Cooperation Beyond Consent

What does cooperation really look like when dogs, pet parents, and professionals all bring their own L.E.G.S. into the room? This course explores veterinary and handling experiences through a broader welfare lens, moving beyond the idea that consent alone is the finish line. Vet care is a system involving the animal, the family, and the professional team, and each part of that system can either increase or reduce stress.

Participants will examine how fear, pressure, environment, communication, and previous learning influence handling experiences. This presentation looks at cooperation as something built through predictability, trust, environmental support, and respect for the dog’s capacity in the moment. The goal is to help professionals create better conditions for care, support pet parents more effectively, and reduce the emotional fallout that can happen when handling focuses only on getting the procedure done.