Veterinary fear is one of the most common welfare problems in companion dogs; cooperative care training enables dogs to actively participate in and consent to their own medical care.
Veterinary fear causes acute suffering during visits and chronic anticipatory anxiety in the days beforehand. The welfare cost extends beyond the visit itself to the chronic low-level anxiety of dogs who have learned the vet means pain and restraint. Preventive socialization, Fear Free practices, and cooperative care training transform veterinary visits from traumatic to neutral or even positive experiences.