What is your view on this reaction? - Page 1

So, Anubis and I were at the vets office the other day, and when out in the first room he was fine with anyone and everything going on in there.  He's typically always normal around people, though he tends to react certain ways around people who are afraid of him.  However, he met all of the people there, some pet him, he wagged his tail, and we went on into the room.  The first person to come in he was fine with.  He didn't like her taking his temp, but he was fine with her.  The second person to come in was a guy, the vet that runs the place.  Anubis lit up as he approached towards me in the room, barking at him, ready to bite.  Though it sounded more of a defense type bark, very deep.  Ears were up though.  I'm curious as to what you guys think it might have been.......because when we walked out of that room, he saw the same guy again, and couldn't care less about him, sniffed him, went on about his business.  He is almost 15 months, and I have only seen a reaction like that before when he met a guy who was scared of GSDs, a guy who was attacked by one as a child who was coming towards me.  At the vet though, I muzzled him for the exam, just to be on the safe side.  He doesn't mind certain people petting him, but typically doesn't like it.  I knew touching the throat and other areas he would not tolerate well.  The barking at the vet was before the exam just to clear that up.  Any ideas?

 

I'm editing this to say....the first room was the room you walk in, very open room......the other room was enclosed and smaller.

 GSDguy,

The real question is besides muzzling the dog, which was the correct thing to do in this case, how else did you deal with this? You are the one to set boundaries about what is and is not appropriate behavior from your dog. Many dogs are uneasy in a vet's office.

I think besides the strange environment they also don't like the smell and when I bring a dog home from the vet, that dog is NEVER placed in the general population for a day or more. I have seen my dogs want to go after a dog just returning from the vet that they know and accept. Of course, I did not allow it. You may also be giving off some signal of tension that the dog was responding to or it might be that the dog was being "protective". In any case, I would suggest you go back again, immediately, and handle it so that the dog learns there is not a threat there. If you want suggestions about how to do that, let me know. I have a very good friend who has a dog that vets will not see because it is out of control and aggressive. So the dog does not go to the vet and that can be a serious problem at some time in the future.

So again, how did you handle this? How do you handle such behavior on the street in other situations?

I had the exact reaction when my boy was that age, he actually chased the vet into another room.  I think they feel trapped and cornered plus this particular vet was a man and not his normal vet that he had as a puppy,puppy.  I also started muzzling him as he grew older as I actually did not trust him.  My trainer at the time met me at another vet's office, a woman vet and made him behave and taught him how fun it was to be at the vet's office, no exam that time, just a weight check on the scale and fun stuff, hi to all the staff, I don't even think the vet was there that day.  BUT.  I did not solve the problem; and NOW at 7 l/2 years old, I ALWAYS HAVE TO MUZZLE HIM as he behaves badly at the vet.  And actually will bite.  SO, all the expert training people here may have some ideas as to where I went wrong and what you can do about it.  I actually trust him now more than ever but that problem carries over to other areas of their lives if you do not get the upper hand on the problem as my boy refuses to like children now.  Thinks they are aliens from otter space.  So is it a social problem, or is it a control problem, a dominant problem?? I am not sure.  But needs to be dealt with Now rather than later.  Nan

PS:  I also know that these guys like to intimidate people at that age;  my boy sure did.  He thought it was fun then, doesn't do that so much now;  but much more serious now.  ??  Nan

 By the way, out of all the GSDs I have had in my life which belonged to me, NOT A SINGLE ONE had to be muzzled in a vet's office or was otherwise inappropriate around people......think about it. And if they were, that would be the last time they were without consequences. The same thing goes with being around children. You must deal with this now and correctly, so it does not escalate.

Hodie, I put him into a sitz facing me the first time.....which he listened, but was still uneasy about him being there.  When he broke it I corrected and commanded again.  He then left the room to go get something, and then the woman came in a second time and asked if I wanted to muzzle him, which I did.  He didn't bark at her though the first or second time she came in.  He seemed to be fine with any woman who approached him.  I am definitely up for all any ideas on the matter when bringing him back soon.   My Husky pack is 100% there at the vets, no problems.  With Anubis though,  if we're on the streets we're typically running. I like to run a lot, if we're running he will listen to my every command with no hesitation. It seems the faster he moves the more readily he is to listen.

Hodie he has no issue with children.

What do I think of this reaction?

Fear and suspicion, a bit of aggression.

I think it's to be excepted and respected.
It's in the bloodlines for one thing,
and there needs to be more socializing of young animals for another,
corrections should be made anytime inappropriate behavior happens,
precautions taken in all public places.
Some people give off bad vibes also, it's not just the dogs problem.
It's natural to expect not all people will be loved by your dog.

My dogs do not like going in that small room with the door closed, I don't either.
There are major flaws in the operating procedure and design of most Vets offices and show a lack of common sense and more concern about image and style for public consumption.

You should have an isolated entry area away from other visitors and their pets.
The examination area should be more open, perhaps short walls like cubicles instead of confined closed off rooms.
Yes some dogs should be muzzled if they might bite.
Shorter tables closer to the floor.
And floors and surfaces in exam areas should be cleaned between examinations better in my opinion.

Perhaps the dog doesn't like the Vet for a very good reason, but you should be in control and take full responsibility for everyones safety.

P.S.
Muzzle the dog before you get there so the dog associates the muzzle with you more than the Vet.
Don't just command the dog, calm the dog, reassure the dog.
Maybe find a Vet who has a better bed side manner or rapport with the dog.

Hi Nan,

Has your dog ever had to have an unpleasant procedure?  Had to have blood drawn, or a skin scraping?  Dogs have long memories.

My old dog loved "his" male vet.  They met when he was 4 months old.  The dog never forgot him and always treated him like a valued friend.  One time the other male vet in the practice had to examine the dog, and he walked into the room and you could tell he was a bit unsure of the dog.  My dog didn't bark or make any aggressive moves, but he watched that man with "that look" the entire time.

"His" vet teared up when he put that old guy to sleep.  I think he really liked that dog and I'm very sure the feeling was mutual.

Dogs instinctively react to the situation in the moment. I wouldn't make a big deal out of it. It could have been something the vet did or was thinking at the time. It could have something you did the instant the vet walked in and most likely it was a combination of the two. Being in a small exam room that isn't familiar makes a difference as well. All of these things came together at the right (or wrong) time and place. So how to deal with it in the future? Communicate.