i make the visits as positive as i can. the first visit was fine. today the tech had to hold him tight while the vet did her thing, temp., etc. he started growling and squirming. the tech grabbed scruff and said NO! it didn't work. then when he got shots he started screaming.
i pretty much just stood there, i was kinda shocked, i wasn't expecting that at all. when we put him on the floor i had the tech give him a treat, he seemed ok, when i put him in the car crate he threw up. tech said i should bring him in to the office just to play, which is a great idea, what else can i do or should i've handled this differently? Thanks

I would not have let another person correct your dog. The vet tech should not have done that on a pup or adult dog. This can be quite traumatic to a young pup. He surely wasn't showing "aggression" but more fear and insecurity. It should have been ignored and handled by trying the procedure an different less threatening way, like a different hold, or on the floor.
I would simulate vet visits at a park or your home to try and get the dog used to being handled aqwardly, like at a vets office.
Don't let the vet or vet tech hold your dog if you do not like the way they do it. Ask them to show you how to hold your dog and you do it. Less trouble for them and your dog. This can reduce the amount of "training" (bad training) your dog may receive from people who believe they are in the position to do it.
He oviously was stressed, since he threw up in the car- of course the growling too. I wouldn't bring him to the office to play, due to the risk of contact with diseases (higher risk possibly), but I would simulate the vets' and practice socialization.

 Quote: ValLight

i make the visits as positive as i can. the first visit was fine. today the tech had to hold him tight while the vet did her thing, temp., etc. he started growling and squirming. the tech grabbed scruff and said NO! it didn't work. then when he got shots he started screaming.
i pretty much just stood there, i was kinda shocked, i wasn't expecting that at all. when we put him on the floor i had the tech give him a treat, he seemed ok, when i put him in the car crate he threw up. tech said i should bring him in to the office just to play, which is a great idea, what else can i do or should i've handled this differently? Thanks

I think some dogs do surprise their owners at the vet. It smells like blood and fear and illness, I imagine, plus all those general strange-dog and cat smells.......

My dogs know that vet visits are followed with high-value treats. I know, I know....... bribery ....... but they also get all the positive quick stops to use the scale and pick up a treat, and calmness on my part, and maybe most important is that I go over them regularly, end to end, including paws, checking for lumps and cuts and any odors that shouldn't be there (ears and mouth).

So they are used to standing there and being checked out.

It all helps. JMO.

i have stopped in at the vet just to "visit" with my pup (14 mo now), and, as connie, i subject the poor guy to having his ENTIRE body examined/handled/groomed (don't forget toes/toenails!!) on a regular basis at home.
keep treats with YOU to give the little one. do not let the tech manhandle your puppy--you do the restraints (ask for help from the vet or tech on how to do this if you're not familiar). if anyone at vet's office isn't cool with this, try to find a different vet. it's customer service, and YOU pay THEM!

then, if all works out well, when you go in with a lip abcess in a year (like i did) and the vet asks if your GSD will "tolerate" a thermometer up his butt, and you say "yes he will" (even if he's never had one there before!!!), he WILL! though he did try the classic "sit down on it" initially. gotta go!

Even if my dogs growl or squirm as a fearful reaction I would always correct with a harsh no and the scruff shake. They need to know that growling at a person is completely unacceptable. IF it was me, personally, I wouldn't have ignored it. But when he acts like that be careful to never pet him and say, "it's okay, don't be afraid" because all the dog is hearing is "I did a good thing by reacting this way because I am getting attention now." As far as the vet tech correcting the dog, probably not the best idea, but not the end of the world. I think at the end of the day the dog needs to know that YOU as the pack leader find this behavior unacceptable.

Be careful with the treats because if you give it at the wrong time (like to soon after he growled or acted bad) he could think the treat is a reward for that behavior. I would probably give the treat when he first got there and was acting good.

My rule for puppies is that if it's not acceptable for an adult dog, you shouldn't let your puppies get away with it because before you know it they will be big.

I would get in the habit now of preventing other people from commanding or disciplining your dog. There's no reason for him to ever have to be disciplined by anyone other than his pack leader/s.

Not to mention how many people have completely messed up ideas about proper ways to discipline a puppy, or even a grown dog for that matter. They're not going to have to live with the damage they could do to your dog: you are. So don't be afraid to speak up.

Another thing: vets and vet techs know almost zilch about dog behavior/training. I have a friend who just finished vet school at Tufts, ostensibly one of the best in the country. They had a two week ELECTIVE on behavior and that was all. Luckily my friend is studying it on his own, but don't think that vets are the source of wisdom on dog behavior or training. And they'll certainly act like they're the end-all-be-all, so don't be fooled!

The flip side to this means that you HAVE to be there to correct him. You can't let him get away with things or other people will be forced into doing it to protect themselves (for example, people that think it's cute for their dogs to jump all over people). You're going to be responsible for both his good behavior and his bad behavior...

And I don't think that a vet's office is a good place for a puppy to be socialized. Too many illnesses/unpredictable dogs/ding-dong owners.

Just an FYI, some dogs will HATE one vet and cower or growl, and then a different vet will just have the "magic touch" with them. Of course, some dogs hate all vets so the best bet is to be the strongest, best pack leader to your dog that you can be. That really increases the odds of him trusting you and whatever situation you put him in, without him having to feel like he has to make decisions on how to handle things on his own.

Good luck to you!