Support for dogs who find handling, grooming or vet visits stressful in Worcestershire, surrounds and online

Build trust, reduce stress and touch sensitivity, and help your dog feel safe with handling so vet visits, grooming and everyday care feel calmer for both of you.

If your dog is showing fearful or aggressive behaviour when handling then not only are they in distress but it makes giving them your best care very challenging. We love our dogs and we want the best for them, but they don’t always understand what’s good for them! Touch sensitivity or fear responses at vets or groomers can be difficult for everyone involved.

It can end up damaging the trust between you. You might even feel judged by the professionals your dog needs in their life.

Imagine being able to brush your dog without a battle, put their harness on without a chase, and walk into the vet without dread.

That’s what this training is here to help you build together.

“Our boy greeted the vet with an excited tail wag and allowed him to do a physical exam”

“We’ve recently managed a really successful vet appointment. A few months ago, the vet couldn’t even get near him!

Not only does our boy now completely love life and cope so much better in challenging situations, he has become a real dream to live with. Thanks to We Teach Pets we also feel much more confident supporting him day to day”

~ Mollie

They also describe feeling closer to their dog, more in control of their situation, and far less alone.

Sound like the kind of support you’ve been looking for?

Don’t forget if you have pet insurance they may reimburse you the fees of our sessions!

There are also options to pay in instalments using PayPal or Klarna if eligible – simply let us know you’d like to pay in instalments and we’ll get you the right invoice option.

My own dog Max has had his share of challenges with handling. As a long-haired Shepherd mix, regular brushing was a must. But he hated sitting still, and a painful grass seed incident left him sensitive around his side. If I touched the area, he’d squeal and bark in distress.

When he developed an ear infection and growled during treatment, I knew something had to change. I shifted focus to building trust, using gentle, step-by-step training.

Now, Max calmly accepts brushing, nail trims, ear drops, even injections at home – and has even made friends at the vets. He’s come a long way from the dog who had such touch sensitivity at home and panicked just in the car park of the vets. In fact, he’s so keen now that when I got eye drops out for my other dog, Max was the one who showed up ready to train!

While working in rescue, I introduced this same approach to dogs with trauma histories and severe touch sensitivity. Many were fearful or reactive when handled, but needed grooming and medical care for their wellbeing. With patience and cooperative care training, they learned not just to tolerate handling, but often to enjoy it. Giving them choice made a powerful difference to their confidence and trust.

1. Can a dog really learn to tolerate being groomed?

Yes! Using co-operative care and reward based training we can change how a dog feels about grooming or handling procedures. 

2. My dog doesn’t go to the vets often, is there any point in training for it?

Again, yes! Your dog could need veterinary care at any time if they become ill or have an accident. Being able to get care as your dog gets older is also vital.  

3. My dog has never bitten, will the problem get better if we keep practicing?

This depends on how you do it! If your dog is rehearsing anxious or fearful behaviour, or low level warning behaviour when you are touching them in certain ways, then the chances are the more it happens the more ingrained it will become.

It could even get worse if not addressed because your dog feels like you aren’t getting the message and feels the need to communicate more strongly!

4. Are there other benefits to this training?

Learning about reading body language, co-operative care and using reward based training can help to build trust and promote bodily autonomy for your dog. This is great for their overall welfare and setting up a great method of communication together.

5. How does the process work?

This is a package that really lends itself to online working. You can find out more about how online sessions work HERE. We can also do these sessions as a hybrid of online and in person depending on your location.

If you’d like to know more about the process, what the consultation involves, more information about what a vet referral will entail, then I have some pages you can refer to HERE.