Is any level of protectiveness okay?

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

So, I had an uncomfortable experience at the vet today with Rooney. I had to take him in unexpectedly because we had discovered a small lump on his flank and wanted to get it checked out. It turned out to be a benign cyst and nothing to worry about but before we could get to that happy ending I had to endure the awkward experience of my dog growling at the Vet. 

Here is some background (just for perspective): Rooney lives in a busy household with people coming and going frequently and does fine with all of that. He goes to a doggie daycare periodically and always gets good reports for his interactions with both the dogs and caregivers (a man and a woman). We walk daily and he passes people without incident and can sit in front of Starbucks watching people pass by without barking or getting overly excited.

That said, every once in awhile if he is really startled by somebody (they kind of pop out of nowhere) he has been known to startle, kind of jump away (not toward anyone) and growl a little. He always stops when I pop the leash and tell him "No." He is definitely a bit more wary of men in general and is far more protective of me than my husband.

So, here is the scenario at the vet today: He went in the room with the female tech just fine. She gave him pets and checked him out and all was well. She left, closing the door behind her. Then the male vet came in. At first Rooney was quiet but as soon as he started moving toward us (remember we are in an enclosed, small space now) he stood up and backed away and started growling. It wasn't a vicious growl (no snarling) but it was definitely a growl.

The vet left and said he'd send the female tech back in and that they would take him in the back away from me. She came back in, Rooney was fine, went back with her just fine and she says he accepted peacefully the muzzle they then put on him and was fine for the brief examination.

So, she follows up the good report about the cyst with a recommendation for a dog behavior therapist and gives me her card. She also says that any aggression issues are likely to get worse with age so it's best to get on it.

I am completely fine with working with Rooney more on the things that make him anxious and I certainly don't like to hear him growling at people- but was his reaction so unheard of? I left feeling so sad and embarrassed and as though I have completely failed as a dog owner when I have tried so hard to do everything right with this guy. He has been VERY socialized since the day we brought him home, no one has ever mistreated him in the slightest and we continue to try and include him in everything we can in our lives.

Based on his 99% good behavior with people does he really need a private behavior therapist consultation, or is it enough to just step back up his regular training (which we do need to do)? I'm concerned this is going to be costly and I'm questioning if he is behavior is so far out of bounds that it warrants such specialized intervention.

Thoughts? Advice?

P.S. Just FYI- Rooney is almost two years old. And look how sweet he is! (So none of our DK'ers will worry, I'm updating this to add that my daughter does not hold him around the neck regularly and her arms are actually quite loose in this picture. It was just a very quick moment.) :-)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

My dog is not aggressive and certainly does not like the vet. The door opens and he lets out a sound of disapproval. Small sound, like he is saying, " Oh NO. Not you"

Spud has had some serious things happen there: Neutering, massive ear infection treatment, hair pulling during infections and cleaning, a bad toe that was very painful to touch.

I would be more worried if he did not respond at all. 

I did ask the vet. He said, "Ahhh YEAH!  That's normal from the best of dogs"

He pretty much gave me the " are you stupid?" look.  He says, it's just fine that he lets him know he is not too happy.

I did however ask that Spud be muzzled during a procedure. I asked, the vet did not.

The vet said it was no problem. My thoughts are that I NEVER want Spud to make contact with skin.

The fear of men does bother me and you should read on ways to improve the relationship. Find out why. See what can be done.

I don't see a need for behaviorist at all. 

Dogs growl at vets!

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

I actually wouldn't say he has a generalized "fear of men". He is around men all the time quite happily. I just meant that if he does have a nervous reaction to someone it is more likely to be a man and mostly only if he is with me (so I think it is a protective response more than a fear response). However, we do continually have him meet men or big, giant teenage boys (which we have a lot of around here) and he does just fine the majority of the time.

That said though, as I mentioned before, we are planning to step up our efforts to minimize his anxiety in new situations and to really, really work on making him feel as though he does NOT need to be in charge (which I believe is a lot of his issue).

Thanks for the help!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Do these men have beards?  Hats on their heads? 

Not all men, or men who are tall. There are so many variables in these situations.

I have a pretty happy dog, but he really hates some costumes on Halloween. He also hates lawn decorations that are inflatable. At least at first. Then he gets used to them.

Different things set good  dogs off.

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

Good question... I would have to say that if there is any somewhat common denominator that throws him it is older men with gray hair (which seems weird since I don't even know if a dog can tell if one's hair is gray). The vet today did have gray hair, glasses, and was older... Maybe we need to visit more elderly/older people... 

Rooney doesn't like those inflatables either but he adjusts pretty quickly. He has a nervous side but 99% of the time adapts to new/unusual things very well given the chance. That's one thing that bothers me about today. I feel like Rooney left that situation feeling like he got the response he wanted. He growled and the vet left. I wish that instead the vet had been willing to try and help him overcome his anxiety and turn the situation into a positive. But, all we can do is move forward.

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

Oh, and I actually wasn't that bothered by them muzzling him. I certainly didn't want anything to happen either and if the vet was already nervous around my dog then, who knows? If it had really upset Rooney I might feel differently, but he didn't seem to care at all.

[Sharon & Monty]

I take Monty to the torture chamber about every 12 weeks,... the groomer. I always tell him ahead of time, i tell him we are going to Janet the groomer, or I tell him we are going to the doctor.  I try to give him time to calculate out destination,. oh yes, i'm sure some folks will say I humanize my dog, well yes I do. He is very smart and I dont think it fair to trick him, Monty never jumps up on people.  that is until I take him to the groomer or vet.  He jumps up at me to tell me he does not want to stay there even tho bad things have not happened there, they know!   I equate it when I left my toddler at day care and she cried for no good reason except she wanted her MOM~!

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

That's where I went wrong! I should have had a nice chat with Rooney before we left. ;-) Heck, it's worth a try! I'll do that next time!

[Sharon & Monty]

well he still jumps up on me to "please take me away"  but I look at it as "well I tried to tell ya"  lol

[F, Calla & Luca]

Luca has had some traumatic times at the vet getting his tail bandaged. Nothing too painful but no fun. But he loves the vet, or did until she was fired for planning her own hospital and we just have to stay well until then. She gets down on the floor with the dogs and let's them kiss her : )

[Wendy and Myla]

I've never had this problem with Myla but we had a dog, Kara, who loved everybody!!!  She went everywhere with us and we never heard a peep, let alone a growl from her except when she was around nine years old and we were camping and walked around the campsite and there was a single camper there, a male, and she would not stop growling or barking and her hair was on end!  We quickly walked by, but, I believe she was the best judge of character and this was one person that we should stay away from!  Maybe Rooney just had a vibe with this particular vet and I think you have to go with it!  I would definitely try other scenario's like you are planning, but listening to your story, I think Rooney is just telling you that he is not happy with this particular person, vet or not, and in future, you have to go what he likes!  Hope this is all it is!!!!

[Wendy and Myla]

I forgot to tell you in my post that I love the picture of your daughter and Rooney!!  It's awesome!!!!  Rooney looks exactly like my Myla!!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

You are so right. I got caught up in the subject I didn't compliment you on a beautiful photo with gorgeous subjects.