Aggressive dog in waiting room

[Wick55]

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 you should have said something or asked to be sat in a different area at least. You are your dog and baby's advocate they can't do anything about it. Next time be prepared and speak out. Or write an email to the vets today and explain how unhappy you were with the situation.

I definitely wouldn’t take the baby again, it was a mistake. It was the first time I’d ever taken him, as I said dog is 12 and have never come across a dog like that in the surgery - we visit monthly. Lesson learned.

When the dog first came through the door the was one other couple and small dog but they were called in very soon after. Then it was just me.

People are saying this sort of thing should be expected at a vet and so children shouldn't be taken. But I have been to plenty of vets over the years (sometimes with a kid) and never encountered anything like this, even with a small prey animal on my lap. I do remember a husky vaulting over the reception desk to get at some dog treats and knocking papers flying though lol.

Honestly - I love dogs, large and small. I have fostered for rescue, I look after friends large dogs when they go on holiday. I’m not afraid of big dogs in general and don’t make a song and dance if they approach us on walks etc. I have never been confronted up close by a dog like that before. It really was huge, maybe it was a mix breed if you say a rotty couldn’t pull a man over.

Im not judging the owner, or the dog (although I feel a muzzle is warranted in that situation given the behaviour). The staff should have separated us, or facilitated me or them to go outside. I felt like they didn’t care because they were safely behind the desk.

I was afraid to say anything to the owner, he was a man, judging by the clothes some sort of labourer probably come straight from work, I just didn’t want it to escalate further. I have more of a ‘flight’ response to danger but I couldn’t get to the exit so just froze like an idiot.

I have learned my lesson now not to take him again. I think because I’d never come across this before I was really naive. Normally when we go there’s cute little puppies and other normal dog behaviour with a few kitties meowing from a carrier, it’s always pretty calm. Obviously dogs are nervous but nothing that’s ever worried me at all.
I’m a new mum and I tend to avoid conflict I do feel quite ashamed for not speaking up I was just so overwhelmed!

are you taking on board the message that you need to speak up now though? (not necessarily at the vet, but other situations that may put your child in danger?)

it is hard as a new mum. Frankly, getting out of the house with a 9 week old is a major achievement, so you're doing fine.

One thing at a time! Good luck.

Sorry you felt so scared, OP. I imagine baby added to your anxiety. You know now that they don't mix. Although you haven't encountered the dogs like this before, you can bet the vets are so used to it that it doesn't really register at the time.

Layouts of vets and doorways don't help the dogs either. IME most vets have impractical layouts in premises not designed for the purpose.
The 'stay in the car' wouldn't work at our vets. They would have to ring you and give you time to get the dog out and round from a small car park, shared with residents and other businesses or on street car parking up the next road adding time to the appointment system. They have a screened area for cats.

My dog has a deep woof and says hello to other dogs. She's not aggressive, however, but another less clued up person may find it intimidating. It echos We aim for a chair furthest away from anyone and then some idiot with a small aggressive dog will try to sit next to us
She loves the vet and is quite happy to be there!

I had a similar scenario recently. I took my cat to the animal hospital for x rays. The waiting room is quite large but there were a number of large dogs barking aggressively. There was a cat waiting area but helpfully one of the dog owners had considerately parked their large noisy dog by the entrance to it. I said I would wait in the car park. They gave me a pager to call me in for my appointment so it can't be that unusual.

I always try and book the last appt of the day to avoid others, because my dog is nervous and these waiting areas are completely inadequate.

They should have asked him to wait in the car and called him in when the vet was ready.

That sounds awful. And it wasn't your your responsibility to start tackling the guy, anymore than if you are sitting in A&E and someone starts kicking off it is up to you to intervene! That is up to the staff, their duty to keep their customers safe, and I'd say so in a carefully worded letter