Socialising a slighter older dog to the vets

Re: Socialising a slighter older dog to the vets

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:36:04 GMT

The owners are coming in on a saturday afternoon, so it is (usually) nice and quiet! Our nurse consult room is not to far off being the same size as the waiting room, but we are working on the waiting room too - reception keep a tin of treats behind the desk for that reason! I did suggest to the owners bringing the dog into the waiting room as part of its daily walking route, but they live too far away for that to be a possibilty.

Thanks for all the advice guys, and hopefully we shall have a very happy yorkie soon!

Jenny

Re: Socialising a slighter older dog to the vets

Apple27surf — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:48:57 GMT

Clicker training is extremely useful and using positive reinforcement when dog is calm and relaxed in the veterinary environment. It sounds as though the little yorkie has already made some progress. The key is patience and consistency and it sounds as though the owners are really up for working hard to achieve their goal which is half the battle won! Fingers crossed it continues to improve!

Re: Socialising a slighter older dog to the vets

Maisy — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:42:12 GMT

I tend to also advise owners to bring their dog in during quiet parts of the day when no consults are on, just to sit in the waiting room and be rewarded when good. Consult rooms tend to be small and quite restrictive for scared dogs (even tiny Yorkies!) whereas the waiting room is often better for them to build their confidence as its larger. The consult room door can be left open so the owner can walk in with the dog every so often but generally these things take a good few months for improvements. It also helps if other practice staff are conscientious of this and willing to help out, and not see the client coming in often as a burden (as one of our receptionists did ).

Re: Socialising a slighter older dog to the vets

Faye Sewell — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:18:33 GMT

Hi Jenny

I have a 3yr old Goldie who hated vets when I got her, she had been pinned to grooming tables to have her ears cleaned, she didnt have aggresive fear, just fear of everything and everyone!. You coudlnt get near her ears and would trust a vet.

I used simular episodes like you are but also did clicker training especially when cleaning her ears had to right back to clicking for her touching the cotton wool etc etc.

She now loves have her ears cleaned (took 6 months of hard work) and loves vets, she comes to work with me every day!

Best of luck, keep trying, sounds like the owners are on the ball!