Barley goes to the vet

We've had Barley for over five years. In that time, we've been to only two veterinarians. Now that we've moved (okay, that was last fall, but still) it was time to find a vet closer to the new house. I'm pleased to say that I've found one I really like--they are knowledgeable, friendly, thorough and very close to home.

The Little Guy and I took Barley in for his annual check-up and shots.


Funny story about this picture: I gave the sit command, and they both went down. This is one of the many advantages about getting (and training) a dog before you have a baby. I'm noticing that households with well-trained animals usually have well-behaved children. Just a TMI observation.

The new vet did a great exam, and really took the time to talk to me. One myth I think she cleared up: for many years, everyone (vets, family, friends, other dog owners, random people on the street, the shelter where we got him) has identified Barley as a pit bull. This vet took a good look at his face structure and determined that while she sees the resemblance, Barley is not a pit bull. She suspects the red coat is Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and suggested that the facial structure could be Rhodesian Ridgeback. Now, none of this really matters to me, but since we had no background information on Barley from the shelter, it was nice to have an expert finally take the time to give him a really good look and try to fill in his history for us.

The Little Guy was really interested in Barley's exam. He kept trying to get right in there with the vet and her assistant. Maybe he's a budding veterinarian? More likely, he's just interested to know that someone in our family other than him also has to see a doctor on a regular basis.

Here's another reason I like our new vet: while we were there, they took a picture of Barley to include in his file. Then, they sent us a welcome letter with a brochure and a copy of the picture. Hooray for quality veterinarian care!