As pet owners, we all love to see our dogs happy and relaxed. However, there are some situations, like a visit to the vet, that can be very upsetting for our dogs. Therefore, knowing how to calm a dog down is essential during potentially stressful times, such as a trip to see the vet!
For many dogs going to the vet can be a stressful time. This, in turn, makes it a very awkward and stressful time for the owner and can make examining your dog very difficult for your veterinarian. In extreme cases, skittish dogs may require sedation for simple routine procedures and examinations.
Learn how to calm your dog down with the following tips and make the next visit to the vet clinic an enjoyable one – for you AND your dog!
Be Your Pet’s Safety Net
Unless given a good reason not to, dogs love and trust their owners unconditionally. Therefore, reassurance from someone they have a strong bond with is one of the most effective ways to calm a dog down.
Your dog’s attachment and trust in you will provide comfort even in new places! Nurture this relationship by regularly going on adventures to new environments, plenty of play, and snuggles!
Get The Basics Right!
It can never be overstated, a well-trained puppy grows into a well-balanced dog. A happier, calmer, and well-behaved dog. Puppy training has so many benefits!
Utilize your ability to “snap your dog into learning mode” with your clicker, or practice your dog’s ability to “sit”. Giving your dog clear commands will not only make them easier to handle but give them something to focus on.
We have some simple ‘Sit’ command instructions in our post Best Way To Train A Puppy if you need to refresh these commands.
How To Calm A Dog At The Vets
Keep in mind, that your vet loves having happy, confident dogs to examine! One very simple trick that works well is to take your dog to the Vet clinic for “social visits”. Tell the clinic why you are there, they won’t mind at all, and let your dog have a good sniff around.
Get your dog to sit and reward them with a treat if they obey. Reassure them if they don’t and try again. This is a great way to show your pet that not everything that happens here is scary!
Arrive Early And Keep Your Dog Close
No one likes feeling rushed and your dog is no different! Allow plenty of time, try not to be rushing at home to get your dog into the car. They may well begin to panic and/or get all hyped up all the rushed activity.
Arrive at the Vet clinic slightly before your allotted appointment time so your dog can enter in its own time. Keep them nice and close to you while providing them with plenty of reassurance! And remember to reward them for good behavior.
WARNING: If your dog is going in for a medical intervention/surgery and you had been instructed not to feed your dog, then obviously you wouldn’t give them treats. Hold them close and reassure them with pats and cuddles etc
Keep Calm And Doggy On
One of the most amazing things about dogs is how in tune they can be with our emotions. It has been said that dogs are more in tune with our emotions than we are ourselves – something I know from my own experience.
With this in mind, we must always remember that our dog will be very sensitive to our stress levels! If you are stressed, it is very likely your dog will pick up on this stress and become stressed themselves.
Particularly if you are rushed and something different is happening. Your dog will be thinking, we don’t normally go for a car ride at this time of day. Why am I in my grate? What’s all the panic? This can’t be good…
So try to stay calm with your dog and focus on reassuring them, if you are calm they will pick up on this.
“Head To Tail” Checks At Home
As you can see there is no big “secret” about how to calm a dog down prior to a trip to see the Vet. It’s all about not letting your dog get stressed in the first place. Which starts with proper puppy training, and YOUR behavior.
However, we have one last tip on how to calm a dog down before going to the Vet. Something that you can do well before you ever need to visit the Vet. It also helps to reinforce the bond between a dog and its owner(s).
Get your dog used to head-to-tail checks. Regularly incorporate a full body check on your dog, starting when they are still a puppy. Get into the habit of daily petting, running your hands over all their body and limbs, gently squeezing the paws, feeling between the toes, around their mouth, rubbing a finger over their teeth.
By making this a normal occurrence you not only reduce stress for them but make your vet’s job a lot easier!
Summary
Knowing how to calm a dog down before a visit to the vet clinic can make going for a checkup an enjoyable trip for your dog, the vet, and you!
Remember
- Use commands to keep your dog focused on you
- Reassure your dog with pats, snuggles, and treats
- Make the most out of your dog’s sense of adventure, regularly visit the vet clinic and new environments
- Use daily pats as a way to get your dog used to full body checks
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