Should I make a complaint against the dr's dog?

[HDEE]

On Monday I had an appointment with the dr. I had my three year old son with me, and when we were called into the dr's room was surprised to see two black Labradors wandering around. The dr explained they were in training as dogs-as-therapy dogs, and made the dogs settle on their bed before starting the consulatation.

However, the dogs didnt stay on their bed. They kept getting up and wandering. Initially my son was a bit apprehensive as the dogs were bigger than him, but he sat on my lap and patted them, then seemed happy, so he got off my lap and was stood next to me. He was just babbling about the dogs, the pictures, general toddler stuff but wasn't paying much attention to the dogs by now.

All was okay, til one of the dogs approached him and air snapped at his face. No warning, no growls or anything, so I immediately picked my son up and kept him on my lap. The dr was fiddling with the computer and looking for print outs so I don't think he noticed the air snap, and if he did, he didnt acknowledge it. The dog then growled, the dr heard and sent the dog to sit und his desk.

Then it happened again. My son was wandering around (one dog on his bed, the other under the dr's desk) and in a fraction of a second, the dog popped out from under the desk, walked up to my son and growled at him. The dr was very surprised, told the dog off, and said she never reacts like that and it's not like her at all.

If the dog wanted to she could have bitten my son, as his face was at her nose level, and she didnt, but she obviously took a dislike to him and I'm not totally convinced she is suited to being in a dr's examining room.

I hate causing a fuss, but do you think it's worth mentioning to the people on reception? The other dog was absolutely fine by the way.

It's absolutely worth mentioning. This dog doesn't sound like it's bomb proof-therefore would not make a good therapy dog. (And I am the world's biggest dog lover) Strange the doctor didn't hear it, even if he didn't see it .

I love dogs, work with them and we have five but would be vey worried and quite angry by what you describe.
The dog sounds like she doesnt have the temperament for a therapy dog, it may be that she hasnt been around small people and is worried by them or it may be that she sees the consult room as her house and is guarding it, either way not acceptable behaviour for a dog in that role.
A consult room is a really private space where you get your few precious minutes with the GP, him being distracted by the dogs whilst trying to work is not great, also many people dislike dgs and at a time when you are often stresse anyway, being forced to sit in a smallish room with them is not nice.
Have never heard of this scenario, often had to sign reference forms for dogs but thought they then just went out and did it under supervision?

In all honesty I think the doctor should be fully engaged in his patients, not training dogs whilst at work. At the very least your permission to have the dogs present should have been sought
I would definitely complain

I was surprised there wasn't a notice up in reception or anything, but although I'm not a dog lover, if they leave me alone I don't mind them being around.

They are the dr's own personal dogs from home. Initially they were both fine, came over to say hello, happy to have a little pet etc. it was only half way through the one took a dislike to my son, she was fine with me. It made it a little awkward as I was there to have my back examined and a contraceptive injection in my bum so had to sit my son up on the bed and keep hold of him, whereas usually he'd just potter around the floor.

I am back there again tomorrow and will just mention I would prefer for the dogs not to be in the room with me and why. So I won't be making a complaint as such, but the staff will be aware of what happened.

Thanks for all the advice. Sometimes it's difficult to know what is the right and wrong thing to do.

I think that is completely unacceptable and I love dogs! The Dr is either working with patients or training the dogs, they shouldn't be doing both at the same time. Massively inappropriate and completely unnecessary. I'm pretty sure it's not a normal part of PAT training for a dog to sit in with a Dr!!!

I think this is really unacceptable. It's your appointment with the dr and it's not for you to have to worry about his dogs. I would have refused to go through with my appointment in those circumstances. And how hygienic is that?

I'm amazed to be honest. They make a point of asking you if you mind having student drs there but don't ask if you mind having dogs there.

I doubt he's really training them to be therapy dogs , he probably didnt want to leave them at home . I'm a dog lover but I think this scenario is ridiculous , if he wants to do consultations with his dogs perhaps he should have gone into veterinary medicine instead !

Love dogs, love pets as therapy dogs, but agree with everyone else - the doctor needs to be aware of their every single reaction to patients, and if he didn't notice an air snap, he's definitely not paying proper attention to them.

And patients who aren't keen on dogs, for whatever reason, shouldn't have to be confronted with them in the consultation room, especially since they may already be on edge or anxious about whatever they're there to see the doctor about!

"Hello, Mrs HDEE, I hope you don't mind my junior doctors sitting in? Wonderful. Dr Buttons will be conducting the crotch-sniff exam, if that's OK with you, and Dr Daisy will be... oh, I see she's giving the injection site a quick lick already, well done, Dr Daisy, very hygiene conscious..."

That is very odd indeed. No sign of any tabards saying 'in training' or similar? I would hope that any therapy dog as bring properly trained, via an appropriate organisation with experienced handlers, and it doesn't sound like that's the case at all. Which makes me think either the doc was lying, or he's trying to set himself up as a dog therapist or something, without appropriate expertise.

Sod that, I do not like dogs so would have asked for them to be removed from the room.

What?! I love dogs but I would hit the roof if my Dr had one in a consult. That's ridiculous. Even if they were bomb proof fully trained PAT dogs, I would expect to be asked permission for then to be there, particularly if I had a child with me. I think you should complain, yes. Particularly as one of the dogs is clearly unconfortable in this situation. Two dogs, two adults and a toddler in any consultation room I've ever seen is a recipe for problems.

Yes to complain to someone, but be aware that the receptionist is the doctor's employee, not the other way around. See if the practise has a complaints proceedure online, ours says to contact the practise manager as a first line, or just write a letter to your GP.