How do I get my dog to be more comfortable at the vets?
1. Make trips to the vet office just for fun.
2. After many short, fast trips to the vets', ask your vet if you could bring your
dog in for a fake visit... have your dog wait in the room, and reward him/her
for being calm and then leave.
3. Repeat step three until you feel your dog may be ready to have a vet tech come
into the room. Only have the vet tech reward the dog, then leave.
4. Repeat this exercises until your dog is very comfortable with this, and then
have the vet come in and do the same..... reward/present very special treats and
then leave.
5. While you are working on desensitizing your dog to going to the vet, work on
desensitizing him/her to being handled (for check up) at home. You can do this
by conducting fake check ups daily.... especially before feeding time. Purchase
a stethoscope from Toys R Us or a toy shop for kids, and use this to listen to
your dogs breathing, and pulse.
6. Have all members of the family conduct check up routine while one person holds
dog in position.
7. As your dog becomes comfortable with the procedure at home, try and have your
vet or vet tech conduct a short fake check up.... and be sure to jackpot good
behavior by dishing out plenty of yummy treats.
Keep it short, pleasant and use plenty of rewards.
Dog Responsibly....University of Doglando
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