We just had our first consult with the local "vet behaviorist". It went....meh.
First, while she seemed nice enough she did make some snide comments about my other two dogs: my 12 year old Aussie is overweight (I know, she's just not as active as she used to be so we're having to readjust), my terrier mixes nails were too long (they grow very quickly and I haven't had the time), she was appalled that I don't cut my dogs nails myself but rather have a groomer do it, and apparently my terrier is also too spoiled.
Maybe I'm just stressed, but it kind of rubbed me the wrong way.
As for her advice, there was some I agreed with and others I didn't.
I agreed with:
- She said instead of saying "it's okay" when he's scared/reacting, to replace it with "good boy" when he's quiet because it makes your voice sound more upbeat and positive.
- She said that while Cockers can have neurological aggression, based on his behavior she didn't think that was the case because he was clearly scared - not aggressive.
- She said to reward when he's quiet, but then our trainer told us that.
- She suggested an Adaptil diffuser, which I'll try but I'm not sure it will work.
I disagreed with:
- She said that by petting him or offering him the opportunity to hide behind me when he's reacting I was reinforcing his behaviors.
- She suggested having him in the room when I have a stranger (to him) come over and block access so he can't run away and hide, just let him bark and then throw treats when he's quiet.
- She asked about resource guarding. I mentioned that he does with the other dogs when it comes to high value items - in the past, he has actually lunged/attacked the other dogs for looking at his treat from across the room. I said he eats alone, partially so he doesn't guard his bowl and also so he doesn't steal the other dogs' food. I told her I still tend to give him high value treats (bones, stuffed Kongs, etc.) when we're not with the other dogs just in case, though he's gotten much, much better about it to the point where he rarely even growls. She told me this was bad, that I was reinforcing the resource guarding by allowing him to have his stuff alone (even though I don't even give him the stuff in the presence of the other dogs, so IMO he doesn't know the difference - it's not like he has it, growls at another dog, and then I take him to have his own space).
- She said he was too attached to me, that I needed to isolate him from me to the point of tethering him to other people. He definitely prefers to be with me, but will willingly go with others too (that he knows and trusts).
- She also was very unfamiliar with LAT, and seemed to kind of brush it off when I tried to explain it even though it's been the most successful thing thus far.
- When I mentioned that I was graduating in a year and likely moving to town, and that I wanted to take him with me hence my reason for wanting to help him (though of course he could stay here if need be), she wasn't at all hopeful, optimistic, or encouraging. At all. She just kind of got a look like, "why on earth would you want to do that"?
That's all I can think of. Are my listed concerns valid, or am I confused and she's right?
I honestly feel kind of deflated. She's going to type up her report and email it to me this weekend so I guess we'll go from there. I guess being a vet I was expecting some sort of new or better advice - most of it seemed worse (unless I'm just in the wrong) and at best, the same. It's not that I wanted her to prescribe medication, of course I don't if that's not the answer, but she didn't really seem to have an answer anyway.
She's also totally convinced that once I start school again in the semester I won't have time for him at all. Yes, I'll be busy but I've made time for him his entire life.
And of course I feel a bit guilty because I subjected my pup to all that stress and it feels like it was all for nothing. My payment paid for the consult as well as two follow up visits, but I don't know if I'll schedule them or not.
Input?
First, while she seemed nice enough she did make some snide comments about my other two dogs: my 12 year old Aussie is overweight (I know, she's just not as active as she used to be so we're having to readjust), my terrier mixes nails were too long (they grow very quickly and I haven't had the time), she was appalled that I don't cut my dogs nails myself but rather have a groomer do it, and apparently my terrier is also too spoiled.
Maybe I'm just stressed, but it kind of rubbed me the wrong way.
As for her advice, there was some I agreed with and others I didn't.
I agreed with:
- She said instead of saying "it's okay" when he's scared/reacting, to replace it with "good boy" when he's quiet because it makes your voice sound more upbeat and positive.
- She said that while Cockers can have neurological aggression, based on his behavior she didn't think that was the case because he was clearly scared - not aggressive.
- She said to reward when he's quiet, but then our trainer told us that.
- She suggested an Adaptil diffuser, which I'll try but I'm not sure it will work.
I disagreed with:
- She said that by petting him or offering him the opportunity to hide behind me when he's reacting I was reinforcing his behaviors.
- She suggested having him in the room when I have a stranger (to him) come over and block access so he can't run away and hide, just let him bark and then throw treats when he's quiet.
- She asked about resource guarding. I mentioned that he does with the other dogs when it comes to high value items - in the past, he has actually lunged/attacked the other dogs for looking at his treat from across the room. I said he eats alone, partially so he doesn't guard his bowl and also so he doesn't steal the other dogs' food. I told her I still tend to give him high value treats (bones, stuffed Kongs, etc.) when we're not with the other dogs just in case, though he's gotten much, much better about it to the point where he rarely even growls. She told me this was bad, that I was reinforcing the resource guarding by allowing him to have his stuff alone (even though I don't even give him the stuff in the presence of the other dogs, so IMO he doesn't know the difference - it's not like he has it, growls at another dog, and then I take him to have his own space).
- She said he was too attached to me, that I needed to isolate him from me to the point of tethering him to other people. He definitely prefers to be with me, but will willingly go with others too (that he knows and trusts).
- She also was very unfamiliar with LAT, and seemed to kind of brush it off when I tried to explain it even though it's been the most successful thing thus far.
- When I mentioned that I was graduating in a year and likely moving to town, and that I wanted to take him with me hence my reason for wanting to help him (though of course he could stay here if need be), she wasn't at all hopeful, optimistic, or encouraging. At all. She just kind of got a look like, "why on earth would you want to do that"?
That's all I can think of. Are my listed concerns valid, or am I confused and she's right?
I honestly feel kind of deflated. She's going to type up her report and email it to me this weekend so I guess we'll go from there. I guess being a vet I was expecting some sort of new or better advice - most of it seemed worse (unless I'm just in the wrong) and at best, the same. It's not that I wanted her to prescribe medication, of course I don't if that's not the answer, but she didn't really seem to have an answer anyway.
She's also totally convinced that once I start school again in the semester I won't have time for him at all. Yes, I'll be busy but I've made time for him his entire life.
And of course I feel a bit guilty because I subjected my pup to all that stress and it feels like it was all for nothing. My payment paid for the consult as well as two follow up visits, but I don't know if I'll schedule them or not.
Input?