Dog Friendly Vet Clinics
The Dog Friendly Clinic Scheme is a collaborative project between Dogs Trust and the British Veterinary Behaviour Association.
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Aim of the scheme
The aim of our Dog Friendly Clinic Scheme is to make the provision of veterinary care the most comfortable experience possible for everyone involved. Here you’ll find information to help your team create a dog-friendly clinic.
What the scheme covers:
- an introduction to species-typical behaviour and communication
- advice for implementing behavioural knowledge in the veterinary context
- guidance on preparing the clinical environment to reduce stress and promote positive experiences
- tools to help enhance the client-clinic bond through positive patient, owner, and clinic interactions.
An introduction to canine behaviour
Discover dog behaviour, common misconceptions around dominance and guilt and an overview of how dogs learn. The more we understand about canine behaviour, the better placed we are to appreciate the effect of our interactions with dogs, how we respond to their behaviour and how we communicate with them.
Health, pain and behaviour
Discover how pain and health conditions can be a contributing factor to a dog's behaviour, and learn about behavioural first aid.
Behaviour and the veterinary environment
Discover the impact of the veterinary environment on dog behaviour, stress responses and situation stacking.
Creating a dog friendly clinic
From staff training to dog handling and preparing the clinic environment, there are many factors to consider when trying to create a dog-friendly vet clinic.
Helping dog owners prepare for vet visits
From habituation and socialisation to counter-conditioning and muzzle training, discover how you can ensure dog owners are preparing their dog for vet visits.
Habituation and socialisation appointments for puppies
Practical resources
Discover our practical guides, resources and frameworks.
Join the Dog Friendly Clinic scheme
Join the Dog Friendly Clinic Scheme today and become part of the behaviour-centred veterinary community.
Request an application pack for an individual membership
Is your Clinic ready to become a registered Dog Friendly Clinic?
Register your interest today and we'll send you an application pack with information about the criteria your clinic needs to meet to become part of the scheme.
Disclaimer notice: The advice given on this website [in these materials] is intended for your general information only and should not be relied upon as specific advice for any veterinary practice or clinic. Each veterinary practice or clinic will be unique in its physical environment and each dog attending the veterinary practice or clinic will have specific needs and requirements, which the veterinary practice or clinic is solely responsible for. Unless prohibited by law, Dogs Trust and the British Veterinary Behaviour Association do not accept liability to any person veterinary practice or clinic relating to the use of this information.