Consent Behaviours for Veterinary Procedures

Abstract

Visiting the veterinarian is likely to be among the most stressful things a dog is regularly asked to do. With stress comes risk, not only of aggression towards staff and caregivers, but also of developing behaviors related to trauma. This article is an overview of the different classes of stress-related behavior and introduces the concept of a trained “consent behavior.” Working on consent behaviors as part of everyday training can go a long way to creating a safer, more predictable environment for a dog, minimizing stress and promoting agency.