S27C - Canine Consent: The Role of Choice in Domestic Dog Welfare

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

10:35 AM – 11:25 AM

Location: Mandalay Bay L, Level 2

Earn 1 CE Hours

Sponsored By

HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND ASSOCIATION, WVC

Presenter(s)

Brie Blakeman, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA (she/her/hers)

Founder/ Behavior Consultant
Noble Woof Dog Training, Oregon, United States

Handouts

Moderator(s)

Ann Bastian, VMD

Associate veterinarian
Ann E. Bastian, VMD
Blandon, PA, United States

A key step towards improved domestic dog welfare is the provision of space for dogs to exercise their agency and offer consent. Reinforcing their choice to participate or to not participate communicates not only that they have a choice, but also that we respect what they choose and that we support them in the act of choosing itself rather than just the outcome. In the veterinary context, dogs can be given the opportunity to consent to entering exam rooms, receiving examinations and treatment.

Learning Objectives:

Define canine consent
Defend the importance of consent for domestic dog welfare
Conceptualize how practices of consent can be integrated or expanded in their practice