Cooperative Care Program

Reducing stress and fear for better vet visits.

Cooperative Care Training

Cooperative care training is a comprehensive and positive approach to preparing and training pets to willingly participate in their own care and medical procedures. The primary goal is to reduce fear, anxiety and stress for both the animal and the caregiver during routine healthcare and grooming tasks.

How do we know your pets are consenting?

In Cooperative Care training we teach our learners a consent behavior, also known as a “start button”. They learn that when they perform the start button behavior this becomes their cue for us to proceed with whatever husbandry care is needing to be done. If the animal disengages from that start button it means we stop what we are doing. By doing this, we allow the pet to set the pace for this process. It is essential to remember that changing our animals’ emotions towards these perceived scary procedures can take some time. We don’t want to push them past their willingness level as this can result in causing more stress and uncooperative behavior.

Overall, Cooperative Care training is about creating a partnership between caregivers and the animals, where trust and cooperation are the foundations. This not only makes routine care and medical procedures less stressful for pets but also promotes their overall well-being and health. It’s especially important in reducing fear and anxiety associated with veterinary visits and grooming.

Services in the Cooperative Care Program

Happy Visits

Happy Visits (also known as Fun Visits) are designed to help animals associate the veterinary hospital environment with fun. No animal or human really enjoys a trip to the doctor, but we can all agree that it's fun to visit a restaurant filled with friendly staff and lots of yummy free food. This is what a Happy Visit can be like for your pet. Happy Visits help pets learn to anticipate fun and treats in the veterinary hospital. They can be used to maintain a positive emotional connection with the veterinary clinic or to attempt to reverse very mild fear of the veterinary setting. Read More

Victory Visits

Victory Visits are a step beyond Happy Visits. They are held at a scheduled appointment time, prepare pets for specific procedures , and are usually beneficial to dogs that are showing moderate signs of stress. Victory Visits are helpful to animals who experience anxiety due to specific veterinary activities (e.g., physical examination, vaccination, blood draw, or radiographs). Victory Visits can be done with a Technician or a Doctor and are usually guided by a certified trainer to practice specific aspects of veterinary visits with the use of treats and rewards. Victory Visits are applicable for dogs who are highly motivated by treats and choose to participate in procedures with the use of low to high value rewards. In some cases, we recommend pre-visit pharmaceuticals (PVP) in tandem with scheduled Victory Visits. Read More

Cooperative Care Lessons

Cooperative Care is the approach we take when a dog no longer finds high value rewards motivating and is avoiding any engagement with the veterinary team. This is a strong indicator that the fear may be too high to overcome with Happy Visits or Victory Visits alone. Cooperative Care lessons are scheduled appointments with a certified trainer who can teach your pet how to undergo procedures with or without manual restraint and help them be comfortable participating in husbandry or medical care. The trainer uses techniques such as desensitization, classic counterconditioning, and operant conditioning/counterconditioning to teach pets how to be confident during veterinary procedures. With Cooperative Care, the animal is always a willing participant and can choose whether to proceed or take a break. Without Cooperative Care, your pet may only be able to accept treatment with pre-visit pharmaceuticals (PVP) or even sedation. In some cases, we may recommend starting with a behavior consultation with one of our certified trainers at the hospital to create a treatment plan for your dog that will be performed at home with the pet's family as well as in scheduled visits with a certified trainer. Read More

Why Cooperative Care?

  • We prioritize the emotional health of your pet
  • We utilize both pharmaceutical and holistic options to best help your pet receive the care they deserve
  • This program aligns with our commitment to providing the Fear Free experience for both pets and their owners

  • By teaching gentle handling techniques and promoting positive reinforcement, we aim to minimize stress and anxiety during veterinary visits and at-home care routines
  • This approach fosters trust, strengthens the human-animal bond, and ultimately enhances the overall quality of life for our furry companions

Get started today!

If you believe your pet would be a good candidate for our program, please fill out the Cooperative Care Form and one of our certified trainers at G.O.D.O.G.S. will reach out to you during our next business day. Please note that Cooperative Care services are available Monday through Thursday from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

If you have any questions, you are welcome to email us at godogsoviedo@gmail.com or give us a call at 407-366-6738. We look forward to creating a positive and lasting partnership with you and your dog.