GSDs and Vet visits - please help - Page 1

I've had half a dozen gsd's in my life and another few dogs of other, or mixed, breeds.  My current gsd is the only dog among them who is very wary of male veterinarians -- two now.  He refused to allow a vet to examine his ear yesterday.  I held his head and told him to stay, even reassured him as well as I could, but he kept yanking his head out of my hands and staring down the vet.  No growling, no baring of teeth -- just a stare that scared off the vet.  Last time it was a different male vet, and that guy wouldn't even touch him.

He is great with all women, and fine with men in public -- if he sees them coming.  He does not like men surprising him (coming around corners, and especially appearing in the woods from around a bend).

Anyone have this problem and actually solve it?

Do I have to muzzle him at the vet (ugh) -- and what can I try first?

He is my first gsd of pure working lines.  I have had half working lines gsd's before, and none of them had vet issues.  My highlines dog submissively peed at the vet's -- very sad  but not impossible to deal with.  My current dog can't even get an ear infection looked at!

The best thing for all is to muzzle the dog. It will ease the vets apprehension, if the vet is nervous the dog can sense it. Have you tried leaving the room? that can help sometimes. Good luck!

Your GSD is acting the way a GSD is supposed to act: aloof and wary with strangers. He's obviously had an issue with a man, or men previously in his life. This could be due to abuse, or maybe someone tried to do some heavy-handed protection training with him, with a man being the 'bad guy', and now he's wary of all men.

You can deal with this 3 ways:

Find a female vet

Muzzle the dog. My male GSD is very good with the vet until he tries to do anything with his head, then we have to put a muzzle on him. The head is a very sensitive area, and it's also the area that's closest to the teeth, so you can't reasonably expect the vet to risk his hands and fingers. 

Find a male vet that understands GSD's and is willing to take the time to let your dog get to know him. Feed him treats, talk to him, etc. until the dog realizes he's safe. Even then, it might still be a wise precaution to muzzle him. We had to muzzle Ranger for his bordotella vaccine this year, and when we see the vet around town, Ranger has no fear of him. He'll still walk right up to him and ask to be petted.

Mind you, not all dogs are THAT forgiving...

i had a mixed breed that was like yours.
he would shake and  tremible hated certain vets.
they did have to muzzel him. he was afraid of alot of vets.
male and female.
all i can tell you is to muzzel him at the vet or find a vet he likes.
he should get into an obedience class, socialize him with all other people and dogs is a very good idea.
i think that will help alot.
my shep mix also had high level anzeity too.
i sure know what you are going through.
i wish you the best of luck.

I have.

Personally I don't feel it's a problem to muzzle him at the vet's.  And I'd suggest it first before the vet does.  It's respect for the doctor and also for your dog.  One of mine simply cannot understand why he's expected to submit at the vet's.  You can see him thinking, "I can take this guy, piece of CAKE.  I don't get why he has to be allowed to stick me with a needle."  He really doesn't understand.  But he does obey me, however, I hold him in a grip of steel just in case.  My vet and techs are comfortable around GSD, but I'm sure there are enough vets who have been badly bitten (mostly by Chow Chows, from what I hear).

And looking at an ear infection your face is awfully close to those teeth.  You're in an awkward position where a dog has every chance to damage your face before you can jump back.  Plus from your dog's point of view a strange man is looming over him - that's a dominance posture to a dog - and messing with his painful ear.  Understandable he'd be unhappy with that.  Why not allow the vet to muzzle him?  Some people get a kick out of their dog lashing out at the doctor, and hopefully you're not one of those.

My Aunt had a nasty Cocker Spaniel that was a spoiled brat and her vet simply told her the dog would be muzzled when treated.  Period.  He bit the vet every time.  Vets get snapped at and bit all day and they can't do their jobs w/o the use of their hands, so I respect their need to protect themselves. 

So what to try, since you asked?  Grip of steel, and I mean it.  Not holding him to hurt him, but FIRMLY & not relaxing your grip even when he is quiet, lest he explode.  And being alert that when released he can't turn and go for the doctor.
Otherwise, offer to have him muzzled.  For safety's sake.

Hey Buck - I am not sure what the working line heritage has to do with going to the vet.   I think going to the vet should be a pleasant experience.  I personally would find a female vet  that my dog is comfortable with... 

****If I really like my vet and that isn't an option of finding a female vet that my dog likes - I would have indvidual men - including the vet - slowly start get  familiar with the dog - this can take some time - we do it at our club to dogs that are skidish to people - use food reward- given by each man -to the dog - don't look at dog in eye - and eventually just bending down and touching the dog when he is more familiar with them...

If your dog is a working line - do you belong to a club - and what type of work are you going to train the dog in?  It might be a good idea to do ***** if your dog has problems with men getting close to him.....

Course this is just my personal opinion... 

Between the unnaturally submissive behaviors of your showline dogs, and the fear/aggression toward men of your working line male, the first thing I think of is that someone, quite possibly and prominently a man, must have abused all of your dogs. All these behaviors that you describe are NOT NORMAL or DESIRABLE for the breed. Either you have gotten puppies with very poor temperaments and/or there are issues with their upbringing/socialization and/or there has been some history of abuse. This consistent pattern of behavior points toward abuse - do you have any men in your life who could have hurt or tormented these dogs and PLEASE do not make excuses or rationalize if this is the case. If men abuse you it is very likely they may abuse your pets.

So you need to do any or all of these:
1. Choose better dogs.
2. Do a better job raising them.
3. Choose better men to associate with.

This is not a judgment of you. I don't know you and I do not know what you are doing in your life. I can only make assumptions from what you choose to give as information. It is up to you to decide what to do. If you are in denial then any advice people will give you is a waste of their time. So, you can muzzle a dog for a vet visit but it will not solve the real problem. It is up to you to diagnose the cause to deal with it. If your dogs are being abused, it is your responsibility to look out for their best interests. Either place them in a home where they will be treated better or kick the bastard's ass to the curb! If you have children who might be mistreating your dogs, by all means get them into therapy ASAP as this is a sure sign you may be raising some sick puppies yourself.

a few words from an ex vet tech.... a LOT of dogs don't like having their head messed with.. besides that if his ears are sensitive, well then I'd probably bite somebody too..

All of the other things mentioned are also possibilities.. except I don't buy the abused by whoever stuff.... ...

Here's a question.. will you dog let you look at his ears??? If not, why?? If he was adult when you got him, he may never have been desensitized to that activity and its harder .. just muzzle him and be ready to wrestle
All puppies should be handled to the point of nausea when it comes to feet (GSD's are notroriously bad about that too! I also groomed for a number of years!) and ears and teeth and laying on their side, anything you can possibly think of.. 
And go to the vet now and again just to play and go home.. or always have food with you

I will never fault a vet for wanting a dog muzzled..... you would not believe some of the things we saw...

Good luck