Just like people, dogs need to have checkups too. Unfortunately, just like people, there are a lot of dogs that don’t particularly like going to the vet for those checkups. If your dog seems to have an aversion to the vet’s office, they may have a problem with touch sensitivity. If that’s the case, there might be some things that you can do as the owner to help them ease into it a bit. Blitz K9 Club is here to share some tips to help the vet be a better experience for you and your dog.
How to Help Your Dog Have a Positive Vet Experience
For your dog, there are likely sounds, smells and sights at the vet that can be scary. This is especially true for dogs that don’t like to be touched by others. However, there are things that you can do as the owner to help them feel more comfortable around their veterinarian. This can help create a positive experience for everyone involved.
– Bring Dog Treats: Not every treat that you give your dog is going to be a high value treat. You need to take a few different options with you when you go to the vet. You will want low, medium and high value treats to help the appointment go smoother.
– Start with Low Value Treats: When you first enter the clinic, start out giving your dog a low value treat, like small pieces of their kibble. This can be helpful for dogs that are motivated by treats. As your dog starts to be handled by the vet, you can start giving the higher value treats. With every touch of the vet, giving your dog a small treat can be a way to help them feel calmer about the experience.
– Fear-Free Visits: If you have a dog that struggles when the vet handles them, you might want to consider having fear-free visits so that the dog can see that the vet isn’t always going to be a negative experience. You need to make sure that your vet is willing to do these visits as not all vets are on board.
Consider Behavior Modification Training
If you have a touch sensitive dog that you are struggling with, it might be time to do some behavior modification training to help them overcome this problem. There are training programs designed to help you and your dog live in harmony and give you the ability to take your dog to the vet without worrying that they can’t handle it.
Dog Obedience, Socialization & Behavioral Training in Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills, Pontiac, Commerce Township and other areas within an hour of our home base of Waterford, Michigan
If you have a dog that is struggling with a difficult behavior, you can turn to Blitz K9 Club to help you overcome these obstacles with your dog. We will teach them positive behaviors that can help them overcome issues like touch sensitivity so that you no longer have to struggle with this together. Call us today!
