The decision to move forward to ending a dog’s life is a difficult one, and there are many factors involved and largely hinges on to what degree the safety of others is at risk and to what extent the owners are willing or able to invest in managing the behavior.
There are a few critical considerations
- Most aggressive dogs do not need to be euthanized (2)
- Most owners of aggressive dogs are told by someone (A veterinarian, friend, trainer, family, etc.) to euthanize [3]
- Dog aggression is rarely “cured” although can often be fully controlled (2)
- Dog aggression as a problem is over-diagnosed. (1)
- Treating dog aggression will be challenging
- People looking at euthanizing their dog face the loss of a strong emotional attachment
- Decisions to euthanize are usually made in a crisis (2) See Controlling the environment
- Owners who are unwilling to work with their pets will invariably make the problems worse. See when to consider placement
- If the owners can’t work with the animal and the animal is too aggressive to even be placed in a specialized home, then euthanasia should be considered
Parents need to balance two areas:
- The potential threat to their children (assuming the aggression is directed towards family members, or if the dog potentially has some kind of pathology and aggression is a real threat even if the dog has not been aggressive towards children in the past)
- The impact euthanasia can potentially have on their children. Children don’t have an adult context in which to understand the reasons why a dog must be destroyed, or a dog is “given away” (or what other stories parents may tell their children). As all children misbehave, the children may worry that they too will face serious consequences, regardless of adult assurances.
Consider boarding the dog somewhere before committing to the decision, to see how it feels to live without the dog, as once the decision is made, it can’t be undone.
Dr. Karen Overall writes in her book on behavior for veterinary students, “If owners have an interested in working with the pet, however horrendous the problems, they should be encouraged to do so”
However, a dog owner who is unable to manage the situation so that danger is significantly reduced should seriously question whether to continue owning the dog.
If euthanasia is chosen, request that your vet give your dog an fast acting anti-anxiety medication prior to euthanizing. You vet may suggest a medication to make the dog dopey, but ensure the medication being used is actually used for anxiety and not merely a tranquilizer or betablocker that prevents or blocks symptoms. This will at least ensure a calmer ending.
Expect a lack of compassion from others around the ned to grieve the loss of your pet. Grief typically last from a few months up to a year.
Footnotes
[1]Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr 1991 Jan;98:15-9 [Behavior disorders on Dogs -- study of their classification] [Article in German] Feddersen-Petersen D. Institut fur Haustierkunde, Universität Kiel
[2] Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals, 1997, Dr. Karen L Overall
[3] In 1993, 100% of the clients at the Behavior Clinic And University Of Pennsylvania were told by someone to euthanize their aggressive pets.
