Conditioning for veterinary and grooming visits
Cooporative Care
Helping dogs, their guardians, and their care providers remove the stress out of the care process.
Stress is a common thing for our dogs to feel when they visit the doctor or groomer. Through a concept known as "Cooperative Care" I can help your dog learn or relearn through conditioning that the vet and/or groomer isn't a bad or scary place.
Cooporative care is a specialty of mine that is near and dear to my heart. Veterinarians are incredible humans that have dedicated their lives to helping keep our dogs and pets safe. Our dogs unfortunately don't always understand that their amazing doctor is there to help them. Groomers are wonderful folks who love animals and are also there to help provide comfort, relief, and proper care/hygiene for our furbabies. Again, our pups don't always understand that these kind individuals with the scary shampoo bottle is there to help them.
I have helped many dogs that were previously unable to be handled, groomed, or provided medical care learn how to relax, trust, and dare I say even enjoy their experiences with their veterinary and grooming appointments.
Check out the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultant's link on what 'Cooperative Care Training" is: https://iaabcjournal.org/cooperative-care/
" Before working with Kat, every trip to the veterinarian was incredibly stressful for both me and my dog. His anxiety was so severe that he had to be completely sedated for even the most routine veterinary procedures.
Working with Kat completely changed our experience. She introduced us to cooperative care techniques and helped build my dog's confidence and trust step by step. The transformation has been amazing.
Now, we are able to work with our veterinarian and complete exams, blood draws, and
vaccinations calmly and successfully, all without sedation or unnecessary stress. What once seemed impossible has become routine. The best part is that my dog actually enjoys seeing the vet now. He eagerly participates because he knows he will receive
plenty of delicious treats and positive attention while working with her.
Cooperative care has truly been life-changing for us. Not only has it significantly reduced my dog's anxiety, but it has also eased my own worries and stress surrounding his veterinary care. I feel much more confident knowing that he can receive the medical
attention he needs in a way that is comfortable and positive for him. I would wholeheartedly recommend Kathryn and cooperative care training to anyone with an anxious or fearful dog. The results have been nothing short of remarkable, and I am so grateful for the difference it has made in both of our lives". -Castiel's mama, Jasmine
My sweet boy Finn has been fearful of people he doesn't know since he was a baby, so very early on I realized going to the vet and basic grooming was going to be a huge struggle. And it was. After he had to be held down for the rest of his puppy shots, I switched to a very understanding Fear Free vet who had more experience with dogs like Finn. But even then he needed to be blackout, dead-to-the-world sedated for his yearly visits, which was still super stressful for both of us.
Let me tell you, it was such a relief when we found Kat. When you meet her, you’ll notice right away that she loves what she does and truly cares about helping you and your dog succeed. Her kindness, compassion and deep understanding of dog behavior and positive methods have helped put my handling-averse, extreme stranger-danger dog at ease.
Cooperative care training with Kat has been such a game-changer for us. One of the biggest things she taught me throughout this process is the importance of giving Finn a choice and letting him opt in to handling rather than simply expecting him to endure it. That shift in perspective has made such a huge difference, not just in how Finn feels about being handled, but in the trust and communication between us.
I can now use clippers to remove mats and trim his booty curtains (mini Aussie problems), brush his teeth and other things you simply take for granted when you have a “normal” dog. Once, she even took time out of her day to talk me off a ledge when I was freaking out about having to take him to urgent care, and he did so much better than I expected thanks to all of our training. And for the first time ever in his life, Finn fully participated in and consented to getting his annual vaccines and having blood drawn like it was no big deal. Except it was a major life-changing milestone for us. I'm so proud of my little guy and how far he's come. We're still learning, still on our journey, but I love that Finn is always so happy and excited to see Kat and get to "work."
If your dog struggles with handling like mine, I highly, highly recommend Kat. She will answer all of your questions with the patience of a saint and help you and your dog work through their issues while making it fun. You will learn so much, and the bond with your dog will blossom. She's absolutely the best. - Finn's mama, Laura