Layla Gets a Shot

Layla needs to start allergy hyposensitization shots, which will in the beginning stages require a sub-q injection twice a day.

Knowing that this would be impossible without preparing ahead of time (she's incredibly anxious and resistant to any husbandry behaviors), I started practicing with saline injections, using the clicker to shape acceptance of the procedure. At first we started with simply pulling up a small bit of skin before I would click/treat, then poking her with a capped needle, then a mechanical pencil, then a paper clip, and finally poking her with a real needle.

Once she could accept the needle pokes, I built up duration so she would accept having up to 1 ml of fluid injected.

This entire program was done with her off-leash and free to leave at any time. She's still not comfortable with the injections, but she's able to tolerate them and even gets excited enough to run to her spot when I bring out her special treats (big chunks of freeze-dried tripe, dehydrated liver, or lung).

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• clicker training
• dog training
• dogs
• shots
• allergy shots
• off leash training

[appaloosatb]

@watchmoivies123 Hi Kim,

She will need allergy shots for over a year, but the shots will gradually become spaced further apart so she's not getting two a day. Eventually we'll get down to a couple shots a month.

[watchmoivies123]

Oh this is GREAT~

How long does she need them?

Kim