October 30, 2025 • 9 mins
What if your dog willingly offered their paw for a nail trim or stayed calm during a vet exam? It’s possible — with Cooperative Care Training.
In this episode, Amy explains how to use fear-free handling, desensitization, and consent cues to help your dog feel calm and confident during grooming, ear cleaning, nail trims, and vet visits. You’ll learn how to turn stressful routines into trust-building moments that strengthen your bond.
By the end, you’ll know how to give your dog choice, control, and comfort — and set the stage for a lifetime of stress-free care.
🧠 Key Takeaways:
- Cooperative care means your dog chooses to participate in grooming and medical handling.
- Use desensitization and counterconditioning to make scary things (like clippers or brushes) positive.
- Teach a consent cue, such as a chin rest, to give your dog a voice in care sessions.
- Keep training sessions short, calm, and reward-based.
- Partner with your vet or groomer for fear-free experiences your dog can trust.
✂️ Practical Tips Covered:
- How to introduce nail clippers, brushes, and ear solution gradually
- Using treats to pair touch with positive experiences
- When to pause or stop — honoring your dog’s “no, thank you” cues
- Setting your dog up for success before vet visits
- Why cooperative care builds resilience, confidence, and trust
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
If you have a dog who's nervous about nail trims
(00:02):
or grooming or vet visits,today's episode is for you.
Welcome to the puppy trainingpodcast.
I'm Amy Jensen, founder ofBaxter and Fella, the online
puppy school.
Here we are all about helpingyou create the best possible
experience raising a puppy.
From training tips to practicaltricks, all aimed at fostering a
(00:24):
happy, well-behaved dog whotruly feels like part of the
family.
So if you are ready to enjoy thejourney and strengthen the bond
with your dog, let's getstarted.
Welcome back to the PuppyTraining Podcast.
This is where I help you guysraise well-behaved, confident,
(00:44):
happy dogs right from the start.
So I'm Amy Jensen, and today weare talking about one of my
favorite topics, cooperativecare.
This is all about helping yourdog choose to participate in
grooming, vet visits, and evenmedical handling without fear or
force.
Yes, that is right.
Imagine your dog volunteeringfor nail trims.
(01:06):
I know some of you are saying,yeah, I don't think so.
Or even ear cleaning or a vetexam.
It's possible, and today we'regoing to talk all about it.
So, first of all, what iscooperative care?
Cooperative care is a style oftraining that teaches dogs to
actively take part in their owngrooming and healthcare.
We give them a voice, right?
(01:28):
So instead of restraining themor forcing them through
something scary, we build trustand give them a voice, a way to
say, I'm ready, or hey, I need alittle break.
It's based on what we callfear-free handling, an approach
used by veterinarians andprofessional groomers that
minimizes stress and helps dogsfeel safe.
(01:48):
As a trainer, I love thismethod.
So when we apply this at home,it can transform daily care from
a wrestling match, some of youknow what I'm talking about,
into a calm, cooperativepartnership where, yeah, your
dog might even volunteer for anail trim.
So why does this matter?
Let's think about what most dogsexperience.
Their nails get clipped whilethey're squirming, right?
(02:09):
They're nervous, they're tryingto pull their paw away, or
they're held really tightlywhile we put some ear cleaner
down their ear canal, or they'relifted onto a vet table and
they're poked without warning.
From the dog's point of view,this can feel confusing, scary,
and definitely out of theircontrol.
Over time, these negativeexperiences start to add up.
And you get a dog who starts tohide when they see the nail
(02:31):
clippers, or they tremble assoon as that ear cleaner comes
out, or they run, right?
They play catch me if you can.
Um, or maybe they're reallynervous to go to the vet.
You see them shaking andtrembling at the vet's office
door.
So by taking a cooperative careapproach, we change the story.
We help the dog understand look,we're trying to help you.
Here's what's coming.
I want you to feel safe, andeven allow them to participate
(02:54):
willingly.
And when dogs feel safe, theytend to learn faster, they
recover more quickly, and itbuilds a deeper trust with us.
All good things.
Now let's talk desensitizationand counterconditioning.
Here's where training meetspsychology.
So desensitization means weexpose our dog to the scary
thing, let's say the nailclippers, gradually and calmly,
(03:16):
and we start with steps they canhandle.
Maybe at first we just show theclippers and we feed them a food
reward.
Then we touch the paw gently.
Then we hold the clippers nearthe paw and we reward again.
And we might need to do each ofthose things more, right?
So maybe we just touch with theclippers, feed a food reward,
and we do that five to tentimes.
Then maybe we touch their pawand we do that five to ten
times.
(03:37):
Then maybe we touch the clippersto the paw and we repeat that.
So we might need to do this moretimes, depending on your dog.
But bit by bit, we're teachingthe dog this isn't scary, and
good things happen when thisobject appears.
Now, counterconditioning addsanother layer.
It's pairing those experienceswith something positive, like
the high value food rewards,gentle praise or play, whatever
(04:00):
your dog loves, right?
Whatever they view as a reward.
Over time, your dog starts tothink, oh yay, the nail
clippers.
That means it's food time.
Or yay, the nail clippers, thatmeans we get to play my favorite
game after my nail gets clipped,right?
Instead of, oh no, I'm trapped.
One of the most powerful partsof cooperative care is teaching
what we call a consent cue.
(04:20):
This is a signal that your doggives when they're ready for
handling.
For example, you can teach yourdog to place their chin in your
hand or on a towel as a yes, I'mready cue.
If they lift their head away, westop.
That's their no, thank you, Ineed a little break.
This gives your dog control andbuilds trust that you're taking
care of them and you'relistening to what they are
(04:40):
saying.
When they realize you'll listento their cues, they'll offer
participation more willinglynext time.
It's really a beautiful shiftfrom I'm forcing you to do this
to, hey, we're doing thistogether.
Let's take a look at some reallife examples.
Let's start with nail trims.
Start by handling your dog'spaws for just a second, reward
and release.
And then we're going togradually build up to longer
(05:01):
touches, holding a paw, touchingthe clippers to the nail, and
then eventually trimming onenail at a time.
Now you might want to just doone nail and go play their
favorite game.
And then maybe later in the dayrevisit it, do another nail, go
play their favorite game.
We want to end every session ona success, even if you only do
one paw that day.
What about ear cleaning?
First, I would show my dog theear solution bottle and feed
(05:22):
them a food reward.
And then I'd work on that, justso I don't get any negative body
language just by producing theear solution bottle.
Then I would touch the outsideof the ear, food reward, and I'd
repeat that until my dog'scomfortable with me touching the
outside of their ear.
Then I would lift the flap andfood reward.
Only once my dog is calm witheach step will I move forward.
(05:43):
Okay, how about brushing andgrooming?
Let your dog first sniff thebrush.
So anytime you pull out newequipment, let them sniff it,
let them see it, let them checkit out.
Do one light stroke, pay them afood reward, and then take a
little break.
And maybe that break is a funshort recess with a toy.
But we want to keep thesesessions short, fun, and
predictable.
The goal isn't to rush throughthe job, it's to create calm,
(06:05):
positive associations that willlast your dog's lifetime.
Next up, let's talk vet visits.
You can also practice mock vethandling at home.
This is where I would startbecause your dog's going to be
much more comfortable with youtouching them, but we want to
get them used to being handledall over their body, and then
when they go to the vet, thatwill be easier.
So start by touching your dog'spaws on a daily basis.
(06:26):
Open their mouths, gently feeltheir sides or their ribs, lift
a tail, all paired with foodrewards and calm praise.
If your vet uses fear-freemethods, let them know your dog
has a consent cue and what itlooks like.
Say, you know what?
My dog has a chin rest.
Here's what it looks like,here's how to use it.
And if you can find a vet thatuses these fear-free methods,
it's awesome.
(06:47):
You walk into the office,oftentimes they'll sit down on
the floor, let your dog come upand say hi on their own terms.
They don't just come right overto your dog and start touching
them.
They let the dog come to them.
They often have some foodrewards to share.
Of course, they'll ask you ifthat's okay first.
Um, but the vets who are awareof these fear-free methods, it
really does make a bigdifference for dogs who are
(07:07):
nervous to go to the vet.
So, this teamwork betweentrainer, handler, and vet makes
the experience better foreveryone, especially our dogs.
Cooperative care isn't justabout making life easier, it's
about empowering your dog andhelping them feel safe.
When dogs have a sense of choiceand control, their confidence
grows.
You'll notice they start toapproach care tasks more
(07:28):
willingly.
They'll stand calmly forgrooming and they recover faster
from stress.
And for you, it means lessstruggle, more trust, and a
happier, healthier dog.
So next time you pick up thenail clippers, try slowing down.
Add some food rewards and listento your dog's cues.
You might be surprised by howquickly they begin to volunteer
for care once they realizeyou're listening.
(07:50):
Remember, training isn't aboutcontrol, it's about
communication and cooperation.
And cooperative care is one ofthe best ways to build that
lifelong partnership that we alldream of with our dogs.
If you like step-by-stepguidance on desensitization,
consent cues, and cooperativecare, check out our four-week
cooperative care course onBaxter and Bella, the online
puppy school, where you canwatch tutorials, get coaching
(08:13):
from me and my team.
Our four-week course starts inNovember.
So get on to our site, log in,go to members only area, check
out the courses page, and you'llsee a link to register inside.
Or if you're listening to thispodcast later, it's no longer
November, don't panic.
All of our classes and courseson Baxter Umbella are recorded,
(08:34):
and you can view them at anytime.
So anytime you want to see aclass or course, just log in, go
to the classes and courses page,click on it, and there's a
recording available for you.
All right, you guys.
Thanks for being here today.
I hope you have a great rest ofyour week.
Happy training.
Thanks for tuning in to thePuppy Training Podcast.
I hope today's tips help youfeel more confident and excited
(08:56):
about raising your dog.
Remember, with a little patienceand consistency, you can create
a loving bond and a well-behavedpup who's a joy to have in your
family.
If you found this episodehelpful, be sure to subscribe,
leave a review, and share itwith fellow puppy parents.
For more resources, visit Baxterand Bella online.
(09:16):
Until next time, happy training.
If you have a dog who's nervous about nail trims
(00:02):
or grooming or vet visits,today's episode is for you.
Welcome to the puppy trainingpodcast.
I'm Amy Jensen, founder ofBaxter and Fella, the online
puppy school.
Here we are all about helpingyou create the best possible
experience raising a puppy.
From training tips to practicaltricks, all aimed at fostering a
(00:24):
happy, well-behaved dog whotruly feels like part of the
family.
So if you are ready to enjoy thejourney and strengthen the bond
with your dog, let's getstarted.
Welcome back to the PuppyTraining Podcast.
This is where I help you guysraise well-behaved, confident,
(00:44):
happy dogs right from the start.
So I'm Amy Jensen, and today weare talking about one of my
favorite topics, cooperativecare.
This is all about helping yourdog choose to participate in
grooming, vet visits, and evenmedical handling without fear or
force.
Yes, that is right.
Imagine your dog volunteeringfor nail trims.
(01:06):
I know some of you are saying,yeah, I don't think so.
Or even ear cleaning or a vetexam.
It's possible, and today we'regoing to talk all about it.
So, first of all, what iscooperative care?
Cooperative care is a style oftraining that teaches dogs to
actively take part in their owngrooming and healthcare.
We give them a voice, right?
(01:28):
So instead of restraining themor forcing them through
something scary, we build trustand give them a voice, a way to
say, I'm ready, or hey, I need alittle break.
It's based on what we callfear-free handling, an approach
used by veterinarians andprofessional groomers that
minimizes stress and helps dogsfeel safe.
(01:48):
As a trainer, I love thismethod.
So when we apply this at home,it can transform daily care from
a wrestling match, some of youknow what I'm talking about,
into a calm, cooperativepartnership where, yeah, your
dog might even volunteer for anail trim.
So why does this matter?
Let's think about what most dogsexperience.
Their nails get clipped whilethey're squirming, right?
(02:09):
They're nervous, they're tryingto pull their paw away, or
they're held really tightlywhile we put some ear cleaner
down their ear canal, or they'relifted onto a vet table and
they're poked without warning.
From the dog's point of view,this can feel confusing, scary,
and definitely out of theircontrol.
Over time, these negativeexperiences start to add up.
And you get a dog who starts tohide when they see the nail
(02:31):
clippers, or they tremble assoon as that ear cleaner comes
out, or they run, right?
They play catch me if you can.
Um, or maybe they're reallynervous to go to the vet.
You see them shaking andtrembling at the vet's office
door.
So by taking a cooperative careapproach, we change the story.
We help the dog understand look,we're trying to help you.
Here's what's coming.
I want you to feel safe, andeven allow them to participate
(02:54):
willingly.
And when dogs feel safe, theytend to learn faster, they
recover more quickly, and itbuilds a deeper trust with us.
All good things.
Now let's talk desensitizationand counterconditioning.
Here's where training meetspsychology.
So desensitization means weexpose our dog to the scary
thing, let's say the nailclippers, gradually and calmly,
(03:16):
and we start with steps they canhandle.
Maybe at first we just show theclippers and we feed them a food
reward.
Then we touch the paw gently.
Then we hold the clippers nearthe paw and we reward again.
And we might need to do each ofthose things more, right?
So maybe we just touch with theclippers, feed a food reward,
and we do that five to tentimes.
Then maybe we touch their pawand we do that five to ten
times.
(03:37):
Then maybe we touch the clippersto the paw and we repeat that.
So we might need to do this moretimes, depending on your dog.
But bit by bit, we're teachingthe dog this isn't scary, and
good things happen when thisobject appears.
Now, counterconditioning addsanother layer.
It's pairing those experienceswith something positive, like
the high value food rewards,gentle praise or play, whatever
(04:00):
your dog loves, right?
Whatever they view as a reward.
Over time, your dog starts tothink, oh yay, the nail
clippers.
That means it's food time.
Or yay, the nail clippers, thatmeans we get to play my favorite
game after my nail gets clipped,right?
Instead of, oh no, I'm trapped.
One of the most powerful partsof cooperative care is teaching
what we call a consent cue.
(04:20):
This is a signal that your doggives when they're ready for
handling.
For example, you can teach yourdog to place their chin in your
hand or on a towel as a yes, I'mready cue.
If they lift their head away, westop.
That's their no, thank you, Ineed a little break.
This gives your dog control andbuilds trust that you're taking
care of them and you'relistening to what they are
(04:40):
saying.
When they realize you'll listento their cues, they'll offer
participation more willinglynext time.
It's really a beautiful shiftfrom I'm forcing you to do this
to, hey, we're doing thistogether.
Let's take a look at some reallife examples.
Let's start with nail trims.
Start by handling your dog'spaws for just a second, reward
and release.
And then we're going togradually build up to longer
(05:01):
touches, holding a paw, touchingthe clippers to the nail, and
then eventually trimming onenail at a time.
Now you might want to just doone nail and go play their
favorite game.
And then maybe later in the dayrevisit it, do another nail, go
play their favorite game.
We want to end every session ona success, even if you only do
one paw that day.
What about ear cleaning?
First, I would show my dog theear solution bottle and feed
(05:22):
them a food reward.
And then I'd work on that, justso I don't get any negative body
language just by producing theear solution bottle.
Then I would touch the outsideof the ear, food reward, and I'd
repeat that until my dog'scomfortable with me touching the
outside of their ear.
Then I would lift the flap andfood reward.
Only once my dog is calm witheach step will I move forward.
(05:43):
Okay, how about brushing andgrooming?
Let your dog first sniff thebrush.
So anytime you pull out newequipment, let them sniff it,
let them see it, let them checkit out.
Do one light stroke, pay them afood reward, and then take a
little break.
And maybe that break is a funshort recess with a toy.
But we want to keep thesesessions short, fun, and
predictable.
The goal isn't to rush throughthe job, it's to create calm,
(06:05):
positive associations that willlast your dog's lifetime.
Next up, let's talk vet visits.
You can also practice mock vethandling at home.
This is where I would startbecause your dog's going to be
much more comfortable with youtouching them, but we want to
get them used to being handledall over their body, and then
when they go to the vet, thatwill be easier.
So start by touching your dog'spaws on a daily basis.
(06:26):
Open their mouths, gently feeltheir sides or their ribs, lift
a tail, all paired with foodrewards and calm praise.
If your vet uses fear-freemethods, let them know your dog
has a consent cue and what itlooks like.
Say, you know what?
My dog has a chin rest.
Here's what it looks like,here's how to use it.
And if you can find a vet thatuses these fear-free methods,
it's awesome.
(06:47):
You walk into the office,oftentimes they'll sit down on
the floor, let your dog come upand say hi on their own terms.
They don't just come right overto your dog and start touching
them.
They let the dog come to them.
They often have some foodrewards to share.
Of course, they'll ask you ifthat's okay first.
Um, but the vets who are awareof these fear-free methods, it
really does make a bigdifference for dogs who are
(07:07):
nervous to go to the vet.
So, this teamwork betweentrainer, handler, and vet makes
the experience better foreveryone, especially our dogs.
Cooperative care isn't justabout making life easier, it's
about empowering your dog andhelping them feel safe.
When dogs have a sense of choiceand control, their confidence
grows.
You'll notice they start toapproach care tasks more
(07:28):
willingly.
They'll stand calmly forgrooming and they recover faster
from stress.
And for you, it means lessstruggle, more trust, and a
happier, healthier dog.
So next time you pick up thenail clippers, try slowing down.
Add some food rewards and listento your dog's cues.
You might be surprised by howquickly they begin to volunteer
for care once they realizeyou're listening.
(07:50):
Remember, training isn't aboutcontrol, it's about
communication and cooperation.
And cooperative care is one ofthe best ways to build that
lifelong partnership that we alldream of with our dogs.
If you like step-by-stepguidance on desensitization,
consent cues, and cooperativecare, check out our four-week
cooperative care course onBaxter and Bella, the online
puppy school, where you canwatch tutorials, get coaching
(08:13):
from me and my team.
Our four-week course starts inNovember.
So get on to our site, log in,go to members only area, check
out the courses page, and you'llsee a link to register inside.
Or if you're listening to thispodcast later, it's no longer
November, don't panic.
All of our classes and courseson Baxter Umbella are recorded,
(08:34):
and you can view them at anytime.
So anytime you want to see aclass or course, just log in, go
to the classes and courses page,click on it, and there's a
recording available for you.
All right, you guys.
Thanks for being here today.
I hope you have a great rest ofyour week.
Happy training.
Thanks for tuning in to thePuppy Training Podcast.
I hope today's tips help youfeel more confident and excited
(08:56):
about raising your dog.
Remember, with a little patienceand consistency, you can create
a loving bond and a well-behavedpup who's a joy to have in your
family.
If you found this episodehelpful, be sure to subscribe,
leave a review, and share itwith fellow puppy parents.
For more resources, visit Baxterand Bella online.
(09:16):
Until next time, happy training.
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