Expert: Jill Connor, Ph.D. - 1/2/2008

Question
I have a 4 yr.old Wheaton terrior. We don't know the parents behavior and he wasn't fully trained. He has some training when he was about a year. For about the past 2-3 years he has been a nightmare at the vets. We can't take him to the groomers even though he went as a pup, so we groom him at home w/out problem. While at the vet, he bit the vet. Once we walk through the door, he becomes very nervous and once we're in the room, he whines and aims for the door. This last time, they wanted to do a comprehensive exam and wouldn't let us help with him so the vet and the assistant took over. They tried to hold him against the door with the wall, then took him to the back room where we couldn't see what happened but thats when he bit her. She said we could try training which will be expensive or take him to a shelter where he'll most likely be euthenized. Very sad. He's not aggresive with other dogs, we have a 1yr old cava-poo who follows him everywhere and nips at him but they get along. He's good with kids and with females. He's iffy around male strangers. Is there anything at home we can do to help in anyway. The vet says he has a short fuse. We were there about an hour before he bit her and then they sedated him.

Answer
FIND ANOTHER VETERINARIAN AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!!!

It is NOT uncommon for dogs to be fearful, and even aggressive, at the vet's office.  This is an acquired fear response.  This does NOT give your dog a death sentence!! Not for ONE SECOND.  What it does is tell me that your veterinarian is incapable of dealing with any problem behavior, is most likely afraid of the dog (which makes it worse) and, at some point, has been abusive, which caused the bite!  FIND ANOTHER VETERINARIAN and pass the word around to your friends and neighbors.  That vet should not be practicing.

Fear acquired behaviors can be extinguished but you'd need extensive work replicated in a situation that resembles a vet's office and with a vet or tech who would cooperate, and it's totally not necessary.  Your dog can be sedated at home prior to his vet check every year and, if necessary, a shot to further sedate him can be given at the vet's office (although this is certainly not optimum.)  Most veterinarians have encountered fear aggression at one time or another and I have NEVER SEEN a veterinarian incapable of dealing with it.

Regarding the groomer, it is NOT uncommon for dogs to acquire serious behavior problems because of abusive grooming techniques.  When I take my dog to the groomer, I stand there and WATCH the first time; I also ask for references for groomers who do not use cage dryers, do not crate many dogs at a time, are careful about nail clipping, etc.  Since you can groom him at home with no problem, you can easily see that this dog does not have an aggression problem.  Your dog DOES NOT have a "short fuse" or you would be unable to groom him at home or even live with him at this point.  As for his being wary of male strangers, that's not a problem either.  Protect the dog when you have visitors, don't let them interact freely with him.  My dogs are never allowed to mingle with my guests unless I know the guest(s) very well and know nothing abusive will be done to my dogs behind my back.  

There's nothing WRONG with your dog.  Find a new vet ASAP!