Dog training and veterinary visits

Today we had to take some x-rays on a dog that was very young and of course – he did not want to hold still. In fact, he thought it was pretty outrageous that we were laying him on his side, holding his back feet, front feet and head. So of course he began struggling, yipping and nipping at our hands. Was this a fight for life or death? As far as he was concerned, it might be. We let him go, and he jumped right back in my arms, seeking comfort after such a scary situation. All was forgiven and he was back to being his sweet, happy self, giving puppy kisses, pouncing around and showing us his “sit” for a treat. Stopping the restraint was important because had we continued, we would have risked breaking this puppy’s trust, and he would have learned that day that restraint is a bad thing, that the vet’s office is a scary place, and everything here is a threat.

This kind of situation happens all the time. Nail trims are the most common occurrence – an owner wants their pet’s nails trimmed, but their dog is terrified. Could we just hold them down and do it? Sure. Some nails might get quicked during the struggle but at least they’re trimmed…right? I mean yes – they will be trimmed. However, your dog will not only leave terrified, but also having learned that nail trimming, and everything that leads to it (coming into the clinic, the assistants, the restraint, the muzzle) is terrifying. The next time it’s time for a nail trim, they will be more scared, and they will express that fear in any number of ways. Some dogs cower and freeze while others become aggressive and often unhandleable over time. Now when your dog needs to come in for vaccines, a torn toe nail, a general wellness…anything really – they will always be ready for a fight to defend themselves because they learned that that is what happens here at this scary place. Any experience for dogs (and cats) whether it’s good or bad, is a learning opportunity. 

At Arrowleaf Veterinary we want our patients to learn to trust us, to know that it’s safe here, and that they will not be forced to endure torture (read: nail trims). To achieve this goal, we have yummy treats around, we keep everything as clean, quiet and calm as we can, we use pheromone sprays, take it slow, introduce ourselves and continually put in an effort to understand each individual patient and how best to handle them in a way that will not make them fearful, or reinforce their existing fears.

We offer our nervous and shy patients anti-anxiety medication or light sedation for their visits if needed – including new patient exams. It makes such a big difference in how dogs experience their visit. Even if your dog has always hated coming to the vet, we don’t want to keep reinforcing their fears. We love doing “happy visits” and meet and greets.

On Mondays, Kelsie from Kind Animal Services offers training sessions at our clinic to help dogs feel calmer and more confident when they are here. I did a little interview with her about some common questions/misconceptions about dog training, how it can help to train your dog specifically related to clinic visits. 

Q: Why should I train my dog? Usually the staff at the hospital can just hold them down and get it done. 

A: Dog training is so much more than teaching your dog to sit or come. It is an investment that will save you and your pet professionals hassle in the long run. Without training the dog is left with no direction, expectations, or experience. The experiences they do end up developing are far too often negative and scary because they were never given an opportunity to explore, learn, and be confident at a vet office. Training your dog to willingly participate in their veterinary experience reduces stress for all parties and keeps everyone safe. While holding the dog down might work the first time they will quickly build a negative association with people, smells, and sights that resemble that specific environment. The fear can be transferred to other environments and they will often show up with more fight or totally shut down the next time. This puts vet staff at risk but also potentially others who interact with your dog. 

Q: Training is too expensive and time consuming. 

A: There are lots of inexpensive and free training aids out there. Also, most trainers are excited to have a conversation with you about their passion. So even if you can't afford training with them they will gladly point you in the right direction and provide you with resources that will get you started on your own. 
No one builds new habits or breaks bad long standing habits in a week or even a few months. Our pets are social sentient beings and like you require time to absorb and practice skills to become successful at something. If you don't have the time, training companies like Kind Animal Services offer drop off services where we will train your dog for you. Options like this can be more expensive but that's the trade off you might have to make. 

Q: My dog isn't a bad dog - I don't think he needs training.

A: No one thinks your dog is a "bad" dog. In fact, there is no such thing as a bad dog; they don't exist. Dogs are just being dogs and doing dog things. However, just like humans, education can be an important part of learning how to function in the world. The same goes for your dog. Dogs need to be educated in order to live comfortably and with minimal stress in our human world. Even dogs that don't seem to "fight back" about being manipulated or poked are most likely experiencing a state of shut down. No behavior (or fight) is not "good" or willing behavior. Training is just education for your dog. Your dog is learning all the time so help them get the appropriate education and put their mind to work. 

Q: How could training help my dog feel better about going to the vet's office?

A: Training cooperative care skills takes the worry and stress of the unknown out of veterinary care and helps the animal relax. If you know what is expected of you and what is going to happen you are instantly more calm and collected about the situation. Our dogs (like you) need security. Security comes with the ability to control their environment and what happens to them. When training for vet exams and procedures we are building a two way conversation for consent. This might seem a little far fetched but it's not all that hard to do! What if you could communicate with your dog and tell them to breathe? What if your dog could let you or vet staff know when they need to pause for a moment to collect themselves before continuing with the procedure or exam?

That’s all for now folks - this is a huge topic and we’ll be back to talk some more about it soon. Feel free to share your own experience with us on social media, on our facebook and instagram. We’re hoping to continually learn new skills, raise more awareness and provide a better experience for our patients and those who love them (that means you, pet parents!)