I have a new entry on my phone each Monday - desensitize pup to vet parking lot and building.
One of the pups starts visibly shaking the minute we pull into the vet’s parking lot.
By going each week, with NO appointment/procedures/shots, I am hoping to stop this negative reaction.
We sit in the waiting room and chat with other pet owners, awaiting their appointment. We walk up and down the hall. We stop and chat at the desk.
This was suggested by the vet staff.
It wasn’t until I actually put it on the calendar that it started happening regularly.
I try for Monday. If Monday is busy, we go Tuesday.
Is it helping? Yes. Each week the shaking subsides a little quicker and she is less frantic.
The other pup is just along for the ride, does not care.
We took the Tricks class at our local dog club last session and all really loved it.
The dogs both passed the first three levels (Novice, Intermediate, Advanced) of the AKC tricks category during the six weeks of class.
https://www.akc.org/sports/trick-dog/
There are two additional/advanced levels of the AKC Tricks program - Performer and Elite Performer.
This session we are working independently. We use an empty ring at the dog club and bring our own props.
We are working, on our own, on the Performer level.
This is the tricks list we are working on so far -
Jump up and down with excitement - who’s excited?
Pull or drag bag of toys 5 body lengths
Run 3x around handler
Sit pretty and cross paws
Heels backwards
Heels sideways
Retrieves ball from 10’ runs back and places ball in cone
Rides on cart
Five black stands - walk and turn
Jump thru tissue hoop
Carry stuffed animal on back for 15’
