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Creating a Pet-Friendly Hospital, Animal Shelter, or Petcare Business (CDPS112) Self Study

This course is a self-paced, non-interactive course.

Presenter: Sophia Yin, DVM, CAAB, M.S. Animal Science (1966-2014)
Course Open: January 1, 2023-April 30, 2025
Total CE Credit: 4.5
RACE Category: 4.5 hours Medical


Enroll Now  

Tuition: VIN/VSPN Member $88
Prices are listed in US dollars.


Course Information:
Creating a "pet-friendly" hospital, shelter, or Petcare business is a simple, inexpensive path to improved efficiency, increased staff safety, happy pets, and clients who feel a bond with your business. Learn how in this fun and fascinating series of lectures taken from a half-day seminar given by veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and author, Dr. Sophia Yin.

Lectures Include:
  • Recognizing Brewing Fear and Aggression in Dogs and Cats (CDPS100) Self Study
  • Rapid Reversal of Fear and Aggression in Dogs and Cats (CDPS101) Self Study
  • Low Stress Handling™ & Restraint of Difficult Dogs and Cats (CDPS102) Self Study

To earn a certificate of completion the participant must complete all learning modules and score 80% or better on the end-of-course test. Completion of the course will take a minimum of 271 minutes. Participants must complete the participation requirements by April 30, 2025 to be eligible for a certificate.

To learn more about the requirements for earning a Self Study CE certificate, please refer to Self Study CE Certificate Requirements.


Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to
  • Recognize the overt and subtle signs of fear and anxiety in dogs and cats.
  • Identify the common errors people make that may lead a dog or cat to be more fearful or aggressive.
  • Learn how to approach fearful and aggressive dogs and cats in a non-threatening and safe manner so that the pet feels calm and secure.
  • Recognize how unruly behavior and overarousal can lead to aggression and learn the general approach to addressing these issues.
  • Learn the 4 methods of behavior modification: flooding, desensitization, classical counter-conditioning, and operant counterconditioning.
  • Understand why desensitization and counterconditioning are generally safer, faster, and more effective than flooding, which can be associated with adverse effects.
  • See the common mistakes that people make when trying to desensitize and counter-condition.
  • Discover the factors that are essential for performing the techniques safely and efficiently.
  • Learn how the sights, sounds, smells, and surfaces in your practice may be increasing stress in your patients. Find ways to create a calm, safe, and secure environment.
  • Understand how every interaction - how you approach animals, pick them up, move them from place to place, or restrain them - affects the animal's perception of your and his willingness to cooperate.
  • Realize that animals don't understand human language, and how miscommunication can cause them to become frustrated and confused. Learn the principles of how to position your body, place your hands, and adjust your movement to provide the direction and guidance the animal needs.


Level and Prerequisites: This basic VIN CE self-study course is open for enrollment to veterinarians, veterinary technicians/technologists, and veterinary support personnel interested in creating a pet friendly hospital, animal shelter, or pet care business.
This course is open to VIN and VSPN members only.
Credit Approval: This non-interactive course is approved for 4.5 hours of continuing education credit by RACE for veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists. (RACE 20-930999)
This course is approved by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers® (CCPDT®)


Course Agenda:

Module 1: Low Stress Handling™ and Restraint of Difficult Dogs and Cats
Total Time: 82 minutes
Video: 72 minutes
Module Test: 10 minutes
Description: Are you routinely scruffing, stretching, or struggling with cats, or do you find that you have difficulty with hyperactive, fearful, or aggressive dogs? Learn Low Stress Handling™ techniques that apply to even the most difficult patients. From creating a calm, inviting environment, to using towel wrap techniques, to multiple methods for handling pets of different sizes and temperaments, you'll learn principles and techniques that will allow you to adjust to the patient's needs. Put it all together and you'll create a more Pet-Friendly hospital.

Module 2: Rapid Reversal of Fear and Aggression in Dogs and Cats
Total Time: 85 minutes
Video: 75 minutes
Module Test: 10 minutes
Description: Flooding, desensitization, classical counter-conditioning and operant counterconditioning are the 4 methods of behavior modification; but which one should you use? Many people are familiar with the terms and techniques but may lack the full knowledge needed to apply them appropriately. Improper or unskilled application can cause animals' behavior to worsen. Discover how understanding the underlying principles and observing the animal's response can increase your level and speed of success.

Module 3: Recognizing Brewing Fear and Aggression in Dogs and Cats
Total Time: 89 minutes
Video: 79 minutes
Module Test: 10 minutes
Description: Dog and cat bites are the most common cause of injury in the veterinary hospital or pet care setting. Failure to recognize the subtle indicators of fear and anxiety, paired with improper handling, can lead to animals who may leave medically better, but behaviorally worse. See how a more skilled approach to interacting with these pets will help you quickly win their trust, allowing you to avert potentially dangerous and stressful situations.

Module 4: End of Course Test
Total Time: 15 minutes
Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course.

Module 5: Course Evaluation

To learn more about the requirements for earning a Self Study CE certificate, please refer to Self Study CE Certificate Requirements.


Enroll Now  

Tuition: VIN/VSPN Member $88
Prices are listed in US dollars.


*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

Enrollment qualifications for Self Study CE:
  1. VIN CE Courses:
    1. VIN CE courses are open to VIN members.
    2. Veterinary support staff must be VSPN members in order to enroll in a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
  2. VSPN CE Courses:
    1. VSPN CE courses are open to veterinary support staff and veterinarians.
    2. Only VIN and VSPN members can enroll in a VSPN CE course.
    3. Veterinarians will only receive credit for those VSPN CE courses that specify in the Accreditation statement that the course is accredited for veterinarians.
  3. Please check the course Level and Prerequisites, Accreditation, and Tuition before enrolling.
  4. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses.
    1. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
  5. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email CEonVIN@vin.com. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.


Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to starting the course. If you wish to withdraw after you have started this self-study course, please contact the VSPN office 800-846-0028, ext. 797 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

*For more information on VIN's upcoming CE courses, check the VIN Course Catalog.

Katherine James, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)
VIN Education Director

VIN CE Services:
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 797
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357