by Jennifer Vensel

Created on: September 15, 2009   Last Updated: September 17, 2009

Dogs rely on a routine in their life, and if you have a pretty healthy dog, visiting the vet is not part of his routine. It can be pretty scary for your dog. When he enters that big waiting room, and there are other dogs, lots of smells, and tall strange people, he gets confused. Your dog doesn't know whether to fight or flight. His nerve factor goes off the charts and unpredictable behaviors can ensue. Luckily, most dogs are trainable and they can learn to be as comfortable in the vet's office as their own bed.

The most important thing you can do to help your dog at the vet is stay calm. Your dog loves you and protects you. If he senses your distress he will immediately go into protective mode. Whatever it takes for you to be calm in public, stay calm. This will enable you to focus on your dog and try to distract him from his own fear.

Treats, treats, treats and constant praise. If you feed your dog the recommended does on dog, your dog can afford to eat treats when you are trying to train him. Buy some small healthy no preservative treats. Keep a little pouch of treats with you. Reward your dog's good behavior at home with treats. When you take him to the vet, also reward his good behavior with treats.

Get your dog use to riding in your car. Don't just have your dog in your car when you go to the vet. He then will associate the car with something that makes him nervous. Go to the dog park, or drive him to another area to walk him. This way he will get to socialize with other dogs this is good and associate the car with fun things. Some dogs just like to ride in the car and feel the wind in their face. It is the cutest thing to watch. If your worried about your car just bring a blanket and cover the seats. Also, talk positively to your dog in your car. Praising him, loving him the same way you do in your home. Please don't ever leave a dog unattended in a vehicle.

When you are in the vet, keep a your dog either in a cage which avoids any potential problems, or keep a tight leash on him. What I mean by this is just wrap the leash around your hand and make sure the leash is short and your dog is right next to you. Don't let your dog wander around on a long leash where they are smelling all over the vet, you never know when a big or small dog might come in and anger your dog for some uncontrollable reason.

That big silver table in the vet room is pretty cold and intimidating. Bring a towel with you for your dog to sit on. This way your dog will be comfortable while waiting for his turn. The bag of treats and lots of positive reinforcement also works in this room. Your dog loves your voices so constantly talk to him and pet him.

Of course if your dog is a female do all the same things. Important things to remember are bag of treats, positive, reinforcement, and keeping your animal close to you. These three things if nothing else will keep your dog behaving as an angel when they go to the vet.

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