Less Stress. More Trust. Better Care.

Canine Cooperative Care

Teaching Voluntary Participation in Handling, Grooming and Veterinary Care

Vet visits. Grooming. Nail trims. Medications.
If these moments feel stressful for your dog—or you—this course is for you.

Our Canine Cooperative Care program teaches dogs how to actively and willingly participate in their own care using science-based, welfare-focused training. Instead of “just getting it done,” we build calm, confident dogs who feel safe, heard, and in control.

What Is Cooperative Care?
Canine Cooperative Care is a welfare-centred training approach to husbandry, grooming, and veterinary procedures. The goal is to create a training partnership where your dog becomes an active participant in handling, restraint, and care procedures.

This approach:

  • Prioritises your dog’s emotional wellbeing

  • Builds positive emotional responses through classical conditioning

  • Uses consent and choice to guide training

  • Avoids force, coercion, and flooding

  • Progresses only at a pace your dog can genuinely handle

Who Is This Course For?

This class is ideal for:

  • Young dogs learning early handling skills

  • Dogs who find vet or grooming visits stressful

  • Dogs with handling sensitivities or care aversions

  • Dogs preparing for medical procedures or grooming

  • Owners wanting safer, calmer care routines

No previous cooperative care experience is required.

What You’ll Learn

Over four structured lessons, you’ll learn how to:

  • Read your dog’s body language and stress signals

  • Teach place conditioning for choice and participation

  • Build your dog’s impulse control and encourage calm stillness

  • Introduce consent cues

  • Condition dogs to handling, restraint, and positioning

  • Safely introduce tools

  • Muzzle train

  • Prepare dogs for real-world care challenges

Training Paths

  • Small Group Course

    Perfect for dogs who are comfortable working around other dogs and for owners who enjoy learning in a supportive group environment.

    Small Group Sizes
    Classes are intentionally kept small, with one qualified instructor for every four dogs, ensuring personalised guidance, individual feedback, and plenty of support. Places are limited, so early booking is recommended.

    Location: Blackwood Uniting Church

    Investment: $210

    This course includes:
    ~ Four × 60-minute in-person lessons
    ~ One self-paced pre-course activity to complete before the course begins
    ~ Canine Cooperative Care Handbook to support your training at home
    ~ Guidance from a highly qualified and experienced instructor

    Optional Add-On:
    Private In-Home Follow-Up Session – $130
    A 60-minute session scheduled after course completion to strengthen skills, troubleshoot challenges, and tailor training further to your dog.

    Puppingtons 5-Metre Long Lead – $25
    Available for purchase if you don’t already have a suitable long lead.
    A long lead is essential for participation in this course.

    Upcoming Course Dates
    ~ Saturday 11 April at 8:45am

    Make a Booking

  • Private Course

    The Private Cooperative Care Course provides personalised coaching in your home environment, allowing training to progress at your dog’s individual pace.

    Ideal for:
    ~ shy, sensitive, or reactive dogs
    ~ dogs who may feel overwhelmed in a group setting
    ~ owners who work shifts or cannot commit to weekly class times
    ~ families wanting a fully tailored training experience

    Investment: $560

    This course includes:
    ~ Four × 60-minute private in-home sessions
    ~ One self-paced pre-course activity to complete before the first in-home lesson
    ~ Canine Cooperative Care Handbook to support your training at home
    ~ Individualised training tailored to your dog’s needs
    ~ Practical coaching in real-life handling situations
    ~ Guidance from a highly qualified and experienced instructor
    ~ Ongoing guidance and support throughout the program

    Make a Booking

Ready to Build Calm, Confident Care Skills?

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Dogs must be at least 4 months of age to participate. Puppies younger than this are still developing physically and emotionally, and will benefit more from foundational socialisation and basic handling skills before beginning cooperative care training.

  • Yes. This course is specifically designed to help dogs build positive associations with veterinary handling and clinic-style procedures. We focus on slow, choice-based training that supports nervous or fearful dogs to feel safer and more in control. If your dog shows extreme fear or panic, please contact us prior to booking so we can ensure this class is the right fit.

  • If your dog has a known bite history or has attempted to bite during handling or veterinary procedures, please email us before enrolling. This allows us to discuss your dog’s individual needs and determine whether a private session or additional preparation would be more appropriate for safety and success.

  • Any health conditions that your dog may currently be suffering from (eg. ear infections, dental disease, musculoskeletal pain) must be addressed by a veterinarian prior to enrolling in this course so as to not cause any further pain, discomfort or aversions through handling.

  • This course is not suitable for dogs who are dog-reactive in a group setting. Reactive dogs are better supported through the Private Cooperative Care Course, where we can tailor the environment and training plan to reduce stress and maximise learning.