How a Heartbreaking Vet Visit Taught Me to Listen to My Reactive Dog

Introduction: The Humiliation of a “Good” Owner

The air in the vet’s waiting room was thick with the smell of disinfectant and something else—the metallic tang of fear.

My knuckles were white on the leash, a taut line connecting my own thumping heart to my dog, Leo.

He was a statue of coiled tension, his body trembling.

I had done everything right, or so I thought.

I was a good owner.

I had called ahead to warn them about his reactivity.

I had given him the prescribed Trazodone two hours prior, hoping for a calm, drowsy dog but getting a wired, anxious one instead.

I had even spent weeks on muzzle training, but the basket muzzle I’d so carefully selected now seemed like a public declaration of my failure.

Then, the door opened, and a woman walked in with a boisterous Labrador.

Leo exploded.

It was a sound I knew too well—a desperate, terrifying mix of a bark and a snarl that ripped through the quiet room.

He lunged, his 70 pounds of muscle hitting the end of the leash with a sickening jolt.

Every eye was on us.

I saw the judgment, the fear, the pity.

I felt my face flush with a familiar, hot shame.¹

The woman recoiled, pulling her own dog close.

“You should control your dog!” a man muttered from the corner.

My own self-blame was a far harsher critic:

I have no idea what I’m doing.

I’m making this worse.

This dog deserves better than me.¹

The vet tech, bless her heart, tried to help.

She ushered us into an exam room, but the damage was done.

The visit was a blur of chaos.

Leo, now completely over his threshold, wouldn’t let anyone near him.

The vet couldn’t conduct a proper exam.

They had to corner him, jamming him against a door to administer his vaccination, a scene of flailing and snarling that left me heartbroken and the staff shaken.³

I left that day with a receipt in my hand and a hollow feeling in my chest.

I had followed all the rules, all the standard advice, and it had led to this humiliating, traumatic disaster.

What I didn’t understand then was that my own anxiety was a powerful accelerant poured on the fire of Leo’s fear.

My tense posture, my tight grip on the leash, my shallow breathing—these were not the signals of a calm leader, but of a person anticipating catastrophe.

My dog, in his heightened state, looked to me for information and concluded that this place was, indeed, as terrifying as he suspected.⁴

We were trapped in a vicious feedback loop: my fear of his reaction fueled his reaction, which in turn confirmed my fear for the next time.²

I realized with dawning horror that I wasn’t just holding the leash; Leo’s terror was holding me.

That day, something had to break.

It turned out to be my entire understanding of what it meant to care for a fearful dog.

Part 1: The Anatomy of a Meltdown: Why the Vet’s Office is a Perfect Storm

Before I could find a solution, I had to stop blaming myself and Leo and start blaming the environment.

I had to understand why the vet’s office transformed my intelligent, sensitive dog into a lunging, snarling mess.

The answer was that a veterinary clinic is a meticulously engineered house of horrors for a dog with a sensitive nervous system.

Deconstructing Reactivity: A Fear Response, Not a Failure of Character

The first and most critical shift in my thinking was to understand what reactivity truly Is. It is not aggression born of malice, dominance, or a desire to be “bad.” For the vast majority of dogs, reactivity is an external manifestation of an internal emotional state of overwhelming fear or anxiety.⁴

It’s a biological survival mechanism—the “fight or flight” response kicking into high gear when a dog feels threatened and cornered, with no option to flee.⁷

When Leo lunged and barked, he wasn’t trying to be a bully.

He was screaming, “Stay away! I’m terrified!” He was using the only tools he had to create distance from the things that scared him.⁵

Realizing this didn’t magically fix his behavior, but it did something just as important: it allowed me to replace my frustration with empathy.

It shifted my role from being his disciplinarian to being his advocate.

A Canine House of Horrors: The Vet Clinic Through Your Dog’s Senses

Humans experience a vet clinic primarily through sight.

For a dog, it’s an all-out assault on every sense, a phenomenon known as “trigger stacking,” where multiple stressors pile on top of each other until the dog’s ability to cope collapses.

• Olfactory Overload: A dog’s sense of smell is their primary sense, thousands of times more sensitive than our own. When a dog enters a vet clinic, they are bombarded with a symphony of terrifying odors. They smell the sharp, sterile scents of disinfectants and alcohol, which are alien and unsettling.⁶ More profoundly, they smell the lingering alarm pheromones—chemical signals released from the skin and anal glands of every other stressed, fearful, or pained animal that has been in that room.⁶ For a dog, it’s the equivalent of walking into a room that literally smells of panic and pain.
• Auditory Assault: The soundscape of a clinic is just as hostile. Dogs can hear a range of frequencies far higher than humans can.¹⁰ This means they are subjected to the high-pitched hum of fluorescent lights, the ultrasonic waves from dental scaling equipment, and the electronic beeps of machinery that are either imperceptible or innocuous to us.⁶ Added to this are the sounds we
  can hear: the whining of a nervous dog in the next room, the sharp barks of others in the waiting area, the clatter of metal instruments, and the unfamiliar voices of strangers.⁶ For some dogs, the sensory overload can be so extreme that it can even trigger reflex seizures.¹¹
• Tactile Terrors and Visual Threats: The physical environment itself is a minefield. The slick, slippery linoleum or tile floors offer no secure footing, forcing a dog to tense their muscles just to stay upright.⁶ The examination table is often cold, metallic, and unstable—an elevated, exposed island. Visually, the clinic is full of strangers in uniforms (like the classic “white coat” trigger) who often approach directly and loom over the dog, a universally threatening gesture in the canine world.⁴

The Limits of the Old Toolkit: Why “Just Be Calm” Isn’t Enough

In this perfect storm of sensory overload, the standard advice for handling a reactive dog crumbles.

You cannot simply command a dog to be calm when its nervous system is screaming “DANGER!”

• Treats Become Useless: When a dog is “over threshold”—meaning the level of stress has exceeded their ability to cope—their digestive system shuts down as the body prepares for fight or flight. They are physiologically incapable of eating, no matter how high-value the treat.⁴ Trying to lure a panicked dog with a piece of chicken is like trying to offer a gourmet meal to someone during a house fire.
• Punishment Backfires: Using aversive methods like leash corrections, scolding, or shock collars in this environment is not only cruel but dangerously counterproductive. It does nothing to change the dog’s underlying fear; it only adds another layer of punishment and pain to an already terrifying situation.¹ This can suppress the warning signals—the growling, the stiffening—and create a dog who bites without any apparent warning. In other cases, it can lead to “learned helplessness,” where the dog shuts down completely, appearing calm on the outside while internally experiencing extreme terror. This is not a well-behaved dog; it is a traumatized one.⁵

To truly help Leo, I had to learn his language.

I had to become a detective of his discomfort, spotting the subtle whispers of anxiety before they became a desperate scream.

Table 1: The Silent Scream – A Guide to Canine Fear Signals

This table is designed to help you recognize the earliest signs of fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS).

By learning to spot these signals, you can intervene before your dog goes over their threshold, which is the foundation of successful and humane handling.⁴

The signals are organized by escalating levels of stress.

Stress Level	Body Language Signals	Description
Level 1: Subtle Discomfort (The Whispers)	Yawning (when not tired), Lip Licking, Nose Licking, Blinking, Furrowed Brow, Looking Away (Gaze Aversion)	These are often the very first signs that a dog is feeling uneasy or conflicted. They are easy to miss or misinterpret as the dog being tired or distracted.4
Level 2: Increasing Anxiety (The Murmurs)	Panting (rapid, shallow breaths), Shaking/Trembling, Pinned Ears (flattened against the head), Tucked Tail, “Whale Eye” (whites of the eyes are visible), Raised Front Paw, Crouched/Lowered Body Posture	The dog’s anxiety is becoming more pronounced. They are actively trying to signal their discomfort and may be preparing to flee if possible.6
Level 3: High Arousal (The Warnings)	Raised Hackles (piloerection), Fixated Stare, Body Stiffening, Frantic Movements (darting, bouncing), Low Growl, Snarl (lifting the lip to show teeth)	The dog is now close to or at its threshold. These are clear distance-increasing signals, warnings that a reactive outburst (barking, lunging, snapping) is imminent if the pressure is not removed.1
Level 4: Shutdown (The Silent Scream)	Freezing, Unresponsive, “Glazed Over” Eyes, Appears Calm/Submissive but is Rigid	This is a state of learned helplessness. The dog has become so overwhelmed that it has given up trying to escape or fight. This is often mistaken for good behavior, but it is a state of extreme fear and psychological distress.5

Part 2: The Epiphany: A Lesson from the Pediatrician’s Office

My breakthrough didn’t come from a dog training manual.

It came months after the disastrous vet visit, sitting in the crinkly-paper-covered chair of a pediatric examination room with my young nephew.

He was terrified of getting his shots.

But instead of holding him down, the nurse knelt to his level.

She showed him the syringe, let him touch the alcohol wipe, and explained what she was going to do in a calm voice.

She told him, “We’ll count to three together, and then it will be all done.

You can squeeze my hand as hard as you want.

Are you ready?”

She was asking for his cooperation.

She was giving him a measure of predictability and control in a scary situation.

She was making him a partner in his own care, not just a passive subject of it.

A light went on in my head.

I had been treating Leo like an object to be managed, a problem to be solved through better restraint and more effective force.

I had never once considered asking for his consent.

The Analogy: From Paternalism to Partnership

That moment led me down a rabbit hole of research, and I stumbled upon a concept from pediatric medicine that changed everything: Shared Decision-Making (SDM).¹⁷

The old model of medicine was paternalistic: the doctor, as the expert, made decisions

for the patient.²⁰

The modern, ethical standard, especially in pediatrics, is a collaborative partnership.

SDM is a process where the clinician, the patient (the child), and their family work

together to make healthcare decisions.

It involves a bidirectional exchange of information, a clear understanding of the options, and a deep respect for the patient’s values and goals, with the child’s welfare as the ultimate priority.¹⁷

This was the paradigm shift I needed.

The goal was not to find a cleverer way to force Leo to endure the vet.

The goal was to build a system of communication that would allow him to willingly participate in his own care.

I needed to stop being his commander and start being his trusted medical proxy and his translator.

This led me to the world of advanced, positive-reinforcement training and two interconnected concepts: Fear Free® care and Cooperative Care.

I realized that these weren’t just “nicer” ways to train; they were the direct, practical application of the Shared Decision-Making model, brilliantly adapted for a non-verbal species.

Let’s look at how the framework of pediatric SDM maps directly onto this new approach to veterinary care:

1. SDM Step 1: Are there multiple medically reasonable options? ¹⁹

• In Vet Care: This translates to asking, “Does this procedure have to be done this way?” Instead of a stressful clinic visit for a routine vaccine, can a vet or tech do a home visit? Can the vet show me how to administer the shot myself at home where my dog is comfortable? ³ Can we implement Fear Free protocols to change the entire nature of the visit?.²¹ The answer is almost always yes.

2. SDM Step 2: Is one option clearly more favorable? ¹⁹

• In Vet Care: This means choosing the path of least stress. A visit with Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals (PVPs) that lower a dog’s anxiety is clearly more favorable than one without.²¹ A visit to a Fear Free certified vet is clearly more favorable than one to a traditional practice that might rely on force.²³

3. SDM Step 3: What are the patient’s values and preferences? ¹⁹

• In Vet Care: This is where learning to read our dog’s body language (Table 1) becomes paramount. Their “values” are safety and predictability. Their “preferences” are communicated through every ear flick, lip lick, and shift in weight. Honoring these signals is how we understand their perspective.

4. SDM Step 4: Guide the decision based on the above. ¹⁹

• In Vet Care: This is the magic of Cooperative Care. We teach the dog a “start button behavior”—a voluntary action they perform to say, “I am ready. You may proceed.”.¹⁵ A common example is a chin rest. If the dog holds their chin on a target (your lap, a towel), that’s a “YES,” and the handling continues. If they lift their head, that’s a “NO,” and everything stops instantly.²⁵ The dog is now an active participant, guiding the procedure in real-time. They have agency.

This analogy transformed my entire approach.

I wasn’t just training behaviors anymore.

I was building a system of trust, communication, and consent.

I was creating a partnership.

Part 3: The Cooperative Care Blueprint: A 4-Pillar Strategy for Vet Visits

Armed with this new philosophy, I built a comprehensive, four-pillar strategy to completely overhaul our vet visits.

This is not a quick fix; it is a dedicated process of rebuilding trust from the ground up.

Pillar I: Building Your Diplomatic Team (The Vet & Meds)

You cannot do this alone.

Your first step is to stop seeing the vet as a place you must endure and start seeing them as a critical member of your team.

This may mean firing your old vet and finding a new one.

Finding the Right Partner: The Fear Free® Advantage

I learned that not all vets are created equal when it comes to handling fearful animals.

The single most important change I made was finding a Fear Free® Certified Practice.

The Fear Free initiative was founded by veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker to “prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets”.²³

Professionals with this certification are trained in low-stress handling techniques, the importance of the sensory environment, and recognizing subtle signs of FAS.⁶

They are already philosophically aligned with the cooperative care model, making them your natural allies.¹³

You can find a certified professional or practice through the directory on the Fear Free Pets website.

The Pre-Visit Protocol: Your Diplomatic Briefing

A successful visit begins long before you leave the house.

It starts with a phone call where you act as your dog’s advocate and logistics manager.¹²

You are not being “difficult”; you are setting your dog up for success.

Table 2: The Pre-Visit Protocol Checklist

Use this checklist as a script when you call to make the appointment.

It empowers you to control the environment and minimize triggers from the moment you arrive.

Category	Questions and Requests for the Vet’s Office
Scheduling & Arrival	“My dog is very fearful/reactive at the vet. Can we schedule the very first or last appointment of the day to ensure the waiting room is as empty as possible?” 16
	“Do you have a protocol for reactive dogs? Can we call from the car upon arrival and wait there until an exam room is ready for us?” 13
	“Is there a side or back entrance we can use to bypass the waiting room entirely?” 13
Exam Room Environment	“Can the examination be performed on the floor? I can bring a non-slip yoga mat for my dog’s comfort.” 4
	“I’ve noticed my dog is triggered by white coats. Is it possible for the staff in the room to avoid wearing them?” 4
	“Could you please add a note to my dog’s file for staff to avoid direct eye contact and looming over him initially? And to approach from the side rather than head-on?”
Positive Association	“I will be bringing very high-value treats. Can I ask the staff to offer him treats without making him uncomfortable?” 6
Medical Plan	“We need to discuss Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals (PVPs). What do you recommend, and what is the ideal timing for administration before the visit?” 28

Reframing Medication: PVPs as a Bridge to Learning

I, like many owners, was initially hesitant to “drug” my dog.

I felt it was a crutch or a sign of failure.

I was wrong.

Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals (PVPs) are not a “knock-out” drug.

They are a vital tool that works by lowering the baseline levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.²⁹

This creates a state of mind where the dog is

physiologically capable of learning new, positive associations.

Without them, a highly anxious dog’s brain is too flooded with fear to learn anything new.²⁸

The key is timing.

The medication must be given at home, in a calm environment, well before the stress begins.

Giving it when the dog is already anxious is often ineffective, as the adrenaline rush can override the medication’s effects.²⁸

Table 3: A Guide to Common Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals (PVPs)

This table is for informational purposes only.

It is designed to help you have an informed conversation with your veterinarian, who is the only person qualified to prescribe medication for your dog.

Medication (Common Brand Names)	Class / Mechanism	Typical Use & Onset	Common Potential Side Effects
Trazodone	SARI (Antidepressant)	Often used for situational anxiety. Works by increasing serotonin. Typically given 1-2 hours before the event.	Sedation, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, paradoxical excitement (rare).
Gabapentin	Anticonvulsant / Analgesic	Often used in combination with other drugs to manage anxiety and pain. Mechanism for anxiety is not fully understood. Given 1-2 hours prior.	Sedation, ataxia (wobbliness).
Alprazolam (Xanax)	Benzodiazepine	A fast-acting medication for panic and severe phobias. Depresses central nervous system activity. Effective within 30-60 minutes.22	Grogginess, loss of balance, increased appetite, potential for disinhibition (increased aggression). Should not be stopped abruptly if used long-term.22
Dexmedetomidine (Sileo)	Alpha-2 Adrenoceptor Agonist	An oral gel applied to the gums for noise aversion and situational anxiety. Takes effect in 30-60 minutes.	Drowsiness, sedation, vomiting, pale gums. Must be handled carefully with gloves.22

Pillar II: The Muzzle as a Tool of Trust, Not a Mark of Shame

The muzzle was the source of my deepest shame, but it became our greatest tool for freedom.

I had to completely reframe its purpose.

A muzzle is not a punishment or a scarlet letter.

A properly conditioned, well-fitting basket muzzle is a safety tool that liberates your dog from the need for forceful restraint.³⁰

When the vet staff knows the dog cannot bite, they relax.

When they relax,

you relax.

When you relax, your dog has a better chance of relaxing.

It allows for calmer, closer, and more gentle handling.

The key is a basket-style muzzle that allows the dog to pant freely, drink water, and, most importantly, take treats through the front.³²

The goal is to make the muzzle the best thing in the world.

It should signal that amazing treats are coming.

This requires a slow, patient, game-based training plan.

Table 4: The “Muzzle-Up” Game: A Positive Training Plan

This plan breaks down muzzle training into tiny, achievable steps.

Each session should be short (1-5 minutes) and fun.

Go at your dog’s pace.

If they show any hesitation, go back to the previous step where they were successful.³²

Use incredibly high-value, sticky treats like cream cheese, xylitol-free peanut butter, or meat-flavored baby food.³

Phase	Goal	Step-by-Step Instructions
Phase 1: Muzzle = Food Bowl	Create a positive classical association: Muzzle predicts amazing food.	1. Show the muzzle. The instant your dog looks at it, say “Yes!” and give a treat. Repeat 5-10 times.2. Smear a sticky treat on the inside rim of the muzzle. Hold it out and let your dog lick the treat off. Do not push it toward them; let them approach.30 Repeat until they eagerly approach the muzzle.
Phase 2: Voluntary Chin Rest	Teach the dog to voluntarily put their nose/chin into the muzzle.	1. Hold the muzzle with a treat inside. Let the dog put their nose in to get the treat and immediately pull their head out.30	2. Once they are doing this confidently, start feeding a second, then a third treat through the front of the muzzle while their nose is still inside. This builds duration.30
Phase 3: Strap & Buckle Fun	Desensitize the dog to the feel and sound of the straps and buckle.	1. While the dog is eating a treat from the muzzle (held in place by you), gently touch the straps with your other hand. Treat.2. Drape the straps over their neck. Treat.3. Away from the dog, make the “click” sound of the buckle. Treat. Gradually make the sound closer to them, treating each time.31
Phase 4: Brief Fastening	Teach the dog to accept the muzzle being fastened.	1. Have the dog put their nose in. Fasten the buckle for ONE second. Give a “jackpot” (a handful of amazing treats). Unbuckle and remove.2. Gradually and variably increase the time. 2 seconds, 5 seconds, 1 second, 7 seconds. Keep it unpredictable and highly rewarding.30
Phase 5: Generalization	Make the muzzle a normal part of fun activities.	1. Ask the dog to wear the muzzle for 30 seconds during a fun training session at home.2. Ask them to wear it while you prepare their dinner.3. Ask them to wear it for the first minute of a walk in a low-stress area.32 The muzzle now predicts walks, food, and fun—not just the vet.

Pillar III: The Art of Gradual Negotiation (DSCC)

With your team in place and your safety tools conditioned, you can begin the work of changing your dog’s underlying emotional response to the vet itself.

This is done through Desensitization and Counter-Conditioning (DSCC).

Desensitization means gradually exposing your dog to the trigger at a level so low it doesn’t cause fear (this is called “sub-threshold”).

Counter-conditioning means pairing that low-level exposure with something wonderful (like high-value food) to change the association from scary to pleasant.¹⁶

This process requires immense patience.

If you see any signs of stress from Table 1, you are going too fast.

Take a step back.²⁹

A Practical DSCC Plan for Vet Visits

³⁵

1. The Car: If the car ride itself is stressful, start there. Spend a week just opening the car door, tossing treats inside, and closing it. Then, have your dog hop in for a treat and hop right out. Progress to starting the engine for a second, then turning it off. Take very short, happy drives to fun places, like a park, so the car doesn’t always predict the vet.³⁷
2. The Parking Lot: For the next week, your “training” is just driving into the vet’s parking lot. Stop the car, give your dog a jackpot of boiled chicken, and immediately drive away. Do this until your dog looks excited when you pull in. Then, progress to getting out of the car for 10 seconds, getting a treat, and leaving.
3. The Approach: Walk from your car toward the clinic door. Stop 50 feet away, feed treats, and leave. The next day, stop 30 feet away. Work your way up to touching the door handle, getting a treat, and leaving.
4. “Happy Visits”: This is where your partnership with the Fear Free clinic is essential. Arrange for 2-minute “happy visits” during quiet times. Your only goal is to walk into the empty waiting room, have the receptionist toss your dog a treat, and leave immediately. The next time, maybe you stay for 30 seconds. Then, you progress to having your dog step on the scale for a treat.²¹ These visits must be short, positive, and end before your dog feels any stress.

Pillar IV: The “Start Button” – Giving Your Dog a Voice

This is the pinnacle of the Cooperative Care model.

It’s where you move from managing your dog’s fear to actively asking for their consent.

A “start button” is a behavior you teach your dog that functions as their way of saying, “Yes, I am ready for you to proceed”.¹⁵

This gives the dog ultimate agency and predictability, which are the most powerful antidotes to fear.¹⁵

Training the Duration Chin Rest: Your Dog’s “Yes” Button

²⁵

The most versatile start button is a duration chin rest.

You will teach your dog to rest their chin on a designated object (your lap, a folded towel, the exam table) and hold it there.

This is their “green light.”

1. Introduce the Target: Choose your target (a folded towel is a great, portable option). Use a treat to lure your dog’s nose over the towel. The moment their chin touches it for even a split second, say “Yes!” and give a treat. Repeat until they are offering the chin touch deliberately.
2. Build Duration: Once they understand the game, start delaying the “Yes!” and the treat by a single second. They hold their chin on the towel for one second, then “Yes!,” treat. Gradually and variably increase the duration they hold the position. Mix in easy 1-second holds with harder 5-second holds to keep them engaged.
3. Add Gentle Handling: This is the crucial step. While your dog is holding the chin rest, use your other hand to gently touch their shoulder for one second. Then, release and give a treat. The chin rest is the consent. If they lift their head, your hand immediately comes off. No questions asked. This teaches them they have the power to stop the procedure at any time. Gradually progress to touching their back, ears, and eventually, paws and mouth.
4. Introduce Vet Equipment: Once handling is solid, introduce mock vet equipment. While they hold the chin rest, show them a stethoscope. Treat. Let the stethoscope touch their back. Treat. Show them a pen that looks like a syringe. Treat. Every new step is paired with the chin rest. Their continued chin rest is their consent to proceed.

This training takes time, but it fundamentally changes the dynamic.

An exam is no longer something being done to your dog; it’s a cooperative procedure they are choosing to participate in.

Conclusion: The New Normal – A Story of a Successful Vet Visit

Six months after that humiliating day, Leo and I walked toward the vet’s office again.

This time, the air felt different.

It felt like hope.

I had called ahead and had the last appointment of the day.

We were to go in the back entrance, straight to an exam room with a yoga mat on the floor.

In the car, I asked Leo, “Ready to put on your muzzle?” and held it O.T. He eagerly shoved his face into it, knowing it predicted the chicken in my pocket.

We walked calmly through the back hall.

In the exam room, he sniffed around curiously while I chatted with the Fear Free vet.

When it was time for the exam, I sat on the floor and patted my lap.

“Leo, place,” I said.

He came over and rested his chin firmly in my lap, his “start button” engaged.

The vet listened to his heart.

Leo didn’t move.

She checked his ears.

He held his chin rest.

When it was time for his shot, the tech came over.

Leo briefly lifted his head—a “no, thank you.” The tech and vet both stepped back without a word.

I gave Leo a treat and a moment.

I asked him to “place” again.

He put his chin back on my lap.

The tech administered the shot quickly and smoothly.

He didn’t even flinch.

He was too focused on the promise of the treat he knew was coming.

I didn’t feel shame that day.

I felt an overwhelming sense of pride and a profound connection to the animal beside me.

I hadn’t “fixed” my reactive dog.

I had learned to listen to him.

I had replaced force with communication, and fear with trust.

The journey with a dog like Leo is not easy.

It demands more of us.

But in return, it offers a relationship of unparalleled depth.

By giving him a voice, I finally learned how to truly hear him, and in doing so, we both found our way to being calm.

Works cited

1. A Beginner’s Guide to Helping Your Reactive Dog Get Better – 3 Lost …, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.3lostdogs.com/a-beginners-guide-to-helping-your-reactive-dog-get-better/
2. To the other woman with a reactive dog at the vet: you’re doing a good job – Reddit, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/reactivedogs/comments/13gpz5p/to_the_other_woman_with_a_reactive_dog_at_the_vet/
3. Visit to vet – very nervous and reactive dog … – Positively | Victoria …, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://forum.positively.com/viewtopic.php?t=13886
4. Reducing Fear of Veterinary Visits for Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/reducing-fear-of-veterinary-visits-for-dogs
5. Reactivity – The Anxiety Link – Canine Principles, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.canineprinciples.com/blog/reactive-anxious-dog
6. A Review on Mitigating Fear and Aggression in Dogs and Cats in a …, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7826566/
7. Fears, Phobias, and Anxiety in Cats and Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/fears-phobias-and-anxiety
8. Behavioral Problems of Dogs – Merck Veterinary Manual, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.merckvetmanual.com/behavior/normal-social-behavior-and-behavioral-problems-of-domestic-animals/behavioral-problems-of-dogs
9. Why Do Dogs Hate the Vet? Understanding Canine Anxiety – Rogue Pet Science, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://roguepetscience.com/blogs/dog-training/why-do-dogs-hate-the-vet
10. Using Patients’ Sensory Perception to Enhance Their Veterinary Visits, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/behavior/using-patients-sensory-perception-to-enhance-their-veterinary-visits/
11. Features of stimulus-specific seizures in dogs with reflex epilepsy: 43 cases (2000–2014) – AVMA Journals, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/250/1/javma.250.1.75.pdf
12. Managing reactive behavior | Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/managing-reactive-behavior
13. How do you guys deal with the vet office with your reactive dog …, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/reactivedogs/comments/tay30m/how_do_you_guys_deal_with_the_vet_office_with/
14. Does anyone else’s reactive dog behave nicely at the vet? : r/reactivedogs – Reddit, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/reactivedogs/comments/12mo1pv/does_anyone_elses_reactive_dog_behave_nicely_at/
15. Teaching Fear Free Cooperative Care Pet Handling | – So Much PETential, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://somuchpetential.com/teaching-fear-free-cooperative-care-pet-handling/
16. Addressing Anxiety & Stress During Routine Pet Wellness Exams | Carlsbad Vets, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.carlsbadanimalhospital.com/site/blog/2024/07/15/addressing-anxiety-stress-pet-exam
17. Shared Decision-making in Pediatric Practice: A Broad View | Request PDF – ResearchGate, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328674633_Shared_Decision-making_in_Pediatric_Practice_A_Broad_View
18. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9647592/#:~:text=Pediatric%20SDM%20is%20a%20process,values%2C%20preferences%2C%20and%20goals.
19. Shared Decision Making – AAP, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.aap.org/en/practice-management/providing-patient–and-family-centered-care/shared-decision-making/
20. Shared decision-making – Don’t Forget the Bubbles, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://dontforgetthebubbles.com/shared-decision-making/
21. Cooperative Care And Fear Free; What It Is And Why You Should …, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.followtheleaderinc.com/cooperative-care-and-fear-free-what-it-is-and-why-you-should-care/
22. 10 Medications for Dog Anxiety: Managing Your Dog’s Anxiety with …, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/10-medications-dog-anxiety
23. Fear Free: Home, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.fearfree.com/
24. Fear Free Shelter Program | Learn How to Reduce Stress in Shelter Pets, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://fearfreeshelters.com/
25. Chin Rest Challenge: How to Use This Cooperative Care Behavior, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.fearfreehappyhomes.com/chin-rest-challenge-how-to-use-this-cooperative-care-behavior/
26. Taking my huge reactive dog to the vet : r/AskVet – Reddit, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/AskVet/comments/1evblh2/taking_my_huge_reactive_dog_to_the_vet/
27. Dog reactive dog parents – how do you handle emergency vet visits? – Reddit, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/reactivedogs/comments/1ggcee2/dog_reactive_dog_parents_how_do_you_handle/
28. How to prepare your pet for a low-stress vet visit | Colorado State University, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://cvmbs.source.colostate.edu/how-to-prepare-your-pet-for-a-low-stress-vet-visit/
29. Desensitization and Counterconditioning, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://bestfriendsvet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Desensitization-Counterconditioning-2022.pdf
30. Muzzle Training Your Scaredy Dog – Scaredy Dog, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://scaredydoglv.com/muzzle-training-your-scaredy-dog/
31. Muzzles—Not Just for Aggression! | Karen Pryor Clicker Training, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://clickertraining.com/muzzles/
32. Dogs and Muzzle Training | Blue Cross, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/behaviour-and-training/dogs-and-muzzle-training
33. When and How to do Muzzle Training with Your Dog – Sniffspot, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.sniffspot.com/blog/dog-reactivity/when-and-how-to-do-muzzle-training-with-your-dog
34. I want to get my reactive dog a muzzle but I don’t know where to start. – Reddit, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/reactivedogs/comments/14j1e39/i_want_to_get_my_reactive_dog_a_muzzle_but_i_dont/
35. Treating a fear of the veterinary clinic using desensitization and …, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.hopevets.co.uk/fact-sheets/treating-a-fear-of-the-veterinary-clinic-using-desensitization-and-counter-conditioning/
36. Introduction to Desensitization and Counterconditioning – VCA Animal Hospitals, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/introduction-to-desensitization-and-counterconditioning
37. How to Make Vet Visits Stress-Free and Pleasant for Your Dog, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/make-vet-visits-stress-free/