Behavioral euthanasia isn't an easy topic, but it's a necessary one to talk about.  It's a conversation I've had with many clients, many other trainers, and many friends.  If you're reading this, maybe you've euthanized a beloved dog for severe aggression or maybe you're considering it.  I wanted to broach this controversial topic because it really shouldn't be controversial at all.  Ethical trainers know it's sometimes necessary, that aggression can’t always be fixed, and that sometimes euthanasia is the best option. 

Living with a severely aggressive dog is HARD. You don't really know how hard until you've been there. Until you've lived in constant stress, constant hyper-vigilance trying to prevent a dog fight or bite to a person. Sometimes training can help, sometimes it can't. Sometimes medication can help, sometimes it can't.  Sometimes euthanasia is just the safest, kindest option when all other options have failed. No one takes this lightly. This is a decision that is stressed over, cried over, second guessed a million times. There's guilt, the wondering if things could have been done differently. But owners always feel relief after. The constant stress is finally over.

And, like many trainers, I've been there personally. Let me tell you about Koda.

KODA’S STORY

Koda was a beautiful German shepherd.  He was a deaf singleton puppy I got at 6 weeks from a backyard breeder.

I could see behavior issues immediately. At 6 weeks, he had extremely poor dog-dog social skills and was incredibly dog reactive, barking loudly and aggressively at other adult dogs. He had no littermates to practice social skills with, and mom was a dog-reactive dog living on a chain in the backyard spending her days aggressively chasing away passing dogs. He was incredibly pushy with my adult dogs and seemed unable to comprehend any kind of body language or social cues.  If they bared teeth at him he was unfazed. If they snapped at him, he'd snap back (very abnormal behavior for a young puppy). I could see warning signs very early on, but he also had many moments of sweet playfulness, and I had hope that as a young trainer I could turn this around.

As he grew, we worked hard on his reactivity to strange dogs, and slowly but surely that became more manageable, but I would have an occasional dog fight in my home because of Koda.  He just had no social skills, was becoming a huge bully, and would never, ever make an effort to avoid conflict. He seemed to sometimes seek it out. He would do strange things, like bark and spin in a circle while staring up at the empty sky or jolt awake, run to a wall, and growl and aggressively bark at it.

His aggression didn't become a big problem until he was older, around 5 years old.  His aggression toward my oldest dog, a sweet, submissive girl named Miley, had started to ramp up.  He'd wait for her to walk out through the dog door and grab the back of her neck hard enough that she'd cry out. It was bullying behavior that started drifting into full aggression.

The first time he truly attacked her, she was already in the backyard, munching grass along the fence, and Koda had just walked outside.  He visually locked on to her, and I knew immediately this was really bad.  His whole body shifted subtly, and I knew what was coming, but I couldn't grab him in time. I saw the fear in Miley’s face as she realized what was happening, too. He dropped his head, froze, and then sprinted at her silently.  He grabbed the back of her neck (he was 95 pounds, she was 45), picked her up and started shaking her hard.  At this point it's a bit of a blur as I was racing through the yard to grab him, Miley was screaming, and he was barely making a sound as he tried to kill her.  He dropped her for a split second, just long enough to grab her throat instead, and resumed shaking her. I grabbed his hips and yanked him back hard. He refused to let her go, so I just drug them both, over 130 pounds of dog. I grabbed his collar and lifted his front legs off the ground. He still didn't let go of her, so both dogs were lifted. I had to start choking him out before he eventually dropped her. It was horrific. He had never done anything like this before, ever. And I saw the whole thing. There was no trigger. There was no way to rationalize it. This was severe, intense, and unpredictable aggression. If I had not been there he would have killed her.

It didn't get better.  And it always happened similarly.  Out of nowhere, he would attack.  Several times he jerked awake from a dead sleep and charged across the living room and trie to kill her.  A few times he attacked her while she was sleeping, so she woke up to him mauling her.  It was severe every time, with him biting, holding, and shaking.  She wouldn't even fight back, just cower and scream for help. The frequency and intensity of the attacks increased.

I did everything I could.  I took him to a veterinary behaviorist to get help from the best of the best.  We tried every single behavioral medication. Some helped calm him down and decrease his intense anxiety, but it didn’t decrease his aggression.  I took him to vets to rule out any kind of medical issue. None were found.  He was still attacking her. He wore a muzzle anytime he was loose in the house. He was never outside with her. He spent a lot of time baby gated away from her, which was stressful for him, as he had a hard time being away from me. He still attacked her, and it was always unpredictable and unprovoked.  There was no rhyme or reason.  I didn't know what to do.  Miley was terrified, slinking around the house perpetually fearful of the next attack.  I was always stressed, also afraid of the next attack.

The final straw came after trying for over a year, with the absolute worst attack of all.  If he hadn't been muzzled it would have been so much worse, but even with the muzzle, I could NOT get him to stop attacking her.  Several times I managed to yank him off, but he would jerk himself free of my grasp and resume the attack on her. I fell a couple times. The attack moved through the house, starting in the living room and ending in my bedroom as Miley tried desperately to escape him.   It lasted several minutes and felt like hours before I finally managed to grab him and throw him behind the baby gate. As I tried to catch my breath, he threw himself against the gate over and over, snarling and barking, with the most frenzied, desperate look in his eyes I'd ever seen. It wasn't Koda anymore. The sweet dog I knew and loved was not in that body in that moment. I felt like he was pleading with me to help him, that he couldn't control it. I scheduled his euthanasia that night. There was nothing left to try. I couldn't keep doing this. Miley didn't deserve to live this way, and Koda had no quality of life anymore. With his aggression escalating so dramatically, I feared he'd get out of his muzzle or potentially redirect on me.

I gave him a great last day before the vet came to the house and helped him pass. I can remember thinking, as the sedative kicked in, that I'd never seen him so relaxed and at peace, and I realized that he had been in severe emotional distress for far too long. It was devastating and heartbreaking. I cried for months. But I never regretted it.

THE UNICORN HOME

Many owners of aggressive dogs will consider rehoming their dog.  Sometimes this is reasonable. If two dogs are fighting but the dogs do fine with other dogs, it's reasonable to find a new home for one. Or if there’s a dog who resource guards the kids’ toys, it may be reasonable to place the dog in a home without kids.

But more often than not, it's not reasonable.  Let's look at the case of the pit bull I worked with who busted through a wood fence to kill the neighbor’s dog. Where can this dog safely go? He already lived in a home without other dogs and he still found a way to kill one. Other dogs exist in the world, and he will go to incredible lengths to kill them. He would need to be muzzled and on leash any time he was outside for the rest of his life. If he ever slipped out the front door or bolted out of the car, another dog could die. No one wants to take on a dog who is such high risk.

I consulted with an owner of a giant breed dog who had severely mauled a person that the owner invited into the home. He also had a history of attacking the other dog in the home.  Who wants a dog over 120 pounds who literally tried to kill someone? This dog could never safely be around people or dogs, and at his size, good luck trying to hold him back if he decides to go for someone.  To make matters worse, he regularly jumped their 6' fence and roamed around the neighborhood.  He could not be contained and was a deadly serious threat to other people and dogs. There is nowhere this dog could go, other than a roofed concrete kennel without human interaction, and what kind of life is that for a dog, especially one who couldn’t tolerate confinement?

Many people think a dog-aggressive dog just needs a home without dogs, or a dog who is aggressive to people just needs a home where no one ever comes over. But remember, other dogs and other people exist in the world. People have neighbors and mailmen and delivery drivers. People have family and friends. There are utility workers or repairmen who may stop by. If you walk your dog, they WILL encounter other dogs and people. Take your dog to the vet, same thing. It takes one mistake - one door left open, one gate left open, one moment of inattention on a walk and the dog is free and hurting or killing someone.

Commonly people assume farmers want aggressive dogs. They don't. Farmers have lots of other animals and usually lots of people around. It's not a place for dangerous dogs. Farmers need dogs who are safe around their livestock and farm dogs, who won’t attack farm workers or family, friends, and guests. Very few people want an aggressive dog, and even fewer who are actually capable of safely managing them for life.

THEY JUST NEED TRAINING

If only. Training doesn't fix everything for dogs any more than therapy fixes everything for people. Some people are just dangerous and will be no matter what, and the same is true of dogs. Aggression with no clear trigger, or unpredictable aggression, is incredibly challenging to train. Dogs with severe aggression, who are biting people and doing damage, or dogs who are severely attacking other dogs are simply not safe. The risk of serious injury is just too high. It’s very different than mild aggression, where if a mistake is made someone gets bit but there’s no broken skin or the dogs get in a minor squabble.

Sometimes there's just something wrong with the brain that no amount of training will ever be able to fix.  If we did necropsies of every behaviorally euthanized dog, I suspect we would find that the majority have brain abnormalities.  So while it may be challenging to contemplate euthanizing a physically healthy dog, keep in mind that they may not be physically healthy. Simple labs are not going to detect an issue with the brain.  You could spend $5000 or more doing a brain MRI. But the chances of the problem being fixable are pretty slim anyway. So why let your dog suffer? A dog who is that aggressive is not a happy dog. They don't have a great quality of life, and neither do the people and animals they live with.

ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS?

So if they can't be ethically rehomed and they can't be safely kept, then what? Do we send them somewhere they'll be isolated for the rest of their lives? A rescue or sanctuary or shelter where they'll spend years in a kennel, alone, circling and pacing and barking while they lose their minds, never getting to run free and be a dog? Is that humane and ethical? I don't think it is. Oftentimes a peaceful death is the kindest option for everyone involved and the greatest gift to a dog who's suffering.

WHEN BEHAVIORAL EUTHANASIA MAY BE WARRANTED

• When the dog has already done serious harm

• When the dog is likely to do harm - the bigger the dog, the more likely this is

• When the dog escapes the yard - digging under the fence or jumping it

• When the dog regularly escapes out of the house

• When there are kids in the home

• When the home is busy with lots of guests

• When there is no clear trigger or when the aggression is very unpredictable

• Any deep punctures or bites to people that require stitches, especially if the dog is biting multiple times in rapid succession or biting and holding/thrashing

• Any dog fights with injuries that require vet care, or any dog attacks where the dog is holding on or holding on and thrashing (this is a clear intent to kill)

• When the dog is displaying aggressive behavior toward family in the home

• If you are living in constant stress due to your dog’s aggression

• If your quality of life has been impacted by your dog’s aggression

• If your dog’s quality of life is being negatively affected by their aggression (they’re constantly isolated, they can’t go on walks, they can’t be loose in the backyard, etc)

• If another dog or person in the home is living in fear of the aggressive dog

HOW DO YOU KNOW IT’S TIME TO EUTHANIZE?

This is hard. Looking back with Koda, I regret waiting so long. With both medical and behavioral euthanasia, we so often feel like we need one last catastrophe to feel justified in our decision. The progression is often so prolonged and subtle that it creeps up unnoticed and we adapt to each slow worsening. With Sam's medical euthanasia, he had been in severe pain for months. He could no longer do the things he loved. His quality of life had diminished a lot, but I kept going. He was still eating! I couldn't put him down if he had such a hearty appetite! He still got excited to see me! He was fine! I kept waiting and waiting for that last catastrophic push because what if today was a good day? What if he improved? How could I possibly say goodbye to my very best friend if he was getting better? He’s not THAT bad… So what if day by day he slowly declined?

But why wait until they’re suffering and miserable? Isn’t it better to let them go on a good day or a sort of good day? Leave on a good note without being debilitated by pain?  

With Koda’s behavioral euthanasia, it was the same. It took a really, really, really bad attack before I could make up my mind. I put my other dogs through so much unnecessary trauma, clinging to a shred of hope he'd miraculously get better all of a sudden. He didn't.

You do NOT have to wait for a catastrophe. You don't have to wait for your dog to injure or kill another dog. You don't have to wait for a serious bite to a person. You can choose to say goodbye before then and prevent it from reaching that point. If your dog is a danger to others, it is okay to euthanize before a bite or a bad bite. Severe aggression isn't likely to get better.

FINDING A VET

Not every vet is willing or able to do a behavioral euthanasia. You may need to call around, and that’s okay. Vets get to decide whether to euthanize or not, but that doesn’t mean you’re making the wrong decision - it just means they’re not emotionally able to handle that. Personally, I’ve found most vets to be pretty supportive, and I was able to use an in-home vet who could come perform the euthanasia at my home so we could avoid a stressful vet visit.

Be honest with your vet about your dog’s aggression, especially if they’re aggressive toward strangers. You may want to ask your vet for a sedative you can give your dog prior to your appointment to help them relax. You should also be prepared to muzzle your dog for your vet’s safety.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Some vets may do things slightly differently, but they should explain how the euthanasia will go beforehand. If they don’t, you can always ask if you want details. What it typically looks like is this:

• The vet will administer a sedative via injection. Your dog will get drowsy within a few minutes and lay down and sleep very deeply. They won’t be aware of what’s happening and they aren’t feeling anything. For some dogs, especially highly anxious dogs, the sedation will take much longer. Koda took an unusually long time (over 10 minutes) to lie down, and he required a second injection of sedatives. For my senior dogs without anxiety, their sedation took effect very quickly.

• Once your dog is sedated and calm and sleepy, your vet will probably insert an IV line into your dog’s vein. They may shave a bit of fur and use a tourniquet to find a vein easier. Your dog is sedated and won’t be scared by this.

• They’ll ask you if you’re ready for them to inject the euthanasia cocktail. If you say yes, they’ll slowly inject a lethal dose of anesthetic agents that will peacefully slow and then stop your dog’s heart. They won’t feel a thing, and it usually happens fairly quickly, in under a minute. I have never been able to tell when my dogs have actually passed. It’s always been very peaceful and quick for my dogs.

• Your vet will listen for a heartbeat with a stethoscope and let you know your dog has passed.

• After your dog has passed, you can choose to take your dog back home with you and bury them or you can choose to have them cremated. You can either get their cremains back or have the crematorium scatter them for you. If you want cremation, most vet clinics will arrange this for you, contacting the company and arranging pickup so you won’t have to make another call. If you choose to get your dog’s remains back, you’ll need to arrange for that. Some cremation places will return them to your vet clinic while others will have you pick up your dog from them directly. Picking up your dog’s cremains is often very emotionally difficult and can reopen the wound, so be prepared for that.

AFTER IT’S OVER

After is hard. It always is. It will feel surreal and empty and sad and weird. For all euthanasias there’s a mixture of relief that it’s over, guilt over feeling relief, and so much sadness and loss. You might have periods of feeling numb or feeling like it’s not real. You’ll wonder if you could have done something differently - started training sooner, tried more medication, tried another anxiety supplement or training method. The truth is, it probably wouldn’t matter. There will always be something new to try, and you can make yourself crazy wanting to do everything. You’ve tried and that’s enough. The end result would’ve been the same.

There is also a lot of judgement from others. You don’t have to give details if you don’t want to. You can simply say your dog has passed. You don’t need to give specifics. You can say it’s too hard to talk about or say it was a medical issue. Other people may not understand, and that can be really hard when you’re already grieving and raw.

A great support is the Facebook group Losing Lulu - a private support group for post-behavioral euthanasia support. It can help to read the stories of others and talk to other dog owners who understand.

BEHAVIORAL EUTHANASIA CONSULT

If you’d like to schedule a 30-minute virtual consultation to talk things over, we certainly can. I’m happy to review your dog’s case and provide insight, feedback, and support.