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He is crated. I typically bring his favorite hard chew toy to keep. I don’t know if it’s ever helped. I don’t think I’ve noticed new marks on it afterwards. I’ll get clarification on the way they’re restraining/performing the service so I can work on it at home, though he’s not shown any issues with me handling his paws and in between toes. I’ll ask them if they’re willing to give treats during the service, and I’ll bring some going forward.
Overall, his favorite thing is his security blanket which goes with him during overnight boarding, but it doesn’t go in the kennels with him at home/vet bc he shreds things when he’s mad 🙃
Part of me thinks it resembles the shelter too closely. Their description of his behavior matches what the shelter saw, but he’s been completely opposite of that from the moment I brought him home.
Could be the memory of the shelter. Okay gotcha that there’s no problem at home. Is it an option to trim his nails yourself? Also, some vets allow pet owners to stay with the pet during the appointment. Not every pet does it, but it never hurts to ask. Mals are smart, so eliminating anxiety in one setting could be tricky, since under other circumstances the dog could behave totally differently. I hope you’ll be able to work on the issue and reduce the stress as much as possible. I wanted to say that I feel for you, my mal isn’t very healthy and we’ve had so many vet appointments during the years that my dog has developed a similar issue with vet anxiety.
I’ll see what I can do. I just hate that he’s so worked up. The vet did recommend maybe a daily CBD supplement treat, but I may also ask for some Trazadone until we can work through it. I don’t like having to rely on drugs, but I also understand that sometimes it’s necessary to slow their reactions so they can process things (at least when I worked with rescue equines)
Thank you for input!
I’m not a professional trainer and I’m not a vet (yet), but I’ve read in the vet group on FB many times that often drugs alone don’t work, and behavior training is needed anyways, with or without medical help. That’s just for your information, every case is unique. I’m sure you’ll figure out the best way to handle this situation. Good luck!
My dog was given a diagnosis “” of anxiety separation. They stuck the thermometer in his butt abruptly and were too brash with nail clipping. One year later. I do his nails either a with a dremel or sandpaper board. Got him more calm with having him wear booties. Ya they give drugs to calm him but he can’t calm. So now for shots etc I keep him on the ground. Use stew meat raw for bait and distraction. Good luck 🍀
Tbh I’d never expect my working breed to tolerate what you’re expecting.
Please elaborate.
I would not expect others to wash and cut my dogs nails and I wouldn’t expect my working breed shepherd to tolerate it. It’s an unrealistic expectation for most of them and if you keep pushing it there’s a decent chance your dog will bite someone if it is a mal. Mine doesn’t even like when I do these things with her and we’ve worked on them together since she was a baby. When I take my dog to the vet she’s muzzled and I do the handling for the vet. I taught her a hand target which she complies with for shots, physical exam, blood draw etc and I call the shots as far as how to go about these things. We practice handling skills with our different training groups regularly to keep these behaviors up because they’re hard and she doesn’t like it. That’s my advice. Understand you don’t have a family dog lab type breed and don’t try to fit a round peg in a square hole. I definitely would not blame your vet for this as it’s pretty normal behavior for the breed, and I wouldn’t push your pup to tolerate it more or put more pressure on it by bringing it in more to try and work on it. I’m not sure how old your dog is but pressure could for sure make it worse.
No, I don't have a lab, but I don't have a dog like you describe yours to be. I am also not new to working canine breeds nor working animals in general.
I don't expect anyone to be his main caregiver but myself, however, I do expect my vets to properly care for him when he comes in and to relay any information regarding his health and safety as well as the safety of the employees. They've been aware of our situation from day 1. I didn’t say I blamed them for anything; just that I was upset that they didn’t mention his anxiety in the back sooner.
It is also not an unrealistic expectation for animals to behave appropriately for their situations. I never said he should not be acting out in the way that he is, however, I currently do not understand why his anxiety has increased surrounding the vet building. I can take a guess that it has something to do with the kennels resembling the shelter environment as the behaviors described are identical, yet when boarded at a "quiet" facility where he only hears faint barking, he has no anxiety issues. OR maybe the vets and techs are mishandling him, but you're right, I wouldn't know that without going to the back with him which I've already requested for his next appointments.
Though muzzle trained, I do not muzzle my dog nor do his handling at the vets as they've not indicated any need to do so or for any forms of additional restraint. They've not complained about his behavior during services, just noted to me how restless he is in the kennels and at pickup.
Taking him into the building for training is not putting pressure on him, and I don't understand how you see it that way. I am simply bringing him in to practice neutrality with basic commands and positive reinforcement and to become familiar with the surroundings with as little extra disturbance as possible and without any services requested. I do this with EVERY building he is introduced to, and his confidence within said building grows with every session.
My vets properly care for my dog lol. I understand that I have a dog bred to have big feelings that will not always make the best decisions without my direction, so I control what I can and set her up for success where I can and reduce the stress where I can. She behaves appropriately (better than every other dog I’ve worked on, as a vet tech), but that’s by design by me because I do proactive work mitigate stress where possible. Expecting her just be chill in a place she doesn’t want to be is unrealistic. She is, genetically, not chill and if she dislikes something and is left to her own devices will express that. And yeah, if your dog feels anxiety in a situation and you continue to force it into that situation it is putting pressure on the dog and the behavior is worsening (your words in your post) due to that. You often times can’t work on leaving your dog at the vet. You being there training with the dog vs leaving it to be handled in whatever way the techs need to to accomplish whatever services you’re paying them for will probably never translate to the dog. It doesn’t take mishandling for dogs to dislike these procedures. Most dogs are really difficult for nails and many are pretty stressed about baths. Many just do not like the experience of being handled by people outside of their immediate family. Most dogs find the described situations anxiety provoking but mals show it more (because they’re mals) and tend to have less tolerance for things they dislike. This is why I suggest not leaving the dog for these services. I know my dog isn’t exactly like yours but I was giving examples of how we mitigate stress and that I have realistic expectations for my breed. I take her handling very seriously and I know and have seen many working breeds snap from discomfort because genetically they’re faster to bite, period. I will not risk her stability with strangers or even a bite history over something like a bath or nails. Best of luck
Your plan sounds fine. When the dog is in the back where he paces, is he crated there before/after the appointment until you picks him up? If yes, send a lick mat with him or just a bunch of kibbles. Eating calms them down, let him have something to do while he’s waiting there. Another thing, is he restrained during a nail trim or how is it done? My idea would be to start working at home, making him laying down, touching his paws and nails and giving lots of reward, his most valuable treats. If vets are willing to work with you on this issue, you can give them those treats before the appointment so they reward the dog during it. And another easy thing to try. When he’s having a vet appointment, is he muzzled? If not, give him his favorite ball to hold, preferable the one that is soft and easy to chew. Again, chewing calms them down. Just holding his favorite thing in the mouth can help him. I need to say, it’s safe unless he has a habit of destroying a toy to pieces fast and eat those pieces.