Nervous DDogs - how do you cope with the vet?

[SpicyPear]

So SpicyDog is coming up for her first annual boosters and health check with us. I am dreading it, which is bad because if I'm not calm it will just make her ten times worse. Basically she is nervous of new people and hates being handled in a medical way. We've done a lot of work to get her to accept us looking in ears, holding paws etc but she still runs away if , for example, she spots the advocate.

I've asked around and found a nicer vet. Any tips on what else to do ? I'm nervous it will scare her and set us back. Unfortunately her appetite goes immediately when she is nervous so treats are somewhat useless for counter conditioning. At home I sing to her cheerfully but reluctant to do that in front of the vet and look like a loon!

Pimmsdog was nervous last time we took him (he had been 3 times in summer due to cut pad and decided it wasn't a nice place to be)

Our vet suggested going and sitting in the waiting room and letting him get used to the comings and goings and the staff. Every time they come out to get another client the vet came and gave Pimmsdog a treat and soon he was in love with a trip to the vets again. They ignored him, gave him a treat, didn't fuss or stroke him until he was asking for it. I know it is time consuming but was worth it for us. Do you think your vet would allow you to do this before the boosters are due?

Pimms that's a good idea! I'll try and remember that if my dog ever decides he no longer likes the vet.

Thanks Pimms. I have been doing that at our current local one vet practice and it was going well, especially as it's next to a park she likes a lot. Unfortunately I found out last week that the nice regular vet has left and the job has gone to a locum that made me cry about a month after getting DDog! He's an absolute arse - I'm really not normally the sort to blub about that sort of stuff but he went out of his way to undermine me and spouted a load of dominance based nonsense when faced with a clearly terrified new rescue. He seemed to take it as a personal affront that she didn't enthusiastically greet him or get excited about his crap treat! There is no way on this earth I would take her back to him so I'm having to take her to a new practice. The booster appointment is on Monday so no time, but it is near another great walking area so we can give it a go ready for next year!

Thanks Pimms. I have been doing that at our current one vet practice and it was going well. Unfortunately I found out last week that the nice regular vet has left and the job has gone to a locum that made me cry about a month after getting DDog! He's an absolute arse - I'm really not normally the sort to blub but he went out of his way to undermine me and spouted a load of dominance based nonsense when faced with a clearly terrified new rescue. He seemed to take it as a personal affront that she didn't enthusiastically greet him or get excited about his crap treat! There is no way on this earth I would take her back to him so I'm having to take her to a new practice. The booster appointment is on Monday so no time, but we can give it a go ready for next year!

Doh, stupid laptop crashed and now I seem to have posted twice!