Joined
·
1,154 Posts
Yesterday we brought Rumo for a nail trim and when the groomer picked up his back leg, he growled and snapped at her. She told me to leave, that he might be better without me there.
But my cell phone rang in 2 minutes and she told me it was hopeless - it will need to be done at vet's office under sedation.
So I took him back, but I keep thinking about his Stranger Danger issues...
Rumo will not allow strangers to handle him:
- he has growled at strangers if they reach to pet while he is laying down (I no longer let random people do this)
- he growled at the vet tech when she tried to look in his ear (and he takes trazodone before vet visits)
- when my neighbor (after chatting with me) stuck his hand in front of Rumo's nose and wiggled his fingers, Rumo growled and snapped at his hand
- on his shelter record, it said that he could not be touched. he was labeled "for rescue only"
- he will not allow a stranger to lead him away on leash. will plant his feet until dragged
- he will not accept a treat from a stranger
Yet in our daily life, his behavior with strangers is fine...
- on walks, passes strangers calmly and silently (even with nose a few inches from their leg)
- will stand quietly by me or lie down while I talk to somebody
- in public spaces, will settle nearby & is relaxed, as long as people ignore him
- will bark at door, but will go lie down once I make it clear that it's a friend/client
- with a slow intro, will allow my friends or my children's friends to pet him
It's only when strangers (i.e. vet, vet tech, groomer) need to touch/handle him that he growls and snaps. He can be pretty scary.
I am stuck here, and have been stuck ever since we adopted him.
All his behavior that I can personally "oversee" (house manners, leash manners, etc) is great.
But how to teach him to let strangers handle him (look in his ears, lift his paws, perform medical procedures) ...??
Or do I just chalk this off / accept it as his nature,
and accept that I will be sedating him (or muzzling him) whenever he needs handling by strangers?
Thank you for any thoughts!
PS I guess I will be getting good at nail trims.
But my cell phone rang in 2 minutes and she told me it was hopeless - it will need to be done at vet's office under sedation.
So I took him back, but I keep thinking about his Stranger Danger issues...
Rumo will not allow strangers to handle him:
- he has growled at strangers if they reach to pet while he is laying down (I no longer let random people do this)
- he growled at the vet tech when she tried to look in his ear (and he takes trazodone before vet visits)
- when my neighbor (after chatting with me) stuck his hand in front of Rumo's nose and wiggled his fingers, Rumo growled and snapped at his hand
- on his shelter record, it said that he could not be touched. he was labeled "for rescue only"
- he will not allow a stranger to lead him away on leash. will plant his feet until dragged
- he will not accept a treat from a stranger
Yet in our daily life, his behavior with strangers is fine...
- on walks, passes strangers calmly and silently (even with nose a few inches from their leg)
- will stand quietly by me or lie down while I talk to somebody
- in public spaces, will settle nearby & is relaxed, as long as people ignore him
- will bark at door, but will go lie down once I make it clear that it's a friend/client
- with a slow intro, will allow my friends or my children's friends to pet him
It's only when strangers (i.e. vet, vet tech, groomer) need to touch/handle him that he growls and snaps. He can be pretty scary.
I am stuck here, and have been stuck ever since we adopted him.
All his behavior that I can personally "oversee" (house manners, leash manners, etc) is great.
But how to teach him to let strangers handle him (look in his ears, lift his paws, perform medical procedures) ...??
Or do I just chalk this off / accept it as his nature,
and accept that I will be sedating him (or muzzling him) whenever he needs handling by strangers?
Thank you for any thoughts!
PS I guess I will be getting good at nail trims.