Cooperative Care: Active Tasks

In this lesson, we will review the cooperative care training protocol from Lesson 1 and begin working on one or more of these active tasks:

• remaining still under handling
• muzzle conditioning
• nose targets
• chin rest
• paw targets
• examination positions

Remaining Still Under Handling

This is essentially a stay with duration and the specific distraction of being touched. Place the dog in a stay, either next to or in front of you. Touch the dog, feed several treats in a row, and remove your hand at the same time as your treats. Wait a few seconds, reward again, and release.

Muzzle Conditioning

Feed your dog out of a comfortable basket-style muzzle. Pull the muzzle away once she has finished. Talk to your instructor before attempting this exercise if your dog has a tendency to resource guard food.

Nose Targeting

Make a rolling-the-dice motion with your empty hand, then present your palm about 5-10 cm away from your dog's nose. Click or mark when she makes any motion toward your hand. Once she is reaching her nose toward your hand at least 80% of the time and sometimes touching your hand with her nose, increase your criteria so that you are only marking when she touches your hand with her nose.

Chin Rests

This is a chin-target, similar to a nose or paw target, but with a lower excitement level. Do not progress to the chin rest until after you have a solid nose-target and your dog is comfortable with you reaching toward her head.

Paw Targeting

This is similar to nose targeting, but a small flat object, such as a coaster, can be placed on the floor about one body-length away from the dog. The first criterion will simply be any movement toward the target.

Examination Positions

Your dog already knows how to sit and lie down on cue, while being handled. You can also use luring to teach her to stand and to lie on her side.