TIPS AND TRICKS TO HANDLE YOUR DOG'S VISIT TO THE VET WITHOUT UNNECESSARY FEAR

Trips to the vet are not popular with dogs, and both they and their owners can be stressed. But with a little preparation and training, traumatic visits can become a routine affair that leaves the dog (and therefore you) alone. Here are some exercises to make your visit easier.

TOUCH GAME

The human hand should be nothing for animals to fear. On the contrary, she should know that she will satiate them and caress them pleasantly. Unfortunately, nothing is ideal, so there are many dogs who have a bad experience with people and are afraid of being touched. Such a condition will not help you much at the vet, on the contrary, it can make the fear even stronger. Fortunately, you can practice the touch of a stranger's hand with a fun game.

Stand near your dog and put your open palm in front of him . Wait until he examines it, when he smells it or touches it with his nose, reward him with small ones a treat and praise Then put your hand behind your back for a few seconds and repeat the whole game. When the dog approaches the hand and sniffs it whenever you present it in front of him, name the command eg hand. Again, repeat several times so that the dog gets used to the fact that when you say "hand", the dog can calmly sniff the hand and knows that it will not hurt him.

Most dogs reflexively back away from approaching hands. This exercise can help your dog form a positive association with touch . Try having the vet say "hand" and touch your dog before starting the exam.

EYES, EARS, MOUTH, NOSE

Paws, ears, teeth and eyes are very sensitive places of dogs, which are seldom treated voluntarily. Unfortunately, these are precisely the places where inflammation or various injuries often occur. Here, too, it is easy to train the dog to remain calm and not bark every time the vet looks into his ears.

Treats will help again. Every time you touch the dog's body parts and he remains calm, pull out the reward and praise him verbally. He may be defensive at first, so don't push him and give him time. Your goal is to teach him that if he allows himself to be treated in peace, he will be rewarded . Definitely don't punish him if it doesn't go well for him for a while, otherwise he would associate the manipulation with an unpleasant experience and his reactions would get even worse.

FUN IN THE WAITING ROOM

The longer you are in the waiting room at the vet, the more nervous the dog can be. Try to distract him and distract him. Feel free to bring treats or favorite toy . You can also pass the time by trying different commands just for fun not to let the furry one fall into anxiety and fear of the upcoming examination .