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The “check” cue
One of my favorite things to teach my Bernese to make vet care more comfortable was the “check” cue. He was rewarded for placing his chin in my hand and as the training went on, he would keep it there if he was comfortable me looking in his eyes, ears mouth etc. We than used this in a vet setting and it was great because he knew than the vet was going to “check” something on his face etc. It was great to see my vet using the cue and communicating with Mack he was going to invade his space. Makes visits more comfortable and predictable for my Berner:)
Does anyone else have any great cues to help with cooperative care?
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26 Replies
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I am glad to hear your vet using it and, it helps Mack!
I taught one of my dogs, Titan a chin rest prior to doing the DNA cheek swab (then added in the Q-tip). I agree with you that it helps them “predict” something is about to happen. I have not transferred it to the vet yet however, he goes Wednesday. I may just try and ask him for one- to see if he will do it!
Thanks for a subtle nudge to try it at the vet this time!
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@jenz Yes! I also have a hold cue if I have to hold him or vet does. I love helping the dog know something is going to happen or he has to be still with humans up close. We also visit the vet a lot without an appointment. Just so it’s positive not just once a year you are getting invaded. Unfortunately with Covid I can’t go in now, but we play games outside and practice walking up to the door 🙂 I wish I did this with all my dogs, but I will in the future and always suggest to puppy clients!
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I presented the chin rest cue to Titan in the parking lot of the vet times3. He did it on the 2nd however, I think it was accidental/coincidental! In the office I had his attention and focus but he did not perform the behavior. This was still great info for me! I do muzzle him at the vets.( not sure if you saw other posts or know his history, that he was a behavior euthanasia save.) He has never displayed any aggressiveness but, he did have a “hard time” with novel people, proximity and sudden movements directed at him when I adopted him. He now tolerates all the above and is much more comfortable. With that said, I never generalized the chin rest with the muzzle on. Guess what I will be working on!
Thanks again for the inspiration to work on this!
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So cool! I’d love to see this sometime, too. ????
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I love this, @pawsup ! I’d love to see a demo (doesn’t have to be at the vet) if you ever get the chance. All pups can use extra communication when in a stressful environment like the vet’s office.
My Berner used to “gain and lose” 5 pounds (each way!) when we would ask him to step on the scale. The big dude would just start panting! If I tried calming him, he’d inadvertently lean against the wall (which was no good). He was always good otherwise, let the vet and assistant do stuff, but I always wished it could be better. I always asked for them to not put him up on a table, so they were always very accommodating with that.
My yellow lab loved everyone, even if she had to get shots, temperature taken, she would turn around and love the people handling her. Very rare in a stressful setting. Maybe some of it was appeasement and could have been better by communicating early with her? I got her when she was already 5 years old.
I don’t have dogs currently, but I try to use some of the tips I’m getting with my Eclectus parrot, Stella. She recently had to have blood work done and a couple of shots. The vet is a 30 min drive from me (avian vet) but I don’t mind bringing her every week, if I get a break in my crazy schedule. She is very good and hasn’t bitten anyone there, and they say how sweet she is. I’d like to use a cue to make nail trims easier for her. I’ve found a parrot trainer who uses positive reinforcement online. I’ll try starting that with her soon.
I know it’s so scary for animals! We just want to make things less stressful and connect with them when we can.
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@bernerlabreclectus i will have to take a video:) my Berner hates the table too. My vet doesn’t make him go up, just for weigh ins. I found a great way using place cue with a towel. Gives traction and something to do:)
My golden would be there all day long. She doesn’t care either about anything!
What kind of parrot do you have? That is so awesome!
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Oh I see you said what kind. I have to look that up! Are they big?
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Here’s Stella! She’s about 11 years old and is an Eclectus parrot. She does not talk, but they can learn to. She is very sweet and a cuddler (with me). She’s a medium-sized parrot, about the size of an African Grey.
Thank you for asking about my girl!!! She loves dogs. Sometimes I board a client’s pup and she enjoys watching them (from her cage, behind a baby gate) as much as they do her! Of course, I never bring her out when we have one around. The only dogs I trusted like that were my old Berner and Lab. Samson used to love to eat the bird food she would throw to him. Tara (lab) would go running away whenever she heard little bird feet on the floor. ☺️
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Stella is simply gorgeous, @Bernerlabreclectus ! Thank you for sharing her with us. What behaviors do you have on cue with her?
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Hi Catherine!
I only have “step up” for her to move upward onto something, like a perch or my arm. She also knows how to wave “hi”, when I wave at her or sometimes she waves to say “thank you”, when I’m feeding her.
Animals are so cool! We can learn so much from them.
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This is great, @Bernerlabreclectus ! Birds are so smart. And they are exquisitely good at teaching us TIMING! Right?! They are quick! I’ve helped a friend teach workshops with her Cockatoos – and they amaze me, every time. Thanks again for sharing Stella with us!
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Oh my gosh Stella is beautiful!! Look at that bright red!!
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Thank you, @programdev and @pawsup !!! Catherine, that’s awesome that your friend works with cockatoos. Birds are incredibly smart. Eclectus can be a shyer species, but she is funny. She likes to dance with my BF! She’s relatively quiet. People used to think Eclectus were dumb, compared to other parrots. (That’s just because they are more reserved and don’t like to make a fool of themselves.)
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This is a fantastic discussion! I totally agree that “exam training” should be a part of EVERY PUPPY CLASS! It’s so important, even if it’s only used by the pet parent. But even better, if it can be transferred to the vet team. So many vets are grateful for dogs who are relaxed and able to be examined. Thanks for sharing this tip, @PawsUp and for all the participation and insight, @Jenz and @Bernerlabreclectus
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Here is the video when I was practicing with Titan. We built the duration of the swabbing up to 45-60 seconds, eventually.
Sorry if this duplicated- The video did not attach, I deleted the post (I no longer see it in “new activity” but, still see the written post under discussion on my end oddly, and without the video).
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I love this video. That’s exactly how I taught Mack!!!
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Hi @Jenz Great video! Thanks for posting. I took care of the post without the vid attached – in order for it to disappear completely, you have to delete it from the channel. As you discovered, deleting from the activity feed is different. 🙂 No worries!
Do you mind answering questions on your technique? I heard the marker at the very end “Yes”… but I see that you did several reps… have you been working on this a while? Can you explain why you are not marking his earlier tries? What was your criteria for this session and what had you already worked on? I think it’s helpful to talk through the decision process for those who want to give this a try!
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Thanks for deleting that from the channel. The only option I saw was “reply’ clicking on the 3 dots. I guess I have some experimenting to do with that!
Sure-thanks for asking these questions for me to respond! I use “ready” as just that- get ready (if you want, your choice to earn a treat- like a “start” button). I had been working on this for a few days at this point. My primary reason for not marking the “tries” was Titan voluntarily withdrew, lifted his head or seemingly lip licked at 8 seconds, 28 seconds and 32 seconds, so I “respected” that communication of him opting out so to speak. My criteria at this point was to get him through for several seconds comfortably and without “opting out” . To me, they were not individual tries to be marked and rewarded, rather Titan learning learning that the lifting his head prior to “yes” was not paying. I do think he was comfortable enough to continue but still a bit undecided or thinking “maybe this pays” or “this”.
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@Jenz Great details! Thanks for explaining. I LOVE the idea of “start buttons” – I first learned them at a horse training clinic with Peggy Hogan and they always make me think of her great training – she does a LOT with cooperative care for horses – so needed! Anyway, it’s always interesting to see them used in real life training. It’s fascinating to watch the learner figure it all out and to have them “opt in” so frequently. I think it’s important, especially early on, to reward them for continuing to play the game, so to speak, regardless of whether I can increase the criteria or not. Each animal is different, of course. Some species and some individuals have a lower frustration threshold, right? For some, including my Aussie, who has a *very* low frustration threshold (I am, in her opinion, as slow as a tortoise!), we need to reward the coming back to me, the start button itself, randomly along the way to keep them calm and engaged! Something worth thinking about with each individual. Thanks for being willing to discuss! Keep up your good work with Titan and keep us posted on his progress!
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Wow, what a great reply and conversation. @programdev and @jenz ! Thank you, Jennifer, for spelling out the process for us. It is truly a joy to watch your dog and you with this process. Thank you for the video!!! I am eager to try this. Catherine, you always have such great feedback and ways to tie it together. Thank you both!
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Thanks for your feedback! Good to know!
For a dog who had significant general anxiety and still has some, he does extremely well and shows little frustration. He learns fast too so that helps, I think. In the future, I will keep your advice in mind and in my “toolbox”; “especially early on, to reward them for continuing to play the game”. I can see how it varies with the dog, that you mentioned your Aussie. Thanks again for a different perspective!
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Every dog teaches us something more, if only we pay attention! It’s so true, @Jenz You’re well on your way!
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I used shaping to get Titan to rest his chin, starting with sniffing my open hand, touching etc. At one point, I helped by placing my hand under his chin when he was close, marked and rewarded. Now, the open hand is his visual cue.
Please keep us posted as you try it and definitely share video if you can! Have fun!
Thanks for watching!
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@Bernerlabreclectus I agree with @Catherine “Stella is simply gorgeous”!!
Super cool that you have a couple behaviors for her!
“Samson used to love to eat the bird food she would throw to him. Tara (lab) would go running away whenever she heard little bird feet on the floor.” Two dogs, two different reactions! Animals are definitely “so cool”! I would have thought the lab would be inhaling all the food she threw!
What is the life expectancy of Stella’s species?
Thanks for introducing Stella to us!
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@bernerlabreclectus, WOW, you found a Parrot trainer! That’s very impressive, I think.( also I think Eclectus’ are very beautiful–what are some predominant personality traits for this ‘breed’?) And I totally agree that “ all pupscan use extra communication when in a stressful environment…” though at times of serious, 10-on-the-richter-scale freaking out (like my poor former lab mix had when visiting the vet) it’s harder to communicate effectively with the dog. Wish ‘cooperative care’ had been re-discovered while she was still with me, it’s a fantastic and so humane method.
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