Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the methods to teach dogs to voluntarily immerse (dunk) their head in a container of water, and to identify the 3 indications for voluntary head dunk: to clear a dog’s nostrils of dust/debris, flush a dog’s eyes, and cool a dog after exercise.
ANIMALS
Dogs.
METHODS
With the use of cooperative care and positive reinforcement training, the dog is taught to retrieve a toy or treat from a bucket or large container. Clean, room temperature water is added stepwise until the dog is comfortable immersing its nose and blowing bubbles or immersing its head to retrieve the toy or treat. The training may require minutes, weeks, or months, depending on the dog’s motivation.
RESULTS
Voluntary head dunk can remove dust and debris from the nasal passages and eyes and can facilitate cooling, especially after exercise. Positive reinforcement creates a cooperative environment in which first aid can be effectively administered. Contraindications include treatment of heat stroke, persistent or serious nasal or ocular discharge, or dogs that are uncomfortable or unable to dunk their heads.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Pet owners and handlers of working dogs or canine athletes can teach their dogs to head dunk and implement this first aid technique for exercise-related cooling or ocular/nasal flush, even in environments with limited resources. Some dogs may be rapidly trained in the veterinary environment as an initial approach to a nasal or ocular flush. Cooperative care provides an effective intervention that preserves and enhances the human-animal bond.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge Wise Photography for video production.
Disclosures
The authors have nothing to disclose. No AI-assisted technologies were used in the generation of this abstract or video.
Funding
Funding was provided by the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation Grant No. 03077-A.
ORCID
References
Parnes SC, Mallikarjun A, Ramos MT, Capparell TR, Otto CM. Voluntary head dunking after exercise-induced hyperthermia rapidly reduces core body temperature in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. Published online September 18, 2024. doi:10.2460/javma.24.06.0368
