Dan
CaseInstructionforSimulatedClient
CaseAuthors:HelenNorton;JaneShaw,DVM,PhD;GretchenAmend,MA;ColoradoStateUniversity2007
Adaptationauthoredby:SuzanneM.Kurtz,PhD;JulieCary,DVM,MS,DACVS
WashingtonStateUniversityCollegeofVeterinaryMedicine
SimulatedClientversionadaptedbyDanielHaley,MFA,December2012(lastrevisions11/16,1/17)
Note: Male actors may adopt the persona of Ken Lawrence—Kathy’s husband. Apart from the few specific distinctions
named in the text—i.e., profession, hunting, etc.—endeavor to translate the case details to suit your gender and adopt the
character’s personality traits as written. Converting details to match gender is a unique challenge, so be sure you consult
your director if/when you have outstanding uncertainties.
Character(s):
Kathy [Ken] Lawrence—Loving wife, devoted pet owner and soon-to-be first-time
momJ. Though not yet showing, Kathy boasts she is “4 months along,” the joy of
which is only eclipsed by her anxieties about to her increasingly aggressive dog
Dan and how he will react to and/or receive the future “little Lawrence.”
Dan—A long loved, yet growingly antagonistic 5-year-old, neutered, Jack
Russell/Heeler mix. A fixture in the Lawrence household since he was 6-weeksold, Dan seems to be forcibly assuming the alpha male position once held by
Ralph—a Brittany spaniel and your husband’s beloved hunting dog—who died of
cancer one year ago.
Dougal—The unfortunate and submissive recipient of Dan’s abuse, Dougal is an
18-month-old neutered Brittany spaniel currently in training for bird hunting.
Setting:
Time: Mid-afternoon of the present day.
Location: Due to the recent closure of your regular veterinary clinic, you decided
to give this place—another local clinic—a try.
“Moment Before”: Upon arrival and completing the customary paperwork for new
clients, a veterinary technician showed you to this exam room to await the doctor.
NOTE: Since today’s visit is principally aimed at gathering information/advice as
opposed to Dan’s yearly physical exam, you chose to leave the dog at home.
Given Circumstances:
Client Description:
A) Age/Physical Description: Mid 20’s-early 30’s.
B) Dress: Neat yet comfortable—e.g., jeans and a blouse.
C) Profession/pastimes: Homemaker.
D) Affect/behavior: Friendly and forthcoming, though clearly concerned for
both Dougal’s wellbeing and the safety of their future child. Kathy is
also ashamedly aware that due to baby preparations, Dan has not
been receiving the level of attention to which he is accustomed and
their disciplinary measures for his increasingly ill behavior have grown
similarly lax.
E) Misc.:
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a. Husband is an assistant manager at a local hardware store.
b. Although Dan is acting out, the Lawrences love and wish to do
right by both their dogs.
c. Kathy’s husband is diligently training Dougal to bird hunt in
order to replace the loss of Ralph before next hunting season.
i. More specifically, Dougal is being trained to hunt upland
birds—i.e., pheasant, “huns” and quail.
Patient Description:
A) Age: 5-years-old.
B) Breed/Color: Jack Russell/Heeler mix.
C) Diet: Purina brand dry dog food. 1 cup twice daily. Because they have
identical eating schedules the dogs are fed together in the kitchen—
from separate bowls—that regularly leads to conflict.
D) Activity level:
a. Both dogs are walked together daily and/or they are allotted
plenty of time to run and play in Lawrence’s fenced backyard.
i. Dan’s antagonistic behavior began with toy thieving, but
has escalated till now Dan regularly chases and nips at
Dougal’s heels while they are “playing” in the backyard.
b. Until he was 3 years old Dan underwent both obedience and
agility training. While the obedience training has all but been
forgotten—partially due to the Lawrence’s self-confessed lack of
commitment to it—occasionally Dan still performs some of this
agility maneuvers in the back yard, which he seems to enjoy.
E) Misc.:
a. Dougal was purchased from a local breeder as a puppy (2months old) and learned a lot from Ralph in the 4 months they
lived together before the veteran birddog died one year ago.
b. While Ralph was alive, all three dogs got along just fine and
cohabitated without incident.
c. Recently Dan has become noticeably more frightened by loud
noises such as fireworks.
F) Medical History:
a. Has never suffered serious injury or illness and is not currently
on any medications.
b. Receives a rabies shot every 3 years as well as routine shots
and a physical exam annually.
Miscellaneous:
A) The injury to Ken’s arm, which he received while trying to stop Dan
attacking Dougal in the backyard last week, did break the skin, but did
not require stitches.
Precipitating Event: Dan used to simply steal Dougal’s toys, but it’s gotten
progressively worse (i.e., more frequent, deliberate, and aggressive.) Dougal
hasn’t been hurt, but last week my husband [I] was trying to separate the dogs in
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the backyard and Dan accidentally bit him [me], at which point we figured we
really needed professional advice.
Character Objective: To gather advice regarding Dan’s behavioral issues
and formulate a plan to protect both Dougal and prospective children from
future acts of aggression.
Illustration(s):
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Illustration #1: Dan
Illustration
#2: Dougal
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