Hi. My 5 year old dog is due to visit the local vets surgery for her annual booster & check up...Trouble is she is very stubborn & doesn't like even going into the waiting room...She is a big strong dog & when I eventually do get her inside she shakes & tries to sit on my lap...
The only time (other than for injections) she has been, is when she stayed overnite for spaying...
Any ideas how I can help her overcome this fear?

My dog loves going to the vets.  She's not so sure of the actual vets though and doesn't like being handled by them but getting her there and waiting is not a problem.  The receptionists always make a fuss of her and I take a bag of treats to feed her while we're waiting.

If I was in your position I would take her at least a couple of times before you have to and just sit in the surgery for a few minutes at their quiet time and give her some treats, then take her home. 

Take her there lots, and make it somewhere that isn't only associated with bad stuff.  Get a load of her favourite treats and take her first to where she's comfortable with,maybe to the door, and feed her lots of yummy treats and then go home.  Then the next time go a bit further and so on and son on until she is happy to go in and sit in the waiting room because she will associate it with something pleasant rather than something horrible.  I think she's being perfectly sensible rather than stubborn! :-)

Karen

I was going to say the same. Take her for lots of short visits where she doesn't have to have any treatment done and just get her used to the place. Our old dog used to hate going to the vets but our current dog loves it.

He went to puppy socialisation classes there and is convinced it is a fun place to be. He is usually so excited about being there that he doesn't even notice when he has his vaccinations done - he is sitting wagging his tail so hard though that he moves across the floor with the motion and the vet has to follow him :D

Great minds think alike. Was too going to say take her there just for a non medical visit and give lots of treat / praise then go home repeating untill she associatates going to the vets as a good thing. Get the vet staff to make a fuss too.

:rolleyes: Yes thanks all for your replies I walk past the vets every day as it is situated on the border of the big walkie park.. I have been taking her to the door for the past week but she is soooo strong that it would cause a real scene to get her inside the door...She is a GSP so CherylS perhaps can appreciate the stubborn qualities?  The receptionists are always behind a big desk & make even me feel intimidated
Do you think I could suggest some wild pheasants or bunnies placed behind that desk !!!!!  I'm sure my dog would then be more than interested in going in!!!
No seriously I will go along with all your suggestions .In fact she needs weighing ~~~but that's another story!!!

Perhaps you are in a Catch 22 situation. If you dread going then your dog will sense that.  This is my first GSP so have no others to compare her to but if your dog is anything like mine she will be cautious of strangers.  When meeting new people I say to her "say hello, say hello" in a sing songy voice as this is how I greet my dog when coming in the house and my son and daughter do this also.  She associates this phrase with happy greetings and will wag her tail, even though she will act a little cautious to the new person I am giving her a "this person is ok" message.  I would phone and try to enlist the receptionists' help by asking them to fuss her and give her treats (you could give those in advance).  Other than that I can only think of laying a trail of treats through the door before you enter. 

All sounds a bit mad reading that back but hey I'm definitely getting there quicker now I have a dog :D

As for weighing you could do this yourself before you go

Hi CherylS.
Yes I'm a bit panicky when going anywhere "medical" so yes she probably is sensing that! This is my first dog so I am learning still!
I've tried weighing her by picking her up & jumping on the scales ~~but now at about 32 kilos ~this is a bit impossible!!(32 Kilos being the dog's weight!  )
As for sounding a "bit mad" I think almost every dog owner has that trait ~~ the things we do!
Just a thought I may get my Hubby to take her~but then I miss out on a very important part of my dog's life~ 'cos men never report back with the full story do they?
Thanx for your input CherylS.