04/09/2026
Harley is a Romanian street dog rescue I took on as an emergency foster after a serious bite that put someone in hospital. She was so feral she had outgrown her collar and it had damaged her neck because no one could get close enough to remove it. She could not be walked, let alone cope with any kind of vet visit.
Through force-free co-operative care, without needing to lure with treats, she can now walk into the vets, step onto the scales, wait in the waiting room and go into the examination room. She still shows signs of stress like panting, but she is coping.
Close collaboration with our vets meant she could cope with a procedure that confirmed she had bladder stones the size of ping pong balls, helping explain part of her fear-aggression and aversion to handling. This is what is possible when behaviour specialists and vets work together for reactive dogs who “cannot go to the vets”. Huge thank you to Rob at Ashfield House Veterinary Hospital for his consistent, hands off care.
If you need support with a reactive or aggressive dog who struggles at the vets, you can book a free initial consultation using the link in my bio or comments