Exercise 3-1: Chin Rest
In lap or on other object while lightly touching head and neck for 5 seconds.
Dog holds a voluntary chin rest in the handler’s lap (towel or pillow may be used) or to another object of comfortable appropriate height. The handler lightly touches and strokes the dog’s head, neck, and shoulders for 5 seconds.
Exercise 3-1: Chin Rest
In lap or on other object while lightly touching head and neck for 5 seconds.
Dog holds a voluntary chin rest in the handler’s lap (towel or pillow may be used) or to another object of comfortable appropriate height. The handler lightly touches and strokes the dog’s head, neck, and shoulders for 5 seconds.
Purpose: This exercise combines the chin rest with light handling of the dog’s head, neck, and shoulders. This simulates the early stages of a veterinary examination and allows the dog the chance to offer consent (by maintaining the chin rest) and opt in to the process.
Equipment: Prop of your choice. Treats.
Set up: Handler can be sitting with a towel or pillow in her lap OR the dog can be standing in front of an appropriately sized object such as a chair or stool with the handler standing close to the dog’s head.
Once the dog has taken the chin rest position (can be offered or cued) the trainer begins lightly stroking and touching the dog’s head, neck, and shoulders.
Scoring: The exercise will be judged as passing if the dog voluntarily moves his head into a chin rest position and holds it for the duration of the examination. The trainer may re-cue the position once if the dog moves. The exam must be clearly shown on the video submission and last for a minimum of 5 seconds.
Non-qualifiers: The dog moves out of the chin rest position more than once. The trainer uses physical pressure to keep the dog in position. The exam lasts less than 5 seconds. The exam does not include head, neck, and shoulders.
Tips: It’s best to work on getting a solid chin rest before you add an exam to the exercise. Having a foundation chin rest that is an average of about 7 seconds is a very good starting point. When you add the exam, if your dog moves out of position, stop, let him settle, and continue on with your training at a slightly easier level.
Video example: