How about some nose and paw targeting. It's a great way to create thousands of other behaviors like shake paw, ask to go out, come, look at me, fetch my keys etc etc.
Lie on side is a good prelude to triming nails, cleaning ears, brushing, cleaning muddy paws, and makes a good intro to dead dog BANG! :dogbiggrin:
Start now and every day or at least every week practice gently holding ur dogs paws losely and pushing lightly on nails to get used to trimming them, check his ears and teeth like the vet would and make the vet happy, and hold or teach ur dog be still for just a second at first and work up (example for a blood draw or shot). You'll have a calmer dog at the vet and u'll be a lot less stressed.