Fear Free Boarding & Daycare Certification

Module 1: Body Language and the Fundamentals of Fear Free

• Overview of Fear Free Movement

  • Aims to protect and promote the emotional wellbeing of animals across veterinary, grooming, training, and shelter services.
  • Involves multiple species and focuses on improving the lives of animals in care settings.

• Role of Boarding and Daycare Professionals

  • Provide ongoing oversight and care for animals, crucial in identifying behavioral and health concerns.
  • Significant emotional and physical wellbeing benefits for the animals cared for, leading to smoother interactions.

• Positive Impacts of Fear Free Approaches

  • Reduction of stress leads to improved cooperation and trust, enhancing both animal and caretaker experiences.
  • Helps reconnect caretakers with compassion towards animals, leading to overall positive changes for clients and pets.

• Business & Ethical Benefits

  • Implementing Fear Free practices is ethically responsible and beneficial for business by increasing client loyalty and allowing for premium pricing on services.
  • Ultimately, client satisfaction hinges on their pet’s happiness and safety, rewarding Fear Free service facilities.

• Course Aims

  • Prepare boarding and daycare professionals with knowledge in animal behavior, how to identify and reduce fear and anxiety in pets, and the importance of utilizing enrichment.

• Module Breakdown

  • Module 1: Body Language and Fear Free Core Concepts
  • Module 2: Fear Free Facility Setup
  • Module 3: Group Play and Dog-to-Dog Interactions
  • Module 4: Training and Behavior Basics for Boarding and Daycare
  • Module 5: Physical Care, Illness, and Administering Meds

Lesson 1: The Impact of Fear, Anxiety, and Stress (FAS)

• Understanding FAS

  • Defines FAS as fear, anxiety, and stress affecting animals leading to possible health and behavioral issues.
  • Fear is an immediate emotional response to perceived threats, while anxiety is a forward-looking concern about potential threats.
  • Stress is an emotional strain worsened by adverse situations, which can be categorized as eustress (positive) or distress (negative).

• Behavioral Responses to FAS

  • Recognize early signs of FAS to prevent escalation into more severe stress states like distress or aggression.
  • Stressors may be environmental (temperature, noise), physiological (pain), or psychosocial (interaction with others).

• Chronic Stress

  • Extended exposure to stressful conditions leading to detrimental behavioral changes and wellbeing crises.
  • Importance of identifying and managing not only the animal's emotional state but also underlying physical health issues.

Lesson 2: Body Language 101

• Importance of Body Language

  • Understanding animal body language helps in identifying emotional states to prevent FAS.
  • Essential skills include observatory practices such as assessing posture, hair coat, eye expression, ear position, mouth, and tail.

• Four F's of Fear Responses

  • Fret/Fidget: Signs of unease such as pacing or panting.
  • Freeze: Animals become unresponsive, resembling compliance when that may indicate fear.
  • Flight: Indicating a need to escape, such as hiding or attempting to run away.
  • Fight: Displaying aggression to defend against perceived threats.

• Responding to Body Language

  • Adjust care approaches according to observed body language to ensure emotional safety for pets.

Lesson 3: Considerate Approach

• Definition of Considerate Approach

  • Prioritizes the animal's experience over mere procedural handling, reducing stress and promoting a calm environment.

• Practical Applications

  • Introduce calming scents, create a welcoming environment, and engage with pets on their terms. Employ non-threatening body positions when greeting animals.

Lesson 4: Gentle Control and Touch Gradient

• Gentle Control

  • Prioritizes the emotional state, ensuring pets are handled with minimal physical restraint, using calming methods and positive distractions instead.

• Touch Gradient

  • Initiates contact slowly, starting with less invasive areas, moving gradually to where treatment occurs, minimizing fear responses.

Lesson 5: Arrival at the Facility

• Minimizing Stress During Arrival

  • Strategies for a calm check-in process, minimizing waiting times in potentially stressful areas, and ensuring pets feel safe and supported.

• Final Thoughts

  • Attendance to early signs of FAS is crucial to maintaining animal welfare.
  • The frameworks of Considerate Approach, Gentle Control, and understanding FAS are essential for providing a protective and supportive environment for the pets in care.