When taking a pup to the vet - Page 1

I'm curious what all you guys do when taking your pup to the vet. As in, while you have to wait to go back to the room, whether there are other dogs near or not; Also while in the waiting room, what things do you guys do maybe in the way of training, focus, etc?

How young are you talking I would be interested too what people do as my young ones never see a vet until time for a rabies shot. Then they are supposed to have age

appropriate  manners that are practiced if needed.

I try my best to keep my dogs attention on me, or on a toy or treat. My dog has manners and will behave in a waiting room situation but if other dogs or animals are acting or barking he will become uneasy.

I usually bring a toy and a small handful of treats. I bring his favorite toy, one that doesn't squeak or make too much noise so I don't bother other dogs or people. I bring small training treats, that helps him behave and keep his attention on me. When he starts to act up or get uneasy, I command him to give me eye contact and then I treat him. If he successfully turns his attention away from whatever is distracting him to me I reward him.

I usually command him to either sit facing me or to lie down as soon as we get into the waiting room.

Coming from someone who works in a vets office, don't excite your dog in the waiting room, don't start roughhousing with him/her don't cause him/her to bark this will set of a chain reaction with the other pets in the area and then you will never get them calmed down.

If your pet is nervous, which is common. Dogs feed off one another and if there are nervous dogs in the area he/she may feel that way too. Reassure them, give them positive feelings.

My dogs have never been interested in eating treats at the vets.

I always get them onto the weighing machine scale. I like to lead them in a heel or get them in motion to casually step onto the scale. When they have four feet on, I tell them stand. But if they sit, that works too, lol, so long as they stay. I then let the tech know the weight I took when it is our turn. They always seem happy to accept my numbers.

While waiting I only allow my dogs to sit or lay down next to me. Just keep things calm and uneventful.

Interesting, thanks you guys. My older dog is used to going to various place and working; I've done a good deal of work with her; I'm taking a "little one"(9weeks) to get the second vaccination in about an hour. I haven't brought him to a place that is so "doggy" so to speak, yet. He's been to various stores and I have worked with him in them over the past week and done very well, very confident. Was just looking to see in an environment like this.

He will be curious, and cant blame him, its going to be very new and interesting.
Bring him a nice ball or toy that doesn't make too much noise to keep his attention, and if he starts to get too crazy call his attention back to you by calling his name or commanding him to make eye contact.

This sound kind of rude to do but I always recommend this to people who bring puppies to a vets office. Do not let other people play with him, touch him or love on him. Like human babies, other people can expose them to Parvo, distemper or other illness. If another person's dog carries an airborne illness, and they have been petting all over it and then they come over and pet on your pet, well then, you can guess the rest. I don't bring my puppies anywhere but to the vet until they are vaccinated and Titer tested. I always ask politely "please don't pet him/her, she/he hasn't been vaccinated yet"

Maybe its because I work for a vets office and I see this happen a lot, but I watch people drop off a puppy with parvo and then walk out to the waiting room and touch every dog on the way out.

ShirosOhana I may be different than that as far as where I take my pup at this age. Though, I understand that concern.

Just got back, he did awesome. We did some basic commands that I've started teaching him(still with treats, I haven't had him that long) and I took him to the scale with the vet and vet techs there, and they talked to me, and pet him. I have made it a habit for him, if someone wants to pet him, he must be in a sit, which, worked very well for him. He was curious of things, not really afraid. When walking back to the scale he saw a cat, which, he wanted to go play with. In every way he did better than I expected for a place like that.

That's good to hear! I wish more people would practice good vet habits, I see dogs everyday that are so very untrained and their owners are allowing them to jump on people, vet techs and the vet, I see dogs growling at other dogs and the owners not paying attention. Having good manners at the vet is appreciated by vet and vet techs everywhere. I promise.

Im glad he did good, and he will get better over time.

It is so much better to train a pup to walk onto the scale. It seems inconsequential when they are 9 weeks old. And one might simply pick them up and plop them on! Fast forward to three ot five years if they now weigh over eighty pounds and they suddenly put the breaks on!

When it comes to "taking a pup to the vet" for core vaccinations at 8th, 12th & 16th week, I act a bit paranoid (none of my dogs have ever contacted parvo or anything deadly in their lives except one fatal closed pyometra). So, the pup stays on my (or my wife's) lap the whole period from out of the car to back to the car. The vet doesn't mind, but if they HAVE TO be down, out comes a towel on which only they will stand, sit or lie down.

By the time for rabies, they already know how to behave, or how to get weighed.