VERY irritated with vet

thedoc617- I agree that ACD's can be aggressive. Mine isn't, but once I got her I read everything I could find and when I took her to training, the trainer had an ACD as well. My favorite kennel assistant at this vet hospital, also has 3 ACD's. When I first brought Ash over to my parent's house, at the young age of 8 weeks, my step-dad didn't even want to go near her because he had been attacked by one before. I think, from everything I've read, that ACD's are instinctively protective and it's up to the owner whether they turn that natural protectiveness into aggression. For this very reason, I started socializing Ash when she was VERY young. We took her everywhere with us and I got her used to being touched most everywhere. I would feel her paws every night and look at her teeth and eyes. Get in her ears. Just so that she would be comfortable with a human examining her. She's not aggressive at all, but let me tell you, when we're in our apartment and she hears ANYTHING outside nearby, she will growl a low growl and if it's really close or doesn't go away, she lets out a bark and a growl that sends shivers down my spine. If someone is coming to the door, she will bark and bark and bark, and growl too, until I open the door. When I open the door, if it's a stranger, she stops barking and sniffs their feet.
 
Also, if Ash starts growling or barking when we're at home and she hears something, if I tell her to stop, she stops. Just like as I described in my original post above, when Ash did finally give a slight growl to the vet, I told her to stop it and be good and she was fine. She stood still again. Ash knows how to be examined.
 
I don't know where I was really going with this reply! [] But, yes I agree with you doc617 that acd's CAN be aggressive.

I personally believe you have every right to be angry. Why would a vet or anyone working in a vets office act that way? I once had a vet for Sasha that was scared of her and she could tell she would growl at him but never bit but made the visit very unpleasent. So we were luck and have since found a GREAT vet who Sasha absolutely adores and the staff Best of luck with Ash and you search

Thanks for sharing Ash.  Your story explains the comment the new vet made to me when I took my foster ACD Sirius in - they asked me to hold her head while they gave the shots and blood draw.  Not unusual.  At the end though the vet said "She's not aggressive at all is she?".  I answered - "On no - just unsocialized but we are working on it."   Now her comment makes sense.   

I have been a vet tech for 3 years and have never met a ACD that I didn't like.  I have never had any problem with them.  It is all in the way you approach the dog.
I will take your dog any day over a Min Pin or Chihuahua. (no offense to those little guys)

I understand, it can be a very frustrating experience if all does not go as planned at the vet's office.
 
This is what happend to us recently......
 
Shaq and Marley have been going to the same vet since they were puppies. He was wonderful, and we never had a bad experience. Recently our vet broke his hip, and since he is an older gentleman, decided to sell his vet practice and retire.
 
This year I made an appt for the dogs at a closer vet clinic. I have been to the clinic before, with our cats, so I assumed everything could be fine. I could not have been more wrong, it was awful.
 
We showed up a little early for our appt so that I could fill out peperwork for the dogs. DH stayed in the SUV with Shaq and Marley, because we did not know how long this would take. When I was finished with paperwork, I let the receptionist know that the dogs were in the truck, and we would bring them in once the exam room was ready. (In the past I have always just brought the dogs into the waiting room. They are generally well behaved, but sometimes off-leashed dogs approach ours, which stresses me out because I never know how other dogs are going to react to our overly-friendly giants. This year I decided to avoid this by having the dogs wait in the truck until the vet was ready.)
 
I waited, and waited. Finally almost 30 minutes after our appt was suspossed to be the vet tech said they were ready for us. By this time I was already irritated, but trying to stay calm. I had checked on DH a few times, and he was getting a little annoyed as well.
 
When I went out to the truck, the waiting room was empty, and the vet tech's last words to me were, "The exam room is clear, you can bring them right in." I brought Marley in first, and *thought* DH was right behind me. When I arrived inside the office was still empty, but both the receptionist and the vet techs had dissappeared as well. I weighed Marley myself, then found a spot on a bench.Marley sat nicely by my side, as the waiting room started to fill with other people and dogs. Finally DH appeared in the entryway, about the time the receptionist suddenly appeared behind the desk. She told me they had made a mistake, and it would be a few more minutes, before they could exam our dogs. I told her we would be in the entryway, and let us know when they were ready. Then I took Marley into the glassed in entryway, to wait with Shaq and DH. I asked DH what had taken so long outside? He said that as he was walking in a dog had rushed Shaq, and when Shaq turned to greet the other dog, the other dog had bit Shaq. (Apparently the dog was there, to be put down. It was old and sick and cranky. Shaq was not hurt, but it added to the stress of the morning.)
 
FINALLY the vet tech motioned to us that they were ready. DH and I rushed the dogs thru the waiting room, and into a exam room. (Avoiding the dog who had bit Shaq minutes ago, and lunged at him again as we passed.) Once in the exam room they vet tech closed the door and left us alone inside. We started to calm down, and a few minutes later our vet appeared.
 
He did not even bother to ask the dogs names, tell us his name, ask us anything about the dogs, or pet the dogs. I have never had a vet before who does not at least pet the dogs. All he said was "Whoa, big dogs." Then went right after Shaq, trying to examine his ears. Shaq would not stay still, and just kept trying to get arom the vet. He even tried to hide under the exam table, and finally the vet backed Shaq into a corner. (Shaq gets his ears examined daily by me. He could care less about it. I blow in his ears, kiss them, massage inside them. Whatever, he could care less.) I finally called Shaq to me, had him sit, and held Shaq's ear for the him. The vet did not even attempt to examine anything else on Shaq.
 
Next came Marley, who by this time, had backed herself onto my lap. (I was sitting on a chair in the corner.) When the vet approached Marley, she turned her face to the side, and glared at him. I thought 'Oh, oh. This is not good.' She was giving him the I-am-a-great-pyr-back-up-now-if-you-know-whats-good-for-you look. Before I could say anything, he reached for her ears, and Marley did a air snap. I was surprised because she is normally very friendly, and I usually spend most of my energy trying to drag her away from people.  (But she does have that pyr personality, so I was not totally shocked.) This is the very first time I have ever even witnessed an air snap. I apoligized to the vet and he started to reach for Marley again, and I said "Wait, I will hold her ears for you." Marley let me hold her ears, but still attempted to snap at the vet a second time. I finally told him to skip her ears.
 
Then the vet gave Shaq his shots, which was fine. By this time I had moved Marley, and put her in a sit stay in another area of the room. When the vet approached Marley, to give her shots she gave him that look again. The vet just looked terrified, and stood there. I finally offered to give Marley her shots. Amazingly the vet actually agreed to this.
 
I think he was really afraid of Marley, but he did manage to tell me that I was "really good at giving shots." Gee, thanks. I just paid for two vet exams plus shots. Only one dog was weighed (because I did it myself) the other dog was not weighed. The vet only looked in Shaq's ears, and gave Shaq's shots. He did not examine Marley. I gave Marley her shots. It was the worst vet visit ever. I will never take my dogs back to that clinic!
 
I don't completely blame the vet, because the entire morning was so stressful. I did everything I could to arrive on time, isolate my dogs, and monitor their behavior around other patients, but it was still a disaster. I am sure in part the dogs were stressed because DH and I were stressed, and in part the dogs behaved poorly because they sensed the vet was afraid.
 
 
Sorry that was such a long post. I guess what I am trying to say, is keep looking. You will find a vet who works better for you. Lots of people have had bad experiences at the vet clinic. It made me feel so much better to read everyone else's posts and realize I am not the only one who has had a bad experience!
 
 
 

You know Ashland, I am with you on how you feel about vets. I have been taking Nigel to the vet for random visits (and treats) ever since he was itty-bitty. He is the only dog I know that loves to go to the vet. I did this because of the very reaction that your vet had to the breed description on your file. Nigel is a mutt, but since he looks rottie and his mom is a lab/pit bull mix, I knew that there might be stereo-typing for him to overcome. He did so and with flying colors, loves the vets, just not all the other dogs in the room. Now, the vet that took care of our family dogs from the time I was in elementary school did something like that to my brother's dog. Mattie is a lab/mastiff mix and the biggest sweetheart that is around. This vet told my brother that she was vicious and a menace and that he needed to keep her muzzled anytime she would out in public. Not sure what could have happened because Mattie is a certified therapy dog and has never shown any agression whatsoever. This is the same vet that liked Nigel a lot, and personally, I would trust Mattie with strangers anyday of the week over Nigel. So, just goes to show that you never can tell what people are going to say, do or think.

Every ACD I know is fine with most everyone.  However, the trailer court my sister lives in doesn't allow many breeds, one of which is the ACD.  For the life of me I can't figure why.

I would be looking for a new vet, PRONTO.

I have an ACD, too, but my vet is much nicer than those vets were!  Good grief.  Our vet comes to the dog, squats down, starts petting her and rubbing her around the ears, hands her a treat, etc!  I think she likes going there, to some extent.
 
Jasmine loves the mail-people, too.  She had an encounter with one, recently and couldn't give her enough kisses. 
 
If you're that afraid of dogs, then why by a vet?  If she had come in with a confidant attitude and started talking to Ash, and saying, aren't you a pretty doggie? and stuff like that, Ash would have hardly noticed, when she started to examine him.
 
By the way, any pics of your ACD?

Willow had a skin problem going on one weekend and her regular vet wasn't in.  So, they still had us come in to see another vet in the practice.  Well, to make a long story short, this guy stood across the room and had me hold her up on her back legs so he could see her belly. 
 
She was muzzled too.  I told my regular vet about it later and she laughed and said, oh, yeah, he's definately better with the cats! 
 
Luckily, he didn't need to touch her to know what was going on and he did prescribe the right medication to treat it. 

I too would keep looking for a vet.  Our vet practice has mutiple vets as well and for most things and our 3, we don't care who we see, but for Pepper, who has ongoing allergy problems, we always ask for the same vet and sometimes we have to wait a few more days or whatever but we do for her.

Tasha is my shy dog and is the biggest as well.  Most vets have had no problems, I'll sit/stand by her head and keep her facing me and she submits to probing, prodding, etc.  This one vet tech though, man, she did NOT like him.  She's never growled at any body at the vets, she doesn't like it but she had never growled.  This one guy though, he was a big, tall guy, not overweight, but big.  She growled at him immediately and he was scared.  He did leave, but came back with another tech and the other tech muzzled poor Tasha.  I felt humiliated by this... but I understand why.  Turns out that guy didn't last long at the vet's office. 

I too would like to see pics of Ash.  Everyone always asks if Tasha is a cattle dog, but that's not what I see when I look at her.  But I've never heard of cattle dogs as being aggressive....

Ash, I would most certainly find a new vet!  If they are afraid of your dog, they should muzzle him, NOT give him a sub-standard examination.  If my dog ever snapped or growled at the vet, I would certainly accept having him muzzled.  But I would NOT accept having a vet to afraid to check him over.
 
I feel so fortunate to have our vet.  He is absolutely wonderful and Chase loves him to pieces.  In fact, the vet's office in general is a great place for Chase.  The only thing I don't like about it is the fact that he sometimes barks to get the receptionist's attention.  And it works, cause she always comes over and gives him love and a cookie.
 
My vet is about 6'5 with a very deep voice.  Chase minds him very well...I guess he sees him as a natural "alpha".  He's always a little bit late for our appointments, but it doesn't really bother me, because he ALWAYS gives us extra time to talk about whatever.  I know that he's late for our appointment because he gave extra time to the people before me and that I'll get extra time after.  I suppose he should adjust his appointment times accordingly.  All the same, that's very little bother to put up with, considering we have a great vet who loves our dog.
 
But we're moving in June and will have to find a new one.  Waaah.

Ash that is definitly unacceptable behavior for a vet. If they feel uncomfortable with your dog another vet should have seen her or she should have been muzzled. There is no excuse to have given a substandard exam. And that is EXACTLY what happened...
I had a TERRIBLE encounter with a dog once and as a result was in the hospital for several days and was in pain for a LONG time. I now have a completely numb spot on my leg due to nerve damamge caused by that particular dog... And that was AFTER I had been on the floor with her patting and scartching her... held her for an exam and for vaccines administered. As we were walking out the door the dog lunged at the back of me snapped and held on. When her owner tried to pull her off me she was also bitten fairly severly on the hand and arm...
We don't know what happened but it was like the dog finally lost it. The last picture I have in my head of that dog is her wagging her tail relaxed and happy ears relaxed soft eyed...

Since then I have a deep rooted fear of that particular breed... and while it's not fair to that breed it is what it is. I send another technician into the room to deal with them.

I doubt that it is as often as you think that vets or techs are stereotyping your breed....to even think that is just stereotyping yourself.  I would have to say...being a tech myself...that we see FAR more dogs AND cats than ppl see on a daily basis...behavior is something you need to learn with experience MORE than just books and classes.  You can look at picture after picture, book after book, lecture after lecture and it will NEVER give you the knowledge that interaction does.  We are able to closely read animals and the rule of thumb is ANNNNYY  time you don't feel you or the animal is comfortable, DON'T and under any circumstances DO NOT risk it.  It is safer for us and for your pet.  Yes there are some chicken techs and Dr's out there but I will let you know I muzzle animals OFTEN...and have only actually been bitten once, by a cat and it didn't puncture.  I would say that record shows that safety counts.  If you don't like your Dr...find something new...I don't see what the point is in hating them and continuing to go back...    And another thing...there are more bite attempts by the "cute and cuddlies" (like poodles, malteses, shih tzus) than the "big and supposedly tough" (rotts, dobes).  You can also tell who did their socializing necessary...it's not our fault the dogs are scared...we just try our best to make them the most comfortable.

You really have to wonder why people who tend to be fearful of dogs become Vets? Is it for the genuine love of animals...or the money?  I also have to wonder if students are taught any courses in animal psychology and behavior. Perhaps Cesar Millan - the dog whisperer - should be recruited to teach them a few things.

nlkelly- I never once said that I hated vets. I said I was irritated with the vet experience that I have had more than once. I also said that I did see a different vet, once I realized that the scaredy cat vet was not giving Ash a proper exam.
 
I also mentioned how a vet tech had administered Ash's bordatella shot and admitted to being nervous solely because of Ash's breed, but at least she was honest with me. And while the second that came in to take over for the first was was great, I will not be taking Ash back there. I've gone there twice, and while that is one time too many, it's not like I've been taking Ash back over and over and over again.
 
If I gave anyone the impression that I "hate" vets or vet techs, I sincerely apologize because that is not how I feel. I thought I was pretty clear that I was venting and that my personal experiences were frustrating. I do stand by what I said though. If you're going to judege an animal for whatever reason, then don't be a vet/vet tech of have someone else do the examine. And why didn't the vet offer to muzzle Ash if she was so scared? Ash was in NO way showing aggression to either vet or vet tech. She was fine and being extremely cooperative. Those 2 vets came in with a biased attitude and wasted my time. It's unacceptable.