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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aggressive dog in waiting room

111 replies

Wick55 · 14/12/2023 16:18

I went to the vet earlier and I had my 9 week old baby in the carrier and small/medium 12 year old dog on a lead. A man comes in through the door with a huge dog (Rottweiler? / no muzzle on) and instantly it was trying to get to my dog (and possibly the baby) I was TERRIFIED and so was my dog. It was snarling, barking and lunging and the guy only had it on a chain he could have easily let go or got dragged over. I hurried across the foyer (which is quite small anyway) and stood by the staff room door ready to lock myself in if the dog got loose. It was trying to get away from the man and attack us for at least 10 mins. To move towards the exit I would have had to get very close to them. The reception staff did nothing, and the man was trying to get it to sit and walking it around in circles, it continued to lunge at us barking etc whenever it got closer. I was shaking with fear and when we finally went into a side room the vet said we needed to walk past the dog to go to a consult room and I said I’m sorry but no. She didn’t hesitate and took me to the room behind us. My dog was so terrified her eyes were nearly popping out of her head. The barking sound was so loud the door barely masked it. I said to the vet ‘she’s not normally like this, I don’t think that dog is helping’ and she said ‘no I don’t think it is’. And then when we went to leave, she just ‘reassuringly’ said ‘don’t worry the dog has gone in now to see the vet’. I’m absolutely livid no one said anything to the owner, or noticed what a massive risk it was having the dog about 10 feet away from a tiny baby and little dog just stood there helpless. honestly I’ve never been so afraid in my life. I was shaking for like 20 mins after and just burst out crying in the car. AIBU to put in a complaint?

Genuinely I’ve never felt afraid of a dog before I feel to traumatised. It was so large and strong I wouldn’t have been able to protect my dog or my baby.

OP posts:
Azulocean · 14/12/2023 17:46

It sounds like you did what you could in the circumstances, don’t be so hard on yourself. The other owner was trying to get his dog to sit down too. There’s lots of “could haves” but I’d say with the exception of the reception who should have said to walk the other dog outside to help keep him calm and they would go and shout him when ready, you both did what you could do in the circumstances.

My dogs are well behaved and like other dogs, but other dogs are sick/old/stressed…I keep mine outside and we get shouted when it’s our turn to go in. Saves stress all round.

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 14/12/2023 17:47

CoatOfArms · 14/12/2023 17:45

You're absolutely livid that no one said anything to the owner...did you? Did you say anything to the owner or to the staff in reception?

Because someone in charge of an out of control large dog, known for its aggression is likely to be a lovely reasonable chap, isn't he? 🙄And the owner probably knew that everyone would be shit scared of him and of his mutt and could not give a single fuck.

That’s probably why he even has that kind of dog (breed and apparent training level) in the first place.

Justleaveitblankthen · 14/12/2023 17:50

Your poor little doggy, that's awful OP ☹️
I hope that you do make a complaint.
My own vets waiting room is small and there is one chair in the corner with a high 'shelf' for cats to feel safer at a higher level. Signed clearly.
You can never use it though - always 'entitled bloke' wants to sit there with his own big dog instead. 🤨

Andthereyougo · 14/12/2023 17:50

You should have raised it with reception staff immediately. Said you wanted to be put in an empty room or the other dog wait outside. Staff were negligent, that was a H&S risk. No way would the staff at my vet allow that, they’d have moved the man and his dog to a room or told him to wait outside.

CatMadam · 14/12/2023 17:51

Freezing is a very common fear/panic response, don’t let the comments blaming you for not doing anything make you feel bad! I definitely think the staff should have done something in this situation, you are absolutely not being unreasonable.

Occasionalsnaccident · 14/12/2023 18:09

You have no idea how the owner came to be in possession of the dog. Perhaps he was looking after it/had inherited it or had rescued it. Perhaps the behaviour was really out of character for the dog as contrary to what you’re saying I don’t think they’re known for being aggressive. Even the OP says he was trying to get the dog to sit down. Yes he could have taken the dog outside but maybe he was flustered and not thinking. Your assumptions about the owner are horrible

Occasionalsnaccident · 14/12/2023 18:09

That was supposed to be @CoatOfArms

Buttercup176 · 14/12/2023 18:10

“Excuse me, could we wait in another area as that dog is making me feel uncomfortable, worrying my dog and as I have my baby with me I don’t wish to be in the vicinity of it.”

If you don’t speak up how will they know you are worried?

margotrose · 14/12/2023 18:12

CoatOfArms · 14/12/2023 17:45

You're absolutely livid that no one said anything to the owner...did you? Did you say anything to the owner or to the staff in reception?

Because someone in charge of an out of control large dog, known for its aggression is likely to be a lovely reasonable chap, isn't he? 🙄And the owner probably knew that everyone would be shit scared of him and of his mutt and could not give a single fuck.

Rottweilers are bred to be placid, hard-working, obedient and biddable dogs. They're used in the police, search and rescue and as guard dogs.

They're not bred to be aggressive at all.

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 14/12/2023 18:22

They can be trained to be aggressive though, and even if the owner inherited or rescued the dog he is still responsible for it not scaring everyone in the vicinity. A very big dog like that can easily frighten people (or smaller dogs or cats) even with playful behaviour or friendliness and barking does suggest it was aggressive in the moment. Cat owners take precautions by taking cats to the vet in carriers so they can’t escape or scratch people or wee everywhere (as stressed cats are wont to do). Owners of small dogs can easily restrain them. I’ve seen a large dog (50kg) knock down a grown man, the dog should at least have been muzzled. Even the most docile of dogs have a powerful bite and lots of animals will explore the world by giving things a nibble.

Lougle · 14/12/2023 18:24

My dog reacted badly to a dog who came into the waiting room this week. It's an unusual looking dog and I think he got spooked. He has a huge bark. I tried to settle him, but when it became clear that he was going to continue barking, I told the receptionist that I'd wait outside. The vet came and got us when it was our time. No drama, no fuss.

If I didn't like a dog's behaviour in the waiting room, I'd wait outside too. I wouldn't wait for the owner to do the right thing.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 14/12/2023 18:50

I do think practice staff should have stepped in, and also the owner should have handled things differently.

However, as others have said, the vets is a stressful place for a lot of dogs, and he may not have expected the dog to react the way he did, and he may not have known what to do for the best.

I would also be wary of taking such a young baby into a vets- not just due to the aggression risk, but you're potentially exposing them to some quite nasty pathogens too. I know it's very easy to say, but is there any chance of getting a babysitter for when you need to go to the vets? Or could a family member take the dog for you?

Jacfrost · 14/12/2023 18:58

I think the vets is a stupid place to take a baby/young child. If there's one place where you might be most likely to encounter erratically behaving dogs then it's the vets surely.

I hate dogs btw so not making excuses for them

Sugarsun · 14/12/2023 19:42

Sorry I think you’re being a bit over dramatic.

I don’t think I’ve ever been to the vets and not had a dog act like that.

It actually really annoys me how small vet waiting rooms are because it can be such a stressful place and they can react from the stress.

I’ve always been very fortunate as my dog is huge but doesn’t get stressed at the vets but I had the misfortune of taking my aunts (usually very friendly) chihuahua cross to the vets and he was going absolutely mad at all of the other dogs.

This dog didn’t attack anyone and it sounds like the owner was fully in control.

The staff would have asked the man to step outside if they were worried about the dogs behaviour.

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 14/12/2023 19:47

@Sugarsun those are fair points but vets don’t live really cushy lives overcharging people, the fees allow them to make a small profit on top of fees for meds, employees and real estate, so they can’t afford huge buildings. I think it’s much more sensible to ask those with nervous pets or those with big scary ones to wait outside. If I had been in a waiting room with a huge dog barking and lunging at me, I’d have probably have been curled up under a chair with my hands over my cat’s ears. Also the staff are probably quite inured to dogs behaving erratically because they deal with them every day. That doesn’t apply to customers and their already-terrified pets.

handyandie · 14/12/2023 19:51

Do you drive there OP? If so I would have told the reception that you aren't comfortable and will wait in the car and to please let you know when it's time to go through. My vets are happy to accommodate this as I have dogs with small dog syndrome, no threat to anyone, but nobody wants them yapping while they wait.

handyandie · 14/12/2023 19:53

Sugarsun · 14/12/2023 19:42

Sorry I think you’re being a bit over dramatic.

I don’t think I’ve ever been to the vets and not had a dog act like that.

It actually really annoys me how small vet waiting rooms are because it can be such a stressful place and they can react from the stress.

I’ve always been very fortunate as my dog is huge but doesn’t get stressed at the vets but I had the misfortune of taking my aunts (usually very friendly) chihuahua cross to the vets and he was going absolutely mad at all of the other dogs.

This dog didn’t attack anyone and it sounds like the owner was fully in control.

The staff would have asked the man to step outside if they were worried about the dogs behaviour.

OP was protecting a very young baby and a small dog and was concerned for all of their safety. I don't think it's dramatic to worry about what would happen if an owner suddenly lost control of the lead.

Sugarsun · 14/12/2023 19:57

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 14/12/2023 19:47

@Sugarsun those are fair points but vets don’t live really cushy lives overcharging people, the fees allow them to make a small profit on top of fees for meds, employees and real estate, so they can’t afford huge buildings. I think it’s much more sensible to ask those with nervous pets or those with big scary ones to wait outside. If I had been in a waiting room with a huge dog barking and lunging at me, I’d have probably have been curled up under a chair with my hands over my cat’s ears. Also the staff are probably quite inured to dogs behaving erratically because they deal with them every day. That doesn’t apply to customers and their already-terrified pets.

Yes I do understand that but I’m sure if the staff were concerned about the dogs behaviour, they would have asked the man to wait outside.
This happens a lot.

The fact that they didn’t, most likely means that it’s because although the dog was intimidating to OP, it wasn’t actually displaying any behaviours that were a concern to anyone else.

NosieRosie · 14/12/2023 20:02

YANBU. I fully appreciate that dogs who are not well- and are behaving out of character - are waiting to see a vet for diagnosis and advice. However, I would not appreciate being stuck in a small room with a large, out of control dog, terrorising my small dog. I would change vets tbh

Greenshake · 14/12/2023 20:16

Blimey CoatofArms you like a good stereotype don’t you?

Peacheroo · 14/12/2023 20:17

I have a feeling no one said or did anything because you have massively over exaggerated the situation.

You either need to learn to stand up for yourself, your baby and your dog or see the situation for what it is.

Why would a Rottweiler need to be muzzled just for being a Rottweiler? They are actually very nice dogs. Why would he just let go of the chain as you suggest? He'd have to be a very weak man to be pulled over by a Rottweiler.

Vet staff are well trained in this and if there was a risk, the dog putting people at risk would have been moved to a different area.

Boomboom22 · 14/12/2023 20:19

I don't think it's very safe to take a newborn to a vet at all. Your own dog will already be nervous. The baby is tiny. Many viruses do jump species. Babies make loud noises animals don't like.

Peacheroo · 14/12/2023 20:19

CoatOfArms · 14/12/2023 17:45

You're absolutely livid that no one said anything to the owner...did you? Did you say anything to the owner or to the staff in reception?

Because someone in charge of an out of control large dog, known for its aggression is likely to be a lovely reasonable chap, isn't he? 🙄And the owner probably knew that everyone would be shit scared of him and of his mutt and could not give a single fuck.

Give over. They're not trained for aggression at all.

I see Mumsnet has moved on from the XL bully.

Greenshake · 14/12/2023 20:20

I think you are right Peacheroo. The (lack of) response from the staff is quite telling.

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 14/12/2023 20:25

Er @Peacheroo they are the stereotypical guide/attack dogs used to intimidate people. Even though the vast majority of them are probably sweet and lovely, just knowing you’re in a room with an animal who could rip your face off or chomp your dog in two if it wanted is enough to make anyone nervous. Added to that even if 99% of them are super gentle, I’d bet my last penny there are a fair few trained to fight or at least defend let’s say robustly. The Dangerous Dogs Act isn’t well-written, but the concept behind it is that these are huge, strong animals bred to defend their humans and/or to fight huge animals like bulls in the case of the pit bull and there should be some constraints just to make sure nobody gets hurt if something goes wrong.