Pets and Their People Blog

If our pet doesn’t like something that we need them to tolerate, like vet care or grooming, we need to help convince them it’s worth it.

Focus on Feelings

We spend a lot of time training our animals’ behaviors (stationing, picking up feet), but sometimes the problem is emotional (fear, stress).

We want to approach these situations from a more classical psychology perspective.

It’s important to start by making the thing they dislike as small and mild as possible. So, whether you make it quieter, smaller, slower, or further away, make it as easy as possible for your pet to handle it. Then pair it with something awesome; food usually does the trick.

Pairing the thing they dislike with something they like changes the way they feel about it, but we want to start small and only build it up as they’re comfortable.

It’s important to always train in that order; present the thing they dislike, then add the thing they like. So, the “bad” thing predicts the “good” thing, not the other way around.

Example: Fear of Clippers

So, for example, if your horse is afraid of the clippers, start by holding the clippers (turned off) where the horse can see it without becoming upset. Then feed and put the clippers down while they eat. Then re-present the clippers for the horse to notice and then feed again. Repeat this sequence until the horse sees the clippers and anticipates the food. Then you can steadily work towards moving around the horse, holding the clippers (turned off), while the cord drags around.

Eventually, you can start practicing with the quietest set of clippers you have turned on, but remember to turn it off with each feeding. Turn it back on and then feed. Progress to moving around the horse with the clippers turned on. Then you can begin touching the horse with the back of your hand while you hold the clippers (turned on), so they can get a feel for the vibration.

Work on pairing each step with food until they are happy about it, not just tolerating it before progressing.

Counterconditioning is an amazing tool to help your pet overcome their fears and become a confident participant in their care! 

About the Author

Jessica Gonzalez runs Empowered Equines Rescue and positive reinforcement educational program. She is dedicated to spreading education about positive reinforcement and progressive animal care, creating the next generation of ethical and empowered animal care-takers. Follow @EmpoweredEquines social media.