Pets Corner was first published in the March issue of SE22.
There will come a point when you need your pet to stay still and cooperate for a procedure or inspection. This may be at the vet, to receive medication, or for grooming. Zoo personnel teach stationing behaviours to wild animals, where lions, hippos and primates learn to stay still for blood draws or teeth cleaning. If this can be taught to a wild animal, it is certainly achievable with your cat or dog.
There are many ways to train this; the chin-rest method below is reasonably straightforward and many pets enjoy the learning process.
Preparation.
Have high-value, soft treats. Identify a comfortable position and height at which your dog can easily rest their chin (place a rolled-up towel on a low stool or similar).
Chin rests on the palm of the hand.
- Hold an open hand, palm up, just slightly below your dog’s nose. With your other hand hold a treat at the edge of your upturned hand, furthest from your dog’s nose. To encourage your dog to lean forward onto your palm you may have to hold the treat a little further away.
- Hold your upturned palm steady and as your dog reaches to get the treat slightly lower the treat so your dog puts their muzzle onto your palm to get nearer to the food. When you feel their chin on your palm say ‘yes’ and gently give them the treat.
- Repeat. Add a cue like ‘chin’ as your dog rests their muzzle in your palm.
- Next, open your palm at chin level, give the cue ‘chin,’ and see if your dog performs the muzzle rest. If they do, toggle duration with each go, first count to 1 and reward, next to 3, then to 2. Each time give a treat if your dog keeps their muzzle in place.
Move the behaviour onto a towel.
- You will need both hands free to deliver medications or similar. So, you want the dog to rest their chin on something and hold still.
- Try a rolled towel to pad the edge of a stool or chair. For very small dogs try a low box. Ensure the dog does not struggle or strain to rest their chin.
- Put your upturned palm onto the rolled towel.
- Give the cue ‘chin’ and wait for your dog to rest their muzzle on your palm. Toggle durations, as before, and reward each time.
- Now place your upturned palm behind the rolled towel, at the edge furthest from your dog’s nose. Repeat your cue- wait for the dog to stretch their muzzle forward across the rolled towel, to reach your palm. As their chin skims or rests on the material say ‘yes’ and reward.
- Repeat this adding duration slowly, toggling between longer and shorter. You may need to raise or lower the height of the rolled towel to make it more accessible. It will help at first to offer a treat below the level of the rolled material, to encourage the dog to lower their muzzle onto the rolled towel.
The final stages involve building the duration of the chin rest and then slowly adding in ear, eye, mouth, and body inspections, with appropriate implements. The use of rewards is crucial each time. Be patient.