Why does my dog get aggressive at the vet and Petco groomer?

Oh gotcha! Then yes, stress and being fearful could easily be a reason she might feel aggressive! I always recommend going with your dog to the groomer, especially if you don't know them well, to make sure the event is not extremely stressful or painful for your dog. Grooming is often a terrifying experience for little dogs, and you may need to supervise what is going on--if you aren't comfortable that it is a positive experience, go somewhere else. Also, if your groomer refuses to let you watch, this is perhaps a sign.

It’s pretty common for dogs to start to show signs of fear towards strangers and at the vets office around 6-12 months of age, and I doubt the muzzle had anything to do with it. Biting without giving warning signs is scary behavior and it would be best to see a behaviorist to try to work on this. He absolutely should wear a muzzle at the vets and it may be a good idea to train him to wear a basket muzzle out in public to keep strangers safe. You can purchase a muzzle and put it on at home or in the car before arriving at the vets to reduce stress, and you may want to ask your vet about a sedative before the visit. Some dogs need heavy sedation for vaccines and exams to help prevent them from becoming even more fearful at the vets office. While a Petco vaccine clinic might be an option they would also need to use a muzzle and would not be able to prescribe sedation if necessary. https://bestfriends.org/resources/muzzles-tool-keep-everyone-safe

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Poor Sunny. It does appear that he is upset from his grooming session. These are symptoms of anxiety and potentially pain. If he keeps this up for more than 12 hrs, then I would get concerned and recommend taking him in to your vet for a thorough exam. His nicked toe may be the source of the pain. If he is painful, then your vet can prescribed pet friendly pain medication for him to hopefully subside his anxiety. In the meantime you can do a thorough examination yourself at home, to see you can locate any bleeding areas or trauma to his skin. You can also just give him a warm water Epsom salt bath to help ease any tenderness he may be having. I hope that Sunny feels better soon and hopefully you can find a groomer that Sunny will be happy with in the future. Best of luck. Take care.

Dogs have good memories and it appears that Georgina has bad association with the veterinary office from a previous experience. There are a few things you can do and work out with your veterinary team. This this training may not work but it is worthwhile to try: https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-is-fear-free-training-and-socialization/ Remember though that the goal of your veterinarian is to keep both pets and people safe so always trust your vet's judgement on the use of a muzzle. Your veterinarian sees thousands of animals a year and knows how to recognize a dog who is a bite risk. Best of luck

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Unfortunately, I cannot prescribe any medications for Marley without having examined him myself. If he is extremely aggressive while being groomed, you may want to consider having him sedated and groomed at your vet's office. This will mean that Marley is closely monitored during the sedation and supported with fluids and heat if necessary. Your vet can also perform a thorough exam, and ensure that Marley's heart and lungs are healthy enough to handle the sedation. At home, you can try calming chews available in most pet stores, and consider getting Marley a muzzle to keep yourself safe.

Poor Rocky! I'm sorry to hear that he has this problem. To get a veterinary check-up, I would recommend calling your vet to discuss your concerns and make a plan for how to have him seen safely. This may involve having you train him to wear a muzzle at home, so that you can put this on before he arrives at the veterinary clinic. The veterinarian may prescribe some anti-anxiety medication for you to give prior to coming in, and he may also need injectable sedation once he arrives at the clinic so that he can be handled safely. For the future, I would strongly recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist who can help you put together a detailed training plan to work on his aggressive behavior. Most aggression towards strangers is fear-based, so this normally includes using positive reinforcement (food rewards, etc.) to help the dog learn to be more comfortable with the things that scare him. Punishment-based training (prong or choke collars, shock collars, etc.) are NEVER recommended for the treatment of aggression issues, as this does not address the underlying problem and has a high risk of making the aggression worse over time. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org or ask your regular veterinarian where the nearest one is located.

I'm sorry to hear that Bella had this type of experience. Punching in the ribcage is never an acceptable treatment, regardless of circumstance, and will only serve to instill more fear in Bella. Please make sure that your vet and vet tech are aware that this type of treatment occurred to avoid future incidents. The next time Bella needs to go to the vet, try to make it a positive experience - reward good behavior with treats, using a calming pheromone collar (Adaptil is one example), and comfort her when possible.