Hi everyone, I am going to ask for some suggestion on how to handle my Chico at the vets office, he is dog aggressive. Why?

My opinion, and my know about the events was cause primarily by dogs been off leash while he was a pup, five different time on a trail back on base, anyway, we are past that. What I have is a 97,4 pounds, one year old GSD that has been dog aggressive for a long time.

I have got a good advice from Steve, and I have tried to engage him and calm him down with dogs behind fences, but he still have this mind set to get excited in that situation.

Now, I feel I am at my last resort, what do I do? He is a hard dog., but the mention of corrections I feel I might turn some suggestion off, if some out there can relate, please let me know how you overcame that situation. Dan

Ask the vet for the first appointment of the day, or the first appointment after lunch. There still may be a dog there but its less likely the waiting room will be full. Keep him in the car while you check in and pay. Right into the treatment room and back outside. It makes it much less stressful for everyone.

As for working on it, follow Steve's advice. He knows his stuff. Just remember that while your dog is big and has a lot of training he is very young. It might be a while before you get the focus you want, but if you keep plugging along you will get there. One day it will all click into place if you do the work.

Thanks Lauren, I know You, Kelly, and Steve, are right. Plus you have said the right words and put me back on the hope road.

I see him working at other exercise, and I wonder why not get this one, I am there to protect him. Anyway, Lauren thanks. Dan

It can be hard, Dan! Don't get discouraged. You guys can do this. Look at what you've already accomplished together. Keep at it.

My female can be very DA if a dog gets too far into her bubble or comes up on her too fast.(especially little fluffy ones). I take her into the vets & right into a room & back out to the truck when done. If I have to wait a bit, based on the dogs in the waiting area, if it is a quiet day at the vets, I will bring her in or leave her in the truck until a roon is free. If I bring her in,I stand over on the side or in a cornor & I will put her in a platz(down) & if a dog starts to walk out of a room too close, I ask her for a sit & give her a 'watch me' command & have her hold that until the dog passes or ask for a 'foss'(heel)) & walk her back into the restroom area. If the passing dog's owner is not paying attention to their dog, as most let them wonder around on way too long flex leads, I tell them that my dog is DA & ask that they control their dog. I make sure that I keep myself between my dog & the passing dog if necessary. Fortunately, I rarely have to take my dogs to the vet.

If you cannot handle your dog on your own, ask someone to come with you for your vet visits that can help you with him. Train the dog to a muzzle if you need the extra assurance that your dog cannot bite another dog, should an encounter happen.

My female has been attacked 4 times (my male 3x)by loose out of control dogs. It is a real problem on local fields & beaches around here. At least my male has not become DA but will definately watch any other other dogs that are around. No matter how nice the dog, enough unprovoked attacks can make any dog aggressive if only to feel that a good defence is a good offence.

Had to take my male to the vets recently & my son went with me to handle my dog, as I had just had shoulder surgery a couple of weeks before & knew that I could not handle the dog if there were any problems with a dog coming into his space & he's only 78 lbs. No shame is getting help, as my primary concern is in protecting my dogs & keeping them safe & whatever that encompasses.

I have no problem telling owners that are not controling their dogs that my dog will make short work of their dog ( & she will)if they don't control them. That usualy make them pay attention to what their dogs are doing while they are standing at the desk checking in or out.

The people at the vets know that my dogs are under complete control by me & have no problem with my addressing owners not doing the same with their dogs.

If you are taking you dogs to SchH club training....incorporate
desensitizing the dogs to other dogs as part of your obedience training at the club. The club is supposed to be there to help you with training your dogs.

I can tell you for sure Dan that his focus will dramaticaly increase over the next year. I asked myself the same question all the time!

How is it that this dog, who at seven months old can do a sit or down from motion, will not make eye contact with me when there is a dog across the street?!

How is it that she could down from a stand at a hundred feet away but still completely forget all manners when greeting a friend or family member?

Training time is different. They know its a fun game and they are anticipating your every move. The dog across the street is for whatever reason is a real threat to him.

Real life distractions are unpredictable, and the rush they feel can be different. It will come together with lots of work as maturity hits.

I wait in my truck with DA rescues, or my own non aggressive dogs until a room is available.
Many people in the waiting room don’t control their dogs, and as Ann mentioned, those flexi leads can be problematic.
Many vets in my area have a side or rear door they will allow you to enter if you ask, to bypass the waiting room.

I usually wait in the vehicle with my dogs and a tech will just come out and kind of wave at me when it's my turn. My dogs aren't dog aggressive but I don't want to test them if some little rat dog gets in their face.

None of the vets have a problem with that, I think their other clients are more comfortable with the big scary dogs out side.

Same thing when I'm done, I will put my dog in the vehicle and come back to pay. It's too easy to get distracted while paying and not have an eyeball on the other dogs.

From a vet's point of view-

It is impossible to do a decent exam on a dog that you think will bite . The client does not get their money's worth if the vet is scared.

I have done my share of exams on big shepherds and rotts while their owners gave commands in German. Some people like to show off their voice control over their dog in the vet office. One dog attacked his owner, causing serious injury.
I became a person afraid of a biting dog after that encounter.
I was always a cow doctor, just did a little small animal at the end of my working life to try to earn some bucks, so most small animal vets are going to be way better than me -- but I can tell you for sure, fear does not a smart doctor make.
Someone who can control the dog physically or a muzzle makes for a better exam.

Both Betty's- you make fantastic points!