Support for Dogs Struggling With Vet Care & Husbandry
Cooperative Care Training
Private Sessions Near Jackson, MS & Virtually Worldwide
Cooperative Care Training for Dogs & Guardians
If vet visits, grooming days, or even basic handling at home have become stressful for your dog or for you, it can feel overwhelming. Maybe your dog hides at the sight of the nail clippers. Maybe they growl when you touch their paws, or shake uncontrollably at the vet. Maybe you’ve had to muzzle them, sedate them, or skip care entirely because it just feels too hard.
This service is for you and your dog.
Our Cooperative Care Training Private Sessions are built specifically for dogs like yours and for the people who love them. These private sessions teach you and your dog how to work together, using gentle, step-by-step methods that build trust instead of relying on force or fear.
You’ll learn how to read your dog’s signals, advocate for their comfort, and teach them that care doesn’t have to be scary. Whether your dog struggles with nail trims, injections, grooming, or just being touched, we’ll meet you where you are and help you move forward with compassion, confidence, and real progress.
Your dog deserves to feel safe and you deserve a plan that actually works.
What Is Cooperative Care Training?
Cooperative care is all about giving your dog a say in their own care and building trust instead of tension. Rather than forcing your dog to simply tolerate things like nail trims, grooming, or vet exams, we teach them how to actively and willingly participate.
Using clear communication, gentle handling, and step-by-step training, your dog learns that they have choice and predictability in situations that used to feel scary. That sense of control changes everything.
If you're preparing for an upcoming procedure, managing a chronic medical condition, or just want your dog to feel safer being touched and handled, cooperative care gives you both the skills and the confidence to move forward without fear, force, or dread. Care shouldn’t feel like a losing battle.
Puppy Mako learning about chin rests & voluntary ear checks.
Dogs with these behaviors can benefit the most from cooperative care training:
Fearful, avoidant, or aggressive during grooming or vet care
Reacts negatively to restraint or touch, especially by unfamiliar people
Pulls away, panicks, or resists when handled (ears, paws, muzzle)
Trembles, hides, or freezes when grooming supplies come out
Needs to be sedated for routine care procedures
History of traumatic or force-based handling
Reacts negatively to restraint or touch, especially by unfamiliar people
Struggles with injections, nail trims, ear drops, eye medication, or baths
Pants, paces, yawns, licks lips, or dilated pupils during husbandry
Has medical conditions requiring frequent handling or at-home care
Young puppies who have not yet learned handling is safe and predictable
No issues yet, but you want to be proactive
Common care skills we help people & dogs with:
Nail trims and paw handling
Brushing and grooming
Muzzle training and muzzle selection
Injection and medication prep
Ear, eye, and mouth exams
Vet exam prep
Comfortable restraint during procedures
Voluntary ear and eye drops
Desensitization to grooming tools (clippers, dryers, scissors)
Safe and low-stress harness or equipment application
Handling for thermometers, stethoscopes, and otoscopes
Recovery care after injury or surgery (e.g. icing, range-of-motion practice)
Teaching you dog body language
How Can You Help Me & My Dog?
All sessions begin virtually in your home to ensure a low-stress learning environment and to help build a foundation of trust between you and your dog. These live Zoom sessions are personalized, flexible, and include step-by-step coaching for consent-based handling techniques with our certified trainer and behavior consultant, Lauren Tsao, MS, CDBC, CPDT-KA, DDP.
If your dog panics, freezes, growls, or shuts down during care and you’re tired of dreading every appointment, this is your sign that help is available. We’ll teach you how to advocate for your dog, read their signals, and build skills that make care not just possible, but peaceful.
Sessions begin virtually, so anyone anywhere in the world can learn with us.
Send Us Video (Optional)
You’ll have the opportunity to share video clips of how your care routine currently go for you and your dog. This process is completely judgment-free and stays private between you and your trainer.
These videos help us spot subtle stress signals, identify exactly where things could be smoother, and make the most of your live training time. You’ll receive a secure, private Dropbox folder to easily upload your videos for trainer review.
2. Have Your Virtual Session
After reviewing your submitted materials, we’ll meet for a 60-minute Zoom session where we’ll begin guiding you through the first steps of cooperative care training.
During this call, you’ll receive real-time coaching, personalized strategies to support your dog’s comfort, and practical tips tailored to your specific situation. We’ll also set achievable goals for you to work on between sessions so progress feels clear, doable, and supported.
3. Email Follow-Up
You’ll receive a follow-up email summarizing what we covered during your session, including personalized goals to focus on and any helpful resources we discussed. If applicable, your trainer will also send how-to videos to guide your practice between sessions.
We’ll check in with you by email within one to three weeks to see how things are going and help you decide if it’s time to book your next session.
4. In-Person Sessions (Optional)
Once your dog has built a foundation through virtual training, in-person sessions at our Braxton, MS location may be offered at your trainer’s discretion. Most dogs learn best at home first.
These sessions simulate real-world care scenarios like vet visits or grooming appointments.
Your trainer may act as mock vet/grooming staff and set up the space to help you safely practice your handling skills in a controlled environment.
Virtual: $50/hr
In-Person*: $65/hr
Payment due at time of booking
Discounted multi-session packages available for people desiring longterm support.
For dogs who become stressed easily, we can provide half-hour sessions.
*Once your dog has built a strong foundation, in-person sessions may be approved for local students near Jackson, MS. These sessions are conducted at our Braxton, MS location and only available at the trainer's discretion for students who have completed virtuals first.
Ready to make daily care easier?
Are You a Vet, Groomer, or Rehab Pro?
Are you a groomer or veterinary clinic working with clients who have dogs that struggle with handling, exams, or routine care? We’d love to support your team and your clients.
Please email Lauren directly at Lauren@FYDogTraining.com and we’ll provide a printable flyer about our Cooperative Care Training service that you can share with your clients.
Plus, when you refer a client directly, they’ll receive 20% off their first Cooperative Care session and we’ll list your clinic or business as a trusted referral partner on our discount list.
Let’s work together to make care safer and less stressful for everyone involved.
Refund/Reschedule Policy: To ensure your dog receives a thorough and thoughtful assessment, all videos for trainer review must be submitted at least 72 hours before your scheduled session (excluding holidays and office closures).
If materials are submitted late, we may not have time to review them in advance. In that case, we’ll need to use your scheduled session time to review the footage together, reducing the time available for live coaching.
If you need to reschedule, we kindly ask for a minimum of 72 hours' notice. Sessions canceled or rescheduled with less notice will be considered used. This policy helps us manage time effectively and offer availability to other families who need support.
Clients who repeatedly reschedule last-minute or no-show may be referred to a professional with more flexible scheduling availability.
We do not offer refunds for sessions once booked.
Thank you for respecting the care and preparation we put into every case. Submitting your materials on time and in the requested format helps us support your dog in the most meaningful way possible.