At Summit Veterinary Care, we offer Confidence Building Visits (formerly known as “Happy Visits”) to help your pet develop positive, lasting associations with the veterinary experience. These short, stress-free visits are designed to build trust, reduce fear, and support your pet’s emotional well-being. By creating a safe, positive environment, we help pets feel more comfortable not just with our hospital, but with the people and experiences they’ll encounter during their care.

Confidence Building Visits are personalized and carefully guided. Your pet is intentionally brought through the clinic in a way that supports their comfort and confidence. Depending on their needs, we may practice calm introductions with our team, explore the exam room, or gently expose them to common handling techniques—like looking at ears, eyes, or paws. We may introduce them to veterinary tools such as stethoscopes or nail clippers in a low-pressure way. Every step is paired with praise, encouragement, and plenty of their favorite treats to build strong, positive associations.

These visits help take the fear out of vet care—before it even begins. Pets who have experienced previous stress at the vet, or those who are new to it entirely, benefit from learning that Summit Veterinary Care is a safe place where good things happen. Confidence Building Visits reduce the risk of future anxiety, make veterinary care easier and more effective, and support a lifelong sense of trust between your pet and our team.

Confidence Building Visits are brief—usually 10 to 20 minutes—but highly impactful. This focused time allows us to work intentionally with your pet in a way that’s calm, encouraging, and appropriate for their comfort level. Each visit is tailored to your pet’s specific needs and designed to end on a positive note.

Any pet can benefit, but Confidence Building Visits are especially helpful for puppies, kittens, nervous or fearful pets, those who have had negative experiences at the vet, or those with specific triggers (such as handling or equipment). These visits are also a great fit for pets who struggle with carriers, car rides, or the sights and sounds of the veterinary clinic.

Pets who feel confident at the vet are more cooperative, less anxious, and easier to treat. That means exams and procedures can be completed more safely and effectively, with less stress for both you and your pet. Confidence Building Visits support better health outcomes and strengthen the bond between your pet, your family, and our team here at Summit Veterinary Care.