Advice: Vet claims I have a potentially aggressive pup?

I couldn't agree more than to find another vet. If necessary, just make a meet and greet appointment to see how the vet and the staff treat your puppy. You certainly don't want to encourage a reponsive behaviour such as biting and aggression but he is just a puppy and puppies do react in unfamiliar situations and to unfamiliar people in ways that they don't normally behave. Did your vet handle him at all prior to this? The vets I have had over the years have always talked to the animals first and go their attention and then went on to the treatment. If you don't feel comfortable with the vet or the staff, even a small puppy will pick up on this
 
Emmasmom said:
I couldn't agree more than to find another vet. If necessary, just make a meet and greet appointment to see how the vet and the staff treat your puppy. You certainly don't want to encourage a reponsive behaviour such as biting and aggression but he is just a puppy and puppies do react in unfamiliar situations and to unfamiliar people in ways that they don't normally behave. Did your vet handle him at all prior to this? The vets I have had over the years have always talked to the animals first and go their attention and then went on to the treatment. If you don't feel comfortable with the vet or the staff, even a small puppy will pick up on this
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That's true, I told my vet that Toffee had a thing about men, when he was little and then Vet went out of his way to make sure his voice was higher and treats at the ready, etc... he also let me hold Toffee, etc, he was all in all very good. Even tho he is not my favourite Vet either, but he knew his way around my skittish dog....
I wish I could have Dr Shelli as my vet!!! :biggrin2:
 
I do take him to petsmart about once a week, if not twice. I brought him to my husband's ultimate football game yesterday with dogs, children, people, balls... he was a little nervous but warmed up a bit to a few people by showing his belly to them rolling around. Definitely a sniff, play, scurry, bark.... kinda guy. I think we are going to try to get people to give him treats to encourage him more. We will probably continue past the puppy training to the intermediate training next. I definitely won't ignore the issue I just want to make sure he has the best possible way to train.

As for the vets.. this is the second one I have had. He came highly recommended so I am assuming he means well but... I wanted to hear sheltie owners opinions. He has been to the vet a total of three times. It was a military vet first where the vet was pretty good, it was quiet, and I was the one holding him. Not a single issue at all. Calm and easy. Second time, it was someone different, and she was NOT good... went at him with the shots a little sporadically and from the front. She was a studying vet I believe (something they do at the military vet I guess?) And actually lost control of Bradley resulting in him falling from the table. I held him the whole time after that and she was able to administer his microchip... but he was crying at the time (no biting whatsoever) As you can see... I didn't want to return there. (they also gave him heartgard which I knew was bad and never gave Brad, but got Interceptor instead)

Could that issue have "Scarred" him so to speak?
 
Justicemom said:
The vet most likely had good intentions. Some puppies fall outside the norm in reactivity and reactively biting hard is not normal in tiny pups especially when nothing for than petting is being done to them. Those are the ones that develop issues usually fear aggression if nothing is done.. I always discuss socialization and puppy classes and stress it with those puppies that are more reactive. Fear aggression is very common and extra time to carefully socialize, handle and train these pups is needed. Hopefulluy that is what the vet was trying to point out(although badly).

I have told 2 people in 12 yrs their dogs were going to be big problems that young. One was a 10 wk Husky. He was very calm(too calm),very watchful and just stood on the table and then exploded out and bit down with no bite inhibition. I was worrried about the lack of bite inhibition and the zero to all reaction. Suggested early and often socaialization and getting in a puppy class ASAP and going for minimum of 6 months straight and discussed training bite inhibition. They didn't go to any class and did nothing with the dog. By 5 months he could barely be handled for his neuter. At 9 months, He bit the 12yr daugther in the calf as she walked by. At 11 months, he bit a dog trainer in the chest. At 13 months, He bit the adult female owner in the forearm and wouldn't let go. She had 14-15 stitches. He was put down then.

The other a 7wk old white GSD, again no bite inhibititon(bit me 3 times on the forearm before I could move and drew blood-was standing on the table and I touched he shoulder), severe fear reaction(barking lunging ,snapping on the floor, on lead before visit). Talked about socialization handling, bite habition training and classes when old enough. Again owner ignored all advise. Put down at 16 months for severe fear aggression and severely biting the neighbor.
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OMG thats terrible Dr. Shelli~
You did warn them,and made appropriate suggestions,to sad that as owners they did not do what could have helped the pups.And they would be with them today.

I agree,any & all training,socialization is key to train them to becoming pets that are good citizens & happy pets.
So sorry that you had to go thru that.I can't imagine,your job as a vet some days~Must be hard.
 
Toffee's Mom said:
That's true, I told my vet that Toffee had a thing about men, when he was little and then Vet went out of his way to make sure his voice was higher and treats at the ready, etc... he also let me hold Toffee, etc, he was all in all very good. Even tho he is not my favourite Vet either, but he knew his way around my skittish dog....
I wish I could have Dr Shelli as my vet!!! :biggrin2:
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Yaaa us to!

Just imagine all us sheltie owners in a waiting room,talking sheltie every thing!!
 
Dr Shelli has a point about careful socialisation. But I also agree with the others that the vets is not the best place to assess dog behaviour.

To give an example at a year old my lab Cadbury went to be neutered. After the op I went to pick him up and the vet nurse told me.
"Cadbury bit me."
I was stunned, Cadbury has never shown aggression in any form. I started to apologise and then asked what had happened.

It was spring and she had short sleeves on, I could see there were no marks on her arm so something didn't seem right.

She started to say how when Cadbury came out into the back of the vets he jumped up at her and "nipped her, well actually not nipped, mouthed."

Well that was a completely different story altogether. Now I know my dog and when Cadbury got spooked as a younger dog he would mouth, or rather suck on your arm, as a form of comfort. But here was my vet telling me he should never be allowed near small children and he had issues!

I was upset and then I met my new trainer. Well you can ask her and she will tell you Cadbury is the soppiest dog ever. He was just scared at the vets and wanted comfort.

So long story short, look at your dog outside the vets and then assess if you need to do anything.
 
Thanks everyone. I just have personal experience with reactive dogs. My dog, Jazz hated being held down and hated the vet. I got her in vet school, she was a rescue who had been poorly socialized and neglected. They kept her in a kennel 24/7 and her muscle tone was so bad she was almost down in the carpus. She has fleas, kennel cough and horrible skin infections. The second time I took her to the vet, she almost bit the woman vet. I had had her 2 weeks and although she was very dog aggressive I had never seen any people aggression. She was just shy and worried about people, especially men. During the visit I put her on the table, the tech just grabbed her and the doctor moved in for the exam. No how do you do, no small talk nothing. I then got a lecture about really needing to get on this dog. I was more than alittle embarrassed. Over the next couple visits things went from bad to worse as more and more force techniques were appiled. Even if I held her. One time, I just decided to put a muzzle on her and let her be. Miracles of miracles she just stood there. Weird.:rolleyes2: When she didn't fell like her life was in danger,she was fine. Jazz taught me a lot of things such as force usually results in force/aggression in return, always read the dog are they fearful, nervous, reactive, tense, pushy and react according and always take your time and let the dog adjust to you and food solves a lot of problems:biggrin2:. I think our animals always teach us the lessons we need.:smile2

As an old dog Jazz was the picture of the perfect patient. Anytime, anyone else had to work with her, I had her muzzled. So they wouldn't be tempted to try and control her. Luckily, I rarely need help with her. I could sit her on the table and draw blood from her jugular vein all by all by myself.
 
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wow- all good advice already. I love my vet but I'd take Dr. Shelli too- too bad she's so far away. Actually when I started taking Happy to our vet, I didn't see anyone but the receptionist and vet- I was always the one holding Happy. probably didn't see a vet tech for well over a year- maybe more. She comes in now- mostly to play with the puppers and get stuff ready for the vet but not really for holding the dogs. Happy is fine, Callie is like- wait, I didn't know we were coming here, Cranberry is like- whatever- there's treats right. I do give them lots of treats while we wait- make them sit, down, whatever tricks they know- keeps their minds off where they are :wink2:
 
i know im saying what everyone already has but really. i also think that vet has no idea what a doggie day care is. its basically a small scale dog park with up to 150 total dogs seperated by size. they arnt trainers or behaviorists. the people who work at dog day cares supervise your dog and maybe toss a ball around. basically making sure your dog doesnt get into a fight with one of the 20+ dogs in the group he or she is in.

i worked at a dog day care for a summer and i thought i would be interacting more with them no. what people think at day cares is that if you play with one dog you have to play with all of them and that gets them worked up and in competition with eachother and that starts fights. its like that at every doggie day care i have applied/worked for. the people want to interact with the dogs the least amount possible. it is really a shame.


im sorry about the rant and most likley the ton of misspelled words. it was a rant from my phone. but when i read that the vet really said that it
 
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