave him the gift of knowing what to do, and the option to participate rather than making him do it. It’s when we don’t know what to do in times of stress that our emotional trains can derail. It’s why we practice fire drills, so we know what to do. Knowing what to do gave Seger something to focus on (stand on a matted table, put your chin in my hand, lay on your right side, lay on your left side) rather than panic. That all those things had been heavily reinforced prior to the big event gave him the confidence to know he was right and helped him to feel safe. What could have been absolute disaster turned into an amazing experience that taught all of us something that day.

Back at our regular vet’s office we still have a long way to go. At yesterday’s training visit Seger gave me a stark reminder that he’s still the Captain of the cooperative care ship, that progress waxes and wanes despite my desire to push forward, and that listening to the dog matters. And Dr. Holmes reminded me of how far we’ve come.

I’m grateful for Seger’s very clear communications, and the patience of a fine veterinarian. And I’m fueled by the progress we’ve made. We’ll get there . . . .

Working with Dr. Holmes

Cooperative Care: Table Training at Home

Suzanne Clothier’s Treat Retreat Technique

Suzanne Clothier’s Go Hunt technique

Suzanne Clothier’s Really Real Relaxation

Cooperative Care: Getting on the Exam Table

cooperative care: Table Training at the Vet’s Office

cooperative care: Chin Rest

cooperative care: Side Training

cooperative care: Intro to Veterinary Holds

Cindy's Blog