Behavior Training for Veterinarians

Through a  collaboration  between Fear Free and the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior (KPA), this course provides veterinary care teams with practical, easy-to-implement protocols that will transform the experience of the dogs and cats in your care. KPA’s efficient, science-based training techniques will empower veterinary professionals to create enjoyable visits for pets, their owners, and your team.

As part of this collaboration, KPA is proud to give Fear Free certified professionals and friends of Fear Free the course for only $99 (that’s $40 off the course price)! To redeem this offer, use promo code FEARFREE when registering on the Karen Pryor course page. KPA also offers a free demo course. Register for the demo here.

Better Veterinary Visits is RACE approved for 12 hours of CE.

Learning Objectives:

  • How clicker training can help in veterinary care
  • How to help animals form and maintain a positive association with your vet clinic, common veterinary tools and equipment
  • To practice gentle techniques for handling, examining, picking up, and restraining animals in ways that minimize their stress
  • Step-by-step training protocols for common procedures such as nail trims and tooth brushing, as well as diagnostic procedures such as venipunctures and temperature taking
  • How to advise clients about teaching useful husbandry behaviors
  • To observe the emotional state of dogs and cats by interpreting their body language
  • To teach new behaviors to help ensure animals’ success during a variety of medical procedures
  • Quick solutions to manage behavior “on the fly,” for time-sensitive exams and procedures
  • To teach animals to tolerate ear, eye, and oral medications calmly
  • How to safely and comfortably transport and confine animals when needed, in a way that minimizes their stress
  • To identify and describe impact of key developmental periods on behavioral health
  • To guide clients toward effective training strategies
  • To help clients navigate solutions for behavior concerns
  • How to apply positive reinforcement training in your daily life

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for any veterinary professional, including technicians, veterinarians, and veterinary assistants. Trainers who work with vets, or pet owners who would like to improve their pets’ behavior during veterinary visits, will also benefit. No previous training experience is necessary.

Enrollment Schedule

Enroll online and start the course any time after you enroll. Once you have completed the enrollment process, you will be given access to the course and can begin right away! You will have access to the course for one year.

Required Materials

  • A computer with high-speed Internet access
  • A modern web browser. We test with the latest versions of Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari.
  • Support for Adobe PDF documents (the latest version of Adobe Reader or Mac OS X Preview)
  • Access to at least one dog or cat you can train regularly

Additional Details

Course Guide

Continuing Education Units

  • The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) awards 21 CEUs.
  • The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) awards 16 CEUs.
  • Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) awards 21 CEUs.
  • This program was reviewed and approved by AAVSB RACE program for 12 hours of continuing education in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval. Please contact the AAVSB RACE program if you have any comments/concerns regarding this program’s validity or relevancy to the veterinary profession..

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