by Janet Farricelli CPDT-KA

Created on: September 14, 2009   Last Updated: November 10, 2009

There are not many places dreaded in a dog's eye as the infamous vet's office. You can literally almost '' smell'' the tension in the air as you witness dogs shivering with tails between their legs and with large eyes full of fear. These poor canines after all, are right to be scared, with their sensitive noses they may smell blood, fear, illness and even death. To make things worse, quite fearful dogs release anal gland secretions which other dogs detect, causing them to become tense and quite fearful as well.

So even the most composed dogs may eventually misbehave in a quite tense setting as the vet's office. Yet, owners may really do a lot to help their canine friends behave and make the vet visits more pleasant. Following are some considerations dog owners should keep in mind each time that dreaded vet appointment comes right around the corner.

-Make Vet Visits Pleasant

It may sound easier said than done, but ultimately it can be accomplished. First and foremost, getting the dog used to the vet since the dog is a puppy may be very helpful. The puppy should be praised lavishly and greeted by staff in order to make the puppy love the clinic. Adult dogs may benefit from ''fake vet trips''. In other words, the dog is taken there, greeted by the staff and praised but no office visit takes place. This will help the dog associate the vet with a positive experience when the real vet visit takes place.

-Play Doctor When Possible

Every now and then, play doctor with your dog or ask for a friend to play the role. Put your dog on the table and mimic all the things the vet does. Make sure your dog allows to have the mouth checked, body touched all over and stands still will out putting up a struggle. Always praise your dog for behaving. You can also mimic a shot by taking an empty needle or a pencil and pinching the dogs skin lightly to mimic the dreaded injections. Always praise good behaviors.

-Socialize Your Dog

Generally, the more social your dog the better he will behave at the vet's office. You want a dog that gets along with other dogs and people because not in many settings will your dog get in contact with other people and dogs in such a small area. However, some dogs may really not be able to get along with all dogs.

-Walk Your Dog

A tired dog is a good dog. Before taking your dog to the vet take your dog for a very long walk. This will help release tension and allow the dog to be a bit more relaxed. Walking your dog should also stimulate your dog to go potty

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