How to make trips to the vet more enjoyable for dog and puppies

Do you dread vet trips with your dog? Does your dog have a strong dislike for going to the vet?

What, if I told you that it doesn’t have to this way? What, if I told you that you can actually make trips to the vet more enjoyable for your dog?
Here’s how:
First off, obedience training can make vet trips much easier. Teaching your dog how to calmly stay in a down or sit around other people and dogs can help a lot with situations like sitting in the waiting area and getting your dog checked out by the vet and techs. Proofing your dog’s stay commands off various distractions will pay off in those situations. You can even do a little training session while sitting in the waiting area. Instead of chatting with the person across from you or thumbing through your phone and leaving your dog bored or even anxious, make the wait time fun and entertaining.
Most dogs are not very fond of getting their temperature taken and try to avoid this, you can make this a more positive experience for your dog by feeding extremely high value treats during that. These treats are reserved for vet trips or trips to the groomer only, so they won’t lose their value. What kind of treats you use, is up to you and your dog’s taste buds. You could use boiled chicken, cooked bacon, cooked meats, peanut butter, wet dog food, cheese ….and so on. When using peanut butter or wet dog food, you could fill a dog toy like a Kong or similar or apply it to a lick mat and freeze it prior to the appointment, that way it will be less messy and it will keep your dog occupied longer. If you have established this ritual since puppyhood, your dog may even look forward to and gets excited about trips to the vet. While the vet is examining and treating your dog, you are feeding and rewarding your dog with the tasty treats for good behavior. If your dog is extremely anxious about going to the vet, it would be beneficial to frequently practice with your dog in the waiting area to give him/her the best possible experience at the vet even, if you don’t have an appointment. Most vet offices won’t mind as long as there’s enough space.