Exercise 1-8: Injection / Blood Draw
Tolerates fake injection between shoulders or in hip with tented skin.
Handler pulls up (tents) skin either on the back between the dog’s shoulder blades or over one hip. Handler then performs a fake injection with an empty syringe or syringe substitute. The pressure from the injection should last for at least 2 seconds.
Exercise 1-8: Injection / Blood Draw
Tolerates fake injection between shoulders or in hip with tented skin.
Handler pulls up (tents) skin either on the back between the dog’s shoulder blades or over one hip. Handler then performs a fake injection with an empty syringe or syringe substitute. The pressure from the injection should last for at least 2 seconds.
Purpose: All dogs will require both blood draws and immunizations as part of their regular veterinary care. Our goal is to make the process surrounding the actual needle stick a common and neutral event. We are also working to simulate a poke so that this particular type of sensation is not surprising or frightening.
Equipment: An empty (needle-less) syringe or other appropriate syringe substitute. Treats.
Exercise set-up: The dog can be in any comfortable position and in any orientation to the trainer. The trainer will choose an “injection site” either between the shoulder blades or over one hip and gently pull up some loose skin. The trainer will then use an empty syringe or other substitute and put light pressure on the site for at least 2 seconds.
Scoring: In order to pass this exercise, the dog must willingly hold still while the trainer “tents” some loose skin with one hand and applies the fake injection with the other.
Non-qualifiers: The dog will not hold relatively still throughout the exercise. The trainer has to use physical restraint or constant verbal cues throughout the exercise. The trainer does not hold pressure for the injection for at least 2 seconds.
Tips: You can work up to the types of touch needed for this exercise by laying a foundation beginning with stroking, then adding more pressure, then slightly pinching and pulling on different parts of your dog’s body. Make it part of the games you play together!
Video example:
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