This is related to a post I made about boarding our dog, and I'd really like to know others' thoughts as I have been troubled by it. We are going on a short trip this week and I made plans to board Honey. We were a bit reluctant because she normally wakes once during the night to go outside, but were still planning to board her, making sure to let the person caring for her know. (Sorry this seems to be so long) We went one afternoon last week to introduce Honey and the person who'd be caring for her, and I was honestly stunned by how it went. The person is a dog trainer and came highly recommended (I know her through children's activities but have had no dog-related experience with her until now), which gave me reassurance about leaving Honey with her, but almost as soon as we arrived things went downhill. She was doing what seemed to be a physical exam and felt Honey's sutures (she was spayed several weeks ago and has dissolvable ones) and the next thing I knew she had put Honey down on her back and was lifting her by one front leg and one back leg. She said that Honey had nipped at her when she pulled on the sutures so she had to "desensitize" her. She said not to worry, that Honey wasn't "viciously biting, just nipping because she wanted me to leave her sutures alone, and I am showing her that she can't do that." I absolutely don't expect anyone to allow themselves to be nipped (I didn't see it, but it would not surprise me as she can certainly be nippy/mouthy), but to be honest I was kind of horrified. I sort of stood in horror and knew I could not leave Honey there. She was very physical with Honey, and it made me very uncomfortable--I know Honey can be a handful, but she was actually quite calm; she was curious and sniffed some, but she was not unruly (though I understand her not wanting to be nipped). There was more as well, but this is the heart of it. We found someone to stay at our house with her instead, but after Honey had several accidents in the house the next day, we decided OH will stay home with her. (I wondered if they were related to what happened with the boarding person, but have no idea really.) I've never done the physical things she was doing with my dogs before, and I'm wondering if I'm overreacting--is this typical, generally accepted training--or if my gut reaction is on target (or something else entirely, and please tell me if so). Thanks so much--especially if you made it through that novel!
No, you are not overreacting. That kind of behaviour towards dogs is outdated, unnecessary and downright dangerous. I'm so glad you didn't take her word for it, and managed to make other arrangements.
I wouldn't let that person look after my dogs either. As snowbunny says, they're completely out of touch!
Thank you. I was so angry I couldn't speak. It has really made me reconsider how I see her as a person, and I regret that for several reasons, chiefly that we do have a fair amount of interaction. I also think the "daycare" part of her business could be really good for Honey and helping her socialize with other dogs, but not at the expense of her ability to trust that people are not going to hurt or frighten her.
That sounds really weird. I wouldn't let my dog near this person again. If she got nipped then it's because she hurt Honey and the correct response would have been to back off, acknowledge that a human error had been made and resolve not to touch Honey's surgery site again.
I get so irritated by these outdated so called experienced dog trainers. To me it's just common sense to allow a dog a bit of time to become comfortable with you and waiting for them to approach and express an interest. To manhandle a strange dog, grabbing them and placing them physically in a vulnerable position is absolute nonsense, and asking for a nip or even worse! Jeezzz....
Agree with all of the above, this person is best avoided in my view. Why did she feel she had to touch the sutures anyway?
That's very odd. I wouldn't let my dogs near her! It's a pity it didn't work out as you'd hoped and has now led to an awkward situation, but you did absolutely the right thing in making alternative arrangements. Don't even consider day care with her either, as Honey must have found it traumatic. If she treated Honey like that when you were there, what on earth would she do if you weren't?!
Look on it as a blessing in disguise. If this stupid woman hadn't shown herself to be so insensitive, outdated and intrusive, you might not have realized what she really is like and you might have left Honey with her...
You did the right thing and did not over react. I would not let my dogs near someone who did that kind of thing. Shows what a good pup you have there all she did was nip when someone hurt her.
A thing I might add is that the main reason dog surgical incision sites get infected is because humans touch them. We have millions of bacteria on our fingers (staph bacteria etc) and we readily transfer these to a wound site when we touch it. So it's a massive no-no to touch any animal wound with your bare fingers. Our dog vet told me that but I also learned it in an equine first aid course. Another reason this person's behaviour was stupid.
What on earth was she doing feeling Honey's stitches and then attempting to pull one out! No one should ever turn up another person's dog, glad you have stayed away from that!
What a strange thing to do! I've never heard of anything like that before, it's usually pinning them down or something. You've definitely made the right decision not letting Honey stay with her - if that's what she does when you're stood there, imagine what she might do when you're not!
I think I'm going to put it much more strongly than anyone above did. She sounds like an eejit. I'm no spring chicken, I was around when dominance was a key word, and I've never heard of anyone doing that. Never heard of that kind of response. Never heard of someone who doens't understand a spay site might be tender. Never heard of a someone doing that kind of thing to an unfamiliar dog in the presence of it's owner. Poor Honey.
