GSDs and Vet visits - please help - Page 3

I don't get the impression he was out of control. Muzzling seems like the safest and best solution here. Don't know where you are, but here in MD if the vet or vet tech are bitten by a dog during exam or treatment it it is their fault. I worked for 3 vets in a period of 7 yrs. It is a risk of the profession. They are professionals, and should know how to deal with aggressive dogs as well as fear biters. Good luck! Theresa

Bucko,
It is very simple just muzzle the dog when you bring him to the vet.  I have a high end, high drive working line male who I raised from a puppy.  He is currently my police K9.  He is very affectionate with me and my wife but will not allow any stranger to touch his head or feet or pet him.  He is a very dominant, confident, super solid outstanding dog.  He doesn't like strangers touching or petting his head.  He has never been abused, never mishandled, never even hit with my hand or by anyone else.....That is his temperament, plain and simple and I'm ok with that.  He started acting that way at around a year old. He has been socialized and taken everywhere. 

He is muzzled when we go to the vet.  The vet and I have an understanding that I will handle him during all exams and that was the vet's idea.  It would be a 3 ring circus wrestling match mix  if the vet techs tried to handle him during an exam. 

Now, since I converted him to my Police K9 he has gotten worse.  We train our dogs to muzzle fight, so putting the muzzle on him lately is like putting boxing gloves on a young Mike Tyson; he's ready to rumble.  I was at the vet last week and the vet was happy the muzzle was on, my guy meant real business. 

So, I would muzzle your dog just so the vet is comfortable and you don't have to worry about anyone getting hurt.  It's really no big deal.

Also doing regular protection work in SchH that should be fine, no worries there either.

JMO,

Jim

Plan Vet Office well visits from puppyhood....

My Hairdresser is next to the Vet's office, so when ever we're going in there, we pop into the office and ask the techs or whoever's handy around the desk to greet the dogs, pet them... shake their paws, open their mouths and give them goodies. So when they go in there for an exam it's a non-issue.  I also do prevet exams @ home.. handling paws, opening mouth... touching tongue, looking in ears, lifting tail etc at home.  This way when the Vet (or a judge) examines the dog it's not a shock or offensive to them.  When I taught obedience classes we also held them on the Veterinary hosptal grounds so that those dogs were quite excited to arrive.  

It's like taking your child to a Doctor... if the only time they see the Doc they get stuck with a needle, or feel horribly sick they will equate being there with bad things.

Slamdumc:  Your dog is entirely a different cynerio.   Vets have to protect themselves and you never know when a tech might not know about a dogs temperament or the dog may not like the vet tech that comes in to the room for some unknown reason so muzzling any dog that might   present a problem is a must.. No reason to make the vet nervous..that is a big mouth with   big teeth  on that head.....lol

...Yes I had a top dog from my second litter we muzzle trained with Gal.Co SO and Harris Co SO and I had to muzzle him at vet  and went nowhere where he had to enteract with close handling..he was fine on leash  until one day a LM policeman at a Vigil for a three in a row death on a highway stretch, I was on outer perimeter with him on leash, up close and in a Sitz....An  officer came down the ditch saw me and three other PD from two depts at the side and as he went by Thor, he said    Passouf...!   I thought I would die right there...Thor reacted faster than I could think.  Never in all my born days would I have expected that officer to do that...   of course , he got a reprimand when he got to the station...scared me for months...and everywhere I went I was ultra watchful around officers that new the german commands...a lot of officers came out to both the parks we all trained at and knew..but no one had ever done that and he was just a young officer and did not understand what his implications would instigate..he did later that day..

.He apologized to me later...
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A few years ago, I sold a male pup to a woman with a teenage daughter. They took him to their male vet for shots. The vet was openly afraid of GSDs, and the dog growled and barked at him. The vet told them that the dog was unstable and dangerous and they should return him to the breeder immediately. This pup also came to my obedience class and showed no aggression or even mild discomfort  toward any men in the class, although he was very protective in the home.  I recommended my vet (who is male) and the dog had 0 problems with him. My vet is not afraid of my dogs at all and has a very mild and unassuming demeanor. All my dogs are comfortable with him.

I do not feel it is ok for a dog to act like a bully just because they sense someone's fear...but until you have enough training to control the behavior, you may want to look for a vet your dog is more comfortable with. The muzzle is a great idea too, you never know when you will need one, and teaching your dog to accept it does not have to be stressful (for either of you) if done right.

YR....

 What a (*&^^% moron!!!    Good way to lose his nuts!!  If you hadn't been on your toes it could have been a whole lot worse! 

That was Shiloh's alert command also, fortunately we were never in your situation... People really don't think!

YR,
I highlighted parts of my post, I think you misunderstood my post.  I said to muzzle the dog at the vet.   I used my dog as an example that  I don't necessarily think the dog was abused, just his temperament. 

I didn't know you were once a K9 handler???

Jim

Hey jim just for record I muzzle my male at the vet as well,  Not a big problem and everyone's safe