Vets - Behaviour/Psychology/Training

Katikins

Katikins

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Just a quick question as I just had a conversation with a friend of mine and was quite horrified. Do any of you know if vets get any sort of behaviour/psychology/training training regarding dogs? One of my friends was advised (this is in Belgium) that if hs dog is showing any dominant behaviour at all then to flip her onto her back and hold her down till she calms down. The vet had never met this dog before as my friend has just adopted her and he was given this advice when he picked her up after being speyed.

I was really really shocked that a vet would advise a relatively novice dog owner to do this to a dog he had only met once!! Views?
 
All the vets Ive met have seemed to have very old concepts in dog behaviour, but maybe thats because of what they were taught at the time of training. Im sure MurphysMinder whose daughter is newly qualified would be able to give you the latest updated info.
 
Yeah, I was under the impression that vets got very little training in this sort of thing (but prepared to be corrected). I did advise him to go along to classes with a reputable trainer and to ignore the vet on these matters for now - to me, its the same as you wouldn't got to your GP for counselling, you'd go to a qualified pyschiatrist.
 
Katikins said:
Yeah, I was under the impression that vets got very little training in this sort of thing (but prepared to be corrected). I did advise him to go along to classes with a reputable trainer and to ignore the vet on these matters for now - to me, its the same as you wouldn't got to your GP for counselling, you'd go to a qualified pyschiatrist.
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I think your advise is good, sounds like that vet had watched too many programmes by C. Milan.
 
As DG says, my daughter has recently qualified, and as part of the training at their university they have lectures from and spend time with an animal behaviourist. It has actually caused a few heated discussions between us as I am slightly old school and do on some occasions believe a firm hand is needed whereas daughters teaching has been all about super positive reward based training (which I also use I should add, my dogs aren't battered into submission.;)).
 
Very little behavior training and very little nutrition training.

Basically search out another professional if you want anything other than medical advice and even then don't trust them all.

Its just a waiting game until she gets seriously bitten. Some people's training ideas really are ridiculous.
 
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Some vets will no doubt have taken behavioural courses/have experience but not a lot, and to be fair many don't attempt to give behavioural advice out they would recommend a trainer/behaviourist and have contact details in the surgeries.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys. It's pretty much how I thought. Nice to hear that they do get some training in the modern courses now though.

I agree with DG, I think this vet has maybe watched too much CM!! :)
 
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