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*]

Here's the thing, a growl does not mean the dog will bite.

I had a biting dog and she never growled. Not once. But she attacked, lunged,  and barked and screamed from lungs when she did.  Never a growl.

Dogs dont have very many ways of communicating. They can't laugh or scream or cry.  They growl and bark basically. My dog has the happiest growls I've every heard. He growls all day.  He must have at least 15 different voices that are all growling sounds.

Growling and dogs is a very misunderstood concept. I am wondering if this vet saw something else.  Just be honest with yourself. Take a step back and rethink this situation in terms of 1. what the vet said and why  2. is growling a bad thing or just a disgruntle or argument ~ not all growls mean bite.  Most don't.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have mixed feelings about this. I have a pretty fair amount of experience with fearful dogs. I think it's very normal for a dog to be frightened or anxious at the vet. But none of my dogs or fosters has ever growled at a vet or at any veterinary personnel, groomers, or anyone else who was trying to do something to or for them. Those who have been frightened freeze up, curl up, tuck their tails, and/or tremble. Some have whimpered a little. But no growling. 

I agree that not all growls mean that a dog will bite. But many bites are preceded by a growl. And there are different types of growls. But a growl at a strange vet approaching is very different from Spud's happy growls all day. The growl at the vet is definitely a warning, and needs to be regarded as such, I think. I don't think it is necessarily time to consult a behaviorist. But I also don't think a growl in this context should be dismissed as harmless disgruntlement.

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

I agree, Karen. I'm not taking it lightly at all, I was quite upset leaving the vet today. However, Rooney is a very "vocal" dog and does express himself verbally in a lot of different ways. He has happy growls as well and we always say he is quite a "talker". But, I also don't like the growling for any reason and we need to address why it happened and train with the goal in mind of eliminating reactions like he had today.

I have been researching training ideas and tips all day and my husband and I are going to put a firm plan in place. I don't plan to dismiss this incident at all. Even though my gut was never worried Rooney was actually going to bite and I felt confident in my ability to control him (he was on a leash the whole time), it made me very uncomfortable and it is not a situation I want to repeat.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It really sounds like you are on top of this Lori and I feel certain you'll figure it out and address it successfully. :)

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

I really appreciate your optimism and hope you are right!! :)

[Bonnie and Kona]

Your daughter and Rooney are a beautiful pair. Love the photo.

Kona went to the vet today. The dogs were in the room quietly sitting every time a tech or vet entered. Then the receptionist knocked on the door of the examining room, they both barked like maniacs! She left and returned a second time without knocking... this time not a peep from the dogs. Something in that vet's demeanor was worth a growl to Rooney. I am so glad to see that no one thinks he needs a behaviorist at this point.

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

As a follow up- I just downloaded Patricia McConnell's short book "The Cautious Canine". I always like her perspective on dogs/training etc...so I'm hoping it might give me some good ideas. I'll let you know if I find it worthwhile.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I look forward to your update on "The Cautious Canine". Maybe you can post in the training group.

[Kelly]

Flagged his chart? Is this the first time the vet was ever growled at? My goodness, Skeet is the sweetest boy in the world and he growls from time to time. I truly believe he is communicating his anxiousness at the situation. I think you know Rooney better than anyone and I would trust you own instincts.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Lori, every once in a while Libby throws us a curve ball like that too!  I really feel the vet was rude and it definitely seems like he didn't even try to work the situation out before taking Rooney to the back room.  I'm not sure I would have handle that too easy!  I feel bad for both you and Rooney. I hope it was a one time thing and he will be ok next time at the vet. The picture of your daughter is soooo sweet!  I love it:)  I have a four year granddaughter and she and Libby are best buds with lots of gentle hugs and kisses!  BTW Rooney is gorgeous!

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

That's a great description, Lonnie. It did feel like a "curve ball" that was out of the norm of his usual behavior.

But I did get some good ideas from "The Cautious Canine" that I read last night. So today I'm going to write down plan of action to improve Rooney's reactions to strangers and strange situations. He is so smart and truly sweet natured so I believe that with a consistent plan we can minimize any future "curve balls." At least I hope so!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Jane, Clancy will back up,  bark and growl (no forward aggression) at men who have a 'strut' type walk or pronounced limp which causes a jerky gait.  This has only happened a few times, but we finally put the clues together. Gordie (our totally non-aggressive dog for any reason - ever) actually snapped at the vet once.  I have NO idea why it happened but it hasn't ever been repeated.  Our vet wasn't worried about it at all. Perhaps your vet had a scent on him transferred from another animal's problems that Rooney reacted to?????