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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Keeping your dog safe near traffic is one of the most important skills you can teach. In this episode, we dive into car and road awareness training — from staying back from moving vehicles to pausing and looking before crossing the street. Learn how to:

• Teach your puppy to create safe distance from cars
• Use cues like “back” or “wait” to prevent accidents
• Reinforce calm, focused behavior around roads
• Practice real-world safety in your neighborhood and beyond

Whether you live in a busy city or a quiet suburb, these strategies will help your dog feel confident, aware, and safe around traffic.

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Facebook @TheOnlinePuppySchool
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Join our membership here.

Does your puppy love to bark, bite, or jump for attention? In this episode, Amy explains how teaching your puppy to “Sit to Say Please” can turn all that wild puppy energy into calm, polite behavior. You’ll learn what Sit to Say Please means, why it’s such an effective tool for reducing unwanted behaviors, and exactly how to use it in real-life situations — like when guests come over or when kids are playing with the puppy.

Discover how this one simple habit teaches your puppy self-control, manners, and confidence — helping them understand that good things come to those who wait!

Tune in and start practicing Sit to Say Please today to build a lifetime of polite, positive interactions between your puppy, your family, and your friends.

Support the show

Follow us on social media

Instagram @BAXTERandBella
Facebook @TheOnlinePuppySchool
YouTube @BAXTERandBella

Subscribe to our site for FREE weekly training tips!

Check out our FREE resources!

Join our membership here.