trainers etc. who are afraid of GSDs

[SuzyE]

just wondering what is up with that? It is out there, more often then not.Why would people be in a class if they didn't need help? Now I warned my trainers and they said "c'mon in we see aggressive dogs all the time." they didn't exile us to a private lesson although Paige was coo-coo. Why do people get into professions such as this when they are afraid of dogs? I have run into more than a couple vets that were afraid of GSDs and I DON'T CARE IF YOU WERE BIT BY A GSD!!!!! Now my own vet, I offer to drug my dog and he says "naw just bring her in and I will deal with it." I have seen many a vet tech afraid of GSDs, especially my own.
I have seen pet sitters afraid of dogs (when i worked for someone else!) I mean you do not walk into a dog's house and jump out of fear.
so if you go into dog training do you think they will all be mellow and kind of routinely go thru the clicker class? I think it is wierd.

[MustLoveGSDs]

Personally I wouldn't give my money to a vet (or any member of their staff who would have to interact with my dog) that was biased against or feared the breed I own. I also would stay far away from any "trainer" who feared or was ignorant about the breed I own.

and personally I think that there are a lot of people out there working jobs they have no business working, not just in the pet care industry.

[JKlatsky]

Vets, Trainers, and Groomers are people just like everyone else and come with their own set of prejudices.

I took all 4 of mine into a groomer recently, and I could tell that there was a little apprehension about my GSDs. I spent some time introducing them to their groomer, explaining some of their behaviors and commands. When I picked them up the groomer raved for almost 30 minutes about wonderful and easy everyone was and I got to hear horror stories about some GSDs that come through and are aggressive or fearful. I am glad I spent the time and gave the groomer a new perception.

I won't take my dogs to vets who are Cat people. Did they go to the same vet school as my big dog vet? Same education and equally qualified? Sure, maybe...but their primary interest isn't with my pet.

And even dog people have their breeds. I've met people who are absolutely in loves with pits and bully breeds and cannot stand those "flaky" shepherds. People who love their herding breeds and cannot stand the "dumb and stubborn" hounds. People who think little dogs have great character and that big dogs and just doofy and messy. People who think little dogs are rats with fur and the only dog worth having are big.

I always research the people I let work with my animals. If you're not open about my GSDs, then I'm not really interested in your professional opinion. Fortunately the pet industry is large enough to fit a variety of specializations. And unfortunately big enough to support some people who have no business working with animals.

[onyx'girl]

My former vet was afraid of Onyx. Even with her muzzle she showed timidness, which in turn made Onyx more anxious. I requested the other vet after that, but decided to go elsewhere when that one proceeded to rant on me for the diet I fed.

[Sashmom]

the first Vet I took Sash to, I could tell he didnt like GSD's. He had pics of his Shih tzus all over the place. I switched Vets. I wasnt going to put up with that especialy after he GRABBED his ears very roughly to pour the ear mite meds in.....
The other 2 Vets were great with him, acted likehe was just a dog.
I think if you become a Vet you should love all animals.
Trainers......we once went to a trainer and wow, he was awesome. kind of rough but he was FEARLESS and Ive never seen a room full off quirky dogs learn that they had to behave LOL he was Alpha and they knew it. This was yrs ago and I still remember him. I think a dog trainer, a good one, will work with ANY dog not just the easy cases, heck fo the easy cases you can probably just train them yourself.

[4dognight]

I would not use anyone that was afraid of my dog ,any breed. I have two OES and a lot of groomers and trainers have had a hard time with the breed (yep fuzzy butts) and I don't use them I recently had my OES in PT and they were amazed at how nice he was. So it can happen with any breed but I agree more are afraid of GSD's Who knows what goes on in peoples heads........

[Ruthie]

The ortho that we consulted for Bison's ED was afraid of him. I thought it was pretty crazy because he wasn't even full grown and he was running around the exam room playing with his ball.

[Toffifay]

I adopted Toffee and according to her records, the Vet that the previous owner had used was on an Air Force Base. When I took her to my Vet she was fearful, apprehensive and growling at the Vet just for something as simple as listening to her heart! This was even after my Vet was talking nice and got down on the ground with her.
Although, my Vet is a TOTAL animal lover and has 10 rescued dogs of her own...I could tell she wasn't over joyed with Toffee's temperament.

I switched Vets several months after that, not because I didn't like that Vet, but for convenience, and I'm so glad I did! The new Vet and Tech (closer to my house, too) spent a LONG time fussing over Toffee, giving her treats, really praising her exuberantly when they examined her (she had an ear infection)...Once they found out that she had been rescued and had some fear of Vets, they took it upon themselves to make sure she had good experiences at their office.

Plus, I had to board my dogs there at their "Bed and Breakfast" and apparently one of the girls that works there was so totally enamored with Toffee she took a whole bunch of pictures of her and put some of them on card stock and gave them to me when I picked her up! She absolutely LOVES GSD's!

[SuzyE]

Toffee is a cute name! It is wierd that professionals are afraid of any dog breed. I can understand a person off the street but a vet? very disapointing!

[BJDimock]

That was a harsh statement.
I am a CVT, and I wil tell you that I am leary of ALL breeds who come in who are in control of their owners.
I love what I do.
I am accepting of ALL breeds. (I SOOO would love a Pap to add to this pack!)
I have the best Rotts, Akitas, Chows, and of course, Sheps, that come in every day.
We hurt dogs.
That is our profession.
We don't want to, but we can't explain to them why we are poking, prodding, pricking, squeazing, and generally finding out where it hurts. (Most of the time, we have owners telling us it is the Right front leg that is sore, when the Left front leg is swollen and non weight bearing.)
We have to calm the dog, while it is in the back room for an x-ray of the hips or the knee, because the owner is afraid of sedation. (Your local ER will give you a nice sedative and pain meds if you have broken a bone or tore a ligament. Nobody seems to question that.....)
There is not one of us who hasn't gotten bit, while an owner says, "I knew he was going to do that! Should have told you!"
Just something to chew on......