calliecritturs
Posted : 12/14/2006 8:41:22 PM
Sounds to me like she's gotten a tad manipulative -- if you coo and "ohh it's ok bay beeeee" her she may decide she likes the attention. But that being said, it only takes one bad experience to turn on terror.
Being proactive works wonders -- don't wait for the next 'vet appointment' to take her back to the vet. Pack 3 small baggies of treats -- something she likes even if you have to break them up in small pieces -- or slice hot dogs super thin -- whatever is acceptable to you to give as treats -- even Cheerios can work for this).
Go TO the vet, on leash, the whole drill -- but call THEM ahead of time and warn them you are coming and find out a good time when it's not too busy. This is JUST for training.
Walk in and hand the receptionist all 3 bags of treats. Tell her one is for her, then one is for the techs and one is for the vet and if they had just a minute could they see her and just 'make friends' for a minute and try to erase the trauma of the last time.
Don't take up much time, but letting each of those groups make friends with your dog. AND then the next time, DO take a baggie of treats and just let the vet know it is his to give either piecemeal as he has to do things or afterward but that you are trying to mitigate the damage that last horrible time may have done ...
My dogs NOW think the vet is the best place on the planet. I don't always take treats, but I DO if I know we're headed for blood draws, or anything that may 'hurt' or be traumatic. The vet honestly appreciates SO MUCH my efforts to keep him being the 'good guy'. It works. Truly does.
But let the bag be an "he can have ALL of that" thing -- don't make them 'stop' -- there's something mentally FUN about being able to give it ALL to the dog. And if you make the effort to help your vet and staff be your dog's bestest buddy -- it will reap benefits for years.