On the Hachi grading scale, he did really well. Our vet made so many accommodations, and I was deeply grateful. Hachi went into a larger than normal room via an external door so he didn't have to go through the reception area. He was wearing a muzzle, which he is totally comfortable with after years of training him to wear it.
He hesitated to go through the door into the room due to fear but he eventually chose to cross the threshold. Our vet was standing in the corner of the room, not making eye contact or talking to Hachi. Despite that, he had a couple of outbursts toward her, barking at that fast cadence that he uses when he's stressed. For the first 30 seconds in the room, it felt like it was all that we could do to keep him under control.
Then, we got into the rhythm of the game that we use in these situations. It's called "engage-disengage". He looks at the person that is scaring him and then looks back to me ("disengages" from the trigger) which I reward with a click and treat. That game was working beautifully. Then, he took a couple of longer looks at the vet, and he managed to disengage before he went over threshold. That was the most encouraging part of the visit.
Then, with him calm, we tried to play the bucket game with the Runner holding the treats and me examining Hachi. That was too much for him - he was too stressed to take his eyes away from the vet and keep them on the bucket. As we tried, he had one more outburst at the vet, and we decided to take him back out to the car.
So, I call it a good visit on the "Hachi scale". The good part was that he managed to calm down for long enough to visually examine the vet and then look back at us without outbursts a couple of times. However, it certainly hammered home to me that Hachi is still a long way from normal.
A piece of good news is that there haven't been any very bad lingering effects of the visit. He seems just slightly more stressed than usual, and I think that it'll pass. If our behavioral vet agrees, we will start doing happy vet visits. Hachi will go into a room where there's a tech or vet and get lots of treats to help him to feel better about going to vet offices. The bad part of this is that it requires close to 2 hours of driving for each visit.
that was super interesting and I like your way a lot... maybe the engage-disengage ritual helps us too to climb over some rocks of fear?
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDelete... but was the vet able to do what was required for the visit? Well done to Hachi, though. I don't much like attending medicals either! YAM xx
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ReplyDeleteIt does sound positive! He looks so focused in that first photo and my favorite is the one of the two of them in the meadow at the bottom it just says we love this we love this
ReplyDeleteWe're glad to hear Hachi had a fairly good visit to the vet. He is so lucky to have you to guide him and you are lucky to have such understanding vets.
ReplyDeleteSome good news in that visit and your vet is a very accommodating. Wouldn't it be nice if the vet would do house calls. Perhaps Hachi would be less anxious in his home environment.
ReplyDeleteThat's a long way to go for a vet visit, but if it works for Hachi it's a small price to pay. I know you'll continue to work with him. He's worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day and week. Scritches to the pups. ♥
I remember sitting in a vet waiting room with my schnauzer Lexi shaking like a leaf. Then someone else came in and their little dog was shaking even harder. Lexi became so intrigued with what was going on with the other dog that she "forgot" to shake for the rest of the visit.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on recognizing exactly what Hachi needs to feel comfortable in that kind of situation. And kudos to your accommodating vet! Have a glorious week in your sun-shiney meadow.
ReplyDeleteHachi I'm glad your annual visit is over and most of all I'm thankful for your Vet. What a long drive but at least you aren't stressed by riding
ReplyDeleteHugs Cecilia
Every bit of progress is such a win, way to go Hachi!
ReplyDeleteThat is tough if he can't go to the vet or get a vet exam. Hopefully you can work on it and get him to be better at it.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of driving for a vet visit. I do hope dear Hachi continues to make progress in overcoming his fears.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Gail.
That was actually a huge success, considering everything. Able to disengage at all is a big deal. Sigh - you're doing great work with Hachi, and he has So Many Hills to Climb!
ReplyDeleteWhen Rowan went in for a Happy Pet Visit before her first real exam (only 1/2 hour away, thank goodness), I was surprised that the receptionist called a couple of techs out to love up on Rowan. Too much attention - Rowan was overwhelmed. The next visit I asked if Rowan could just hop on the scale and take a treat from the receptionist. It went much better. My word of wisdom: specify in advance exactly what you'd like the staff to do.
Chris from Boise
Thanks for the reminder. Our vet is super about this stuff but it is entirely possible that her staff will forget. This has been a lesson in being very assertive in standing up for Hachi. I hate having to be very direct about how they should behave for Hachi but I have to be. My vet actually thanked me for it last time - so I guess that I handled it okay. Our behavioral vet has been sending notes to our regular vet so that they are on the same page. -- I do fear that Hachi will never be able to handle the vet. If so, extreme sedation is always an option, even if it's a yucky option.
DeleteAlways good to have options! In the meantime, Hachi is still young and making progress, even if the vet visit may have shaken your faith a little. Tiny step by tiny step - that's all you can do, and you're doing a great job.
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ReplyDeleteYou are working miracles with him.
ReplyDeleteIt's a long road, isn't it, but I know you'll never give up on him! ♥
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