<p>Companion dogs require medical and husbandry care throughout their lives for good welfare; however, the majority of dogs engage in veterinary-related problem behaviors. These problem behaviors increase dog caretakers’ avoidance of veterinary medical care and likely affect access to medical care for the dog, thus potentially reducing health and welfare. The purpose of this study was to develop and analyze a protocol meant to teach caretakers how to teach their dogs to engage in a “cooperative care” ear cleaning protocol. Instructional phases included teaching the dog to hold their chin on a small mat (“chin rest”), wiping the dog’s ears, and also putting ear drops in the ears. The protocol used differential reinforcement and let the dog choose whether to participate in each trial. The protocol was efficacious for teaching both caretakers and dogs to consistently engage in the procedure, caretakers were able to engage in the protocol with high procedural fidelity, and the protocol had high social validity with caretakers.</p>