Dear Miss Behavin’: Bringing our last dog to the vet was a serious ordeal. He hated going and always seemed to know when we were headed there instead of the park-not to mention the dramatics he put on once we arrived! We just got an eight week old puppy and we’d really like to avoid having the same issues. How do we get our new puppy Spud to love vet visits?
Kudos to you for being proactive and training from such a young age! Introducing your puppy to new experiences at their own pace and making them fun will go a long way towards creating a well-rounded, confident and happy adult dog.
Simply put, the best way to make your dog enjoy the vet is to make the vet enjoyable. Most clinics are happy to have clients bring their pets in regularly to desensitize them to the environment and smells, whether or not you have an appointment. Give them a call ahead of time as a courtesy and start small-your first visit might just be walking into the lobby and asking the receptionist to give Spud a tasty treat. As your puppy gets more comfortable with the staff and space, you can begin training him to do things like walk onto and sit on the scale. Ask the clinic if you can go into some of the exam rooms to do a bit of training or play. Add in some handling exercises as you go, so Spud sees physical exams as a normal activity. Always be sure to end on a positive note, so if something startles Spud while you’re there, try to play a fun game or do a little bit of training to get him back on track and happy before leaving. More positive experiences with the staff and environment will translate to more comfort and relaxation on return visits. Don’t forget to employ the same techniques on yourself if you’ve been conditioned to be anxious at vet visits. Treat yourself to something you enjoy each time you go and you might be surprised how well it works!