14/06/2026
βοΈ Scales
Many dogs are worried about going on the scales at the vets
I believe there are a few reasons why:
πΆ Lack of experience: Many dogs have simply not had the practice needed. This is especially important during the sensitive stage of socialisation when puppies need to have positive experiences with novelty. This includes surfaces at different heights
π Associations: Through experience many dogs learn that being weighed leads to the 'bad thing'. Dogs get taken to the vets because they are injured, unwell or having an injection. They get weighed first and it doesn't take many repetitions for an association to be learned
πΆ Pressure: Many dogs are not given the time needed to process. Owners are in a rush, may feel pressured to quickly weigh their dog before the appointment, so walk through the doors and immediately try to get their dog on the scales. Their dog may need time to adjust to the environment, process smells, may be worried by everything going on around them such as other animals, there may be other dogs barking, stress pheromones in the air......and now they are being willfully encouraged to get on the scales. If resistance leads to firm persuasion or using the lead to pull them onto the scale, and then demanding that they "sit, sit, SIT!!"; a problem can soon develop. The whole situation has become very negative
βΆοΈ My advice is to work on this when you're not trying to actually weigh your dog
Take off the pressure, go to the waiting room and allow them to sniff and process what's going on around them
Allow your dog to make their own decisions, use tasty food to reward curiosity or approaching the scales
Don't try to physically force them or pull with the lead
In some cases luring with food can make them feel more pressured and erode trust
Go to the veterinary waiting room multiple times when you have no appointment!
Practise your dog putting their feet onto novel surfaces in other contexts
π§‘ This is something I work on with the young puppies at my Pre-School classes π§‘
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