Today at the Vets........ - Page 1

Today I was at the Vets' office with my three GSDs, My M, Reiker was along just for the ride. (up front). The two girls, Ana and Bella in the truck bed in crates. Too much work taking two in at a time so it's one at a time.

Once parking, (I always park in the farthest slot away, (that way the barking isn't so intimidating from a distance). I notice a woman with a cat courier park right in front of the entrance door so I wait and let her go in and get situated. .Now this woman appeared to be upper class, nice Mercedes SW etc., etc.

I take Ana in and when you first enter, to the left are the counters etc. To the immediate right are three cubby like seating areas. The woman is in the first one and I choose the last one in the rear. That way no problems being right near the entrance door or next to her cat. Ana is 22 mos and at 62 lbs. Nothing big or intimidating. This woman happens to turn around and look at Ana. Ana returns the look by (I didn't catch it initially) but returns with a deep interested/curious look. Next the woman says, "OOOOOOH MYYYYYY GODDDDDDDDDDD!  As if, say in a horror show or a murder show where someone just came upon a mangle, decapitated body. Almost like "I better turn away very, very slowly" whispering/softly talking voice. At first I was caught off guard and thought she was joking/playing. (Like saying "oh my god" as in she's a beautiful dog. That wasn't the case.

The woman stated she was very afraid of dogs,  and the way Ana was looking at her Ana wanted to eat her! I just chuckled a little and said "no, no she's good, it's all right" and she replies "yeah, that's what they all say and then they bite you!" Now I'm sitting there wondering if I should take the time to communicate/educate or just try and talk to this woman??? Or just do nothing??? Well, knowing me I say I'll try and talk. I apologize for her being so afraid of my dog and ask her if she had had a bad experience with dogs? Maybe been bitten or attacked or seen something like that happen? She says no, that she has always been afraid of dogs, that she is not a dog person.  We talk a little more back and forth and you could see that she was afraid for unknown reasons or maybe for reasons she didn't want to talk about.

It was an, don't even really know what the right word would be, amazing? feeling/encounter none the less.   

What you say is "No maam I can assure you, you are safe, it is your cat I fear for!"

That's an extremely exaggerated reaction from that lady, especially considering she was in a Vet's wating room,  sheesh!  I mean what did she expect to see there?  Someone with a pet Newt? 

I have a grooming salon and several of my clients (who love most dogs) are admittedly afraid of the strong working dogs.  When they come in and see my black sable GSD, they always make some kind remark about how scary and intimidating my dog is.   They don't see her when she trying to play kissy face with a tiny yorkie puppy, or when she lets my employee's Jack Russel Terror be the boss of her, lol!

Initially, I was going to state something to the effect of that I was bewilderd because a (appeared) an upper class person who appeared to have money, ? lifestyle etc. would/could be close minded without truley along the life's journey find out what dogs let alone GSDs are really like or what they are about...........

My absolute worst vet encounter was when my Silas met a 12" monkey on a harness at a corner. The monkey went berserk as did Silas. He literally drug me across the floor trying to get to the monkey, who ended up on the owners head. The staff opened back doors to get us out.

I can here the monkey screeching and the dog barking now!

I don't even sit in the waiting area with my dogs anymore. Far to many people that have little or no control of their animals. Or because their dog loves other dogs it's ok for them to "come for a visit". I wait alone, when it's my turn I bring them in and go directly to the exam room. On the way out I take them to my truck, then come back in and pay. Never any problems.

Yeppir, I was thinking of that today. I toss those vet visits into the can of socializing .  Letting the dogs see the other "folks". We''ll figure out if it's worth it?

Felloffher

I do the same with my dogs now too. I have had a couple close encounters with other dogs. Mine are fine and well behaved. People think it is ok to let fluffy run up to other dogs... while saying oh its ok fluffy is friendly. All the while their dog has its teeth bared and barking in my dogs face. So I choose to avoid ANY mishaps and leave my dogs in the truck until it is my turn. Then I go straight into the room.

Toffifay..you do have a beautiful dog...

vets offices tend to have the weirdest people...I never meet those people in parks, stores, shows...makes you wonder where do they hide?

It gets me when people bring their dogs in off leash...for example during my last visit older gent. had 2 hotdogs ..he had NO leash with him at all ...he opened the door let hotdogs  in than walked he wobbled in , went straight to the counter...his dogs are all over the place...thank god i did not have either of my girls with me or they would have had hotdogs for lunch, my male dog does not react to dogs at all...so he was fine..but after this man got signed up, turned around saw my dog...called his hotdogs over picked them up and sat there holding them under his armpits....I thought...maybe next time you should look first, idiot!