stationing for veterinary procedures
Let’s face it, most diagnostic or therapeutic procedures are not pleasant for dogs. However, by practicing at home for what the dog will need to do during a procedure, such as holding a stationary position, pet owners can help to ensure that procedures go more smoothly.
In this video, Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) Associate Director Gretchen Carey is preparing her dog Daisy to be cooperative and comfortable for her acupuncture treatments. In order to receive treatment, Daisy needs to be able to stay in a sphinx position for 15 minutes after needles are administered. Using a clicker and treats, Gretchen begins by shaping Daisy to stay in the sphinx position and not roll onto her side (as she has been trained to do for nail trims). Since Daisy has limited mobility, Gretchen opts to reward Daisy for remaining in position for the entire time rather than resetting the behavior and gradually increasing duration. Once Daisy is holding the position reliably, Gretchen introduces a frozen stuffed Kong to make the session more enjoyable and less stressful. As you will see at the conclusion of the video, Daisy’s positive experience with each step of this process made the acupuncture session a success!
For more tips on how to prepare your clients' pets for successful vet visits, check out our Better Veterninary Visits course!
Happy Training!