Behavioral Euthanasia: Forgiving Yourself for Not Walking on Water

Joann Rechtine, CSAT, CPDT-KA, FDM, FFCP, MS, MPH, RN
Joann has been working with dogs professionally for over twenty years and specializes in separation anxiety work. Joann is a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT). She is the owner and founder of The Loose Leash Academy and works exclusively with dogs who experience separation anxiety or isolation distress issues and uses humane and studied protocols that are formulated specifically for a dog’s needs.
She is also a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), a certified Family Dog Mediator, and a Fear Free™ Certified Trainer.
Joann currently organizes educational events for dog training professionals in subjects like dog aggression, nose work, and separation anxiety. She is an expert at organizing events and has planned everything from 1-hour seminars to multiple- day international conferences.
Trish McMillan holds a Master’s degree in Animal Behavior from the University of Exeter in England and numerous other certifications and credentials. She specializes in training and behavior modification work using positive reinforcement with dogs, cats, and horses.
Trish runs McMillan Animal Behavior in North Carolina and Shelter Behavior Hub online and worldwide.
For links visit here >>> atamember.com/...

[@notoriousdbg2889]

Thank you all for talking about this! Three days ago I had to put my dog Kane to sleep due to behavioral issues. Unfortunately I waited way too long to make this decision. He attacked almost every animal he came across, seriously injured members of our home on three different occasions, and more. I’m struggling with self blame and just telling myself I could’ve done more. He was only about 3 years old. I miss him so much. He was my best friend. This podcast helped a lot! Thank you guys ❤

[@rayl3680]

I want to add to my previous story. These behaviors have been going on since she was about two years old. They are not new. In 2018 at the age of four the first bite occurre
d. It was rationalized by me, saying I jerked my arm And dragged it across her teeth. that event brought in the Animal Behaviorlist and the medication. this has been an ongoing issue of about seven years. It was only recently that the aggression began to intensify. Putting her down was not a casual decision, nor one of convenience. I am lost without her, and the grief is overwhelming. She is being cremated and I can’t wait to bring my girl home. I loved her, I still love her, and I always well. She was special.

[@rayl3680]

Thank you for this ! I “had” to put down my 9yo girl four days ago. I quote “had” because today I wouldn’t do it again. Today my grief is devastating while the events that led to the decision are fading. I can remember the fear I felt the night the decision was made, but I no longer feel it. Today “had” seems arbitrary.
My girl was a gentle, healthy and beautiful dog. She loved everyone she met and they would remark on her manners and intelligence. She and I did most everything together, specially since the loss of my wife, her mommy, 18 months ago to cancer.
Precious, gentle, sweet, and loving UNTIL.
Very rarely, randomly and unpredictably she would explode in rage. After no more than 3 or 4 seconds, it was over. She’d become apologetic then secrete herself as if in shame. It would take calls for treats or a walk for her to come out and she was her perfect self again.
There was never contact, just a clear message to leave her alone. After much testing including X-rays for orthopedic injuries, lab work for chemical imbalance and a general physical and behavioral assessment, the conclusion was lack of inhibition control. Though medicated, improved was not notable. The eruptions were not frequent, nonetheless , play, petting, snuggling only occurred when initiated by her.
One month ago it happened while I tried to medicate her as I’ve always done twice a day. We make a game of it involving tricks and treats. It pretty much a non event. This time though she erupted. No contact but vicious. 4-5 seconds then over, apologetic, then ashamed. The remainder of the day she was her precious self. At night she cuddled with me while I pet her then she went to her crate.
The next morning all was well, potty, breakfast, play etc. Then medication games which went well until I touched her. Again, the brief explosion, apologies, etc, except this time I was bit twice. Once on forearm and once on abdomen. Both bites were more snipping in nature but both drew blood and caused bruising. She was becoming more aggressive. Contact with the vet resulted in adjustments to her medication and a warning from the vet. He warned, she’s a big girl (86 pounds) powerful, and these events are so unpredictable. Be careful with her.
For the next three weeks she was at my side constantly. Our walks were great, as was our play and cuddling. Five days ago as we were sitting on the bedroom floor, her cuddling against me and me petting her, I was thinking of how beautiful our last few days had been. As usual she eventually got up and went to her crate and I got up to open the bed. Same as we always do. Suddenly she exploded out of the crate and bit me twice. Arm and abdomen again, blood and bruising again. I have no idea what provoked this incident. There had been no noise made, nothing was bumped or dropped, nothing! After she left the room I secured a pillow in case she attacked again, and finished opening the bed. I was more rattled than usual because there was no known provocation to this. I considered closing her out of the bedroom but I just couldn’t do that to her. I laid in bed listening for her, prepared for the worst and realizing we could not live like this. She eventually returned without incident and went to her crate. At 2am I awoke and needed to go to the bathroom. I was on my side and felt her tightly pressed against my back. She comes to me in bed often but this time I was afraid to move. What if I startled her and provoked another attack while lying in bed. I clenched my pillow then started talking softly to her to try and wake her. After a minute or so she got up and returned to her crate. But, the last episode originated from her crate so I was still concerned. I turned on the lamp before I moved and waited. Nothing happened so I started talking to her as I sat up and moved to the bathroom, carrying the pillow. Before I returned I started talk again, got into bed, then the lamp. Needless to say it was a terribly stressful night. When the alarm went off I repeated all my 2am behaviors and went to the kitchen carrying the pillow.
I wanted to talk myself out of a decision that I didn’t want to make but I keep remembering to things. I read once that a veterinarian told someone with a dog that was very ill that there was no perfect time to put the dog down. There was only two early and too late. And he warned, try not to be too late. My girl was not in pain though. She was in perfect health. But she had this monster inside her that would surface randomly and
without warning. I also remembered the warning from our longtime veterinarian who warned of the unpredictability and the consequences. Should I not act in time. Based on the residual fear from the night before, the progression of violence, and the latest episode provoked for no known reason. I felt I had no choice, but to put my precious girl down. Of course, now, four days later, the fear subsiding, and the agonizing Pain of loss, I don’t think I could do it again. I apologize to her constantly but of course it’s far too late for that. Two things from your video helped me with considerations to mitigate my guilt. One was, forgive yourself for not walking on water. The other was confirmation of what my vet told me, don’t wait for the tragedy to occur. Thank you for your video…..broken hearted!

[@mdf3905]

I sure would like to know how you are doing now. Does it get better with time? I can relate to your story. Thanks for sharing!

[@rayl3680]

The devastating pain has eased but I will still cry if I allow myself to relive our final days.
I miss Pandora constantly. I live in a neighborhood with many dogs and every time I see someone walking their dog, I miss her.
When I see one of her dog friends it’s worse. Two day ago a distant neighbor asked why she hadn’t seen her and me out walking ?
It’s not as bitter today, but I still question my decision and I will always miss my precious girl

[@mdf3905]

@@rayl3680 Thank you for that! I also see too many reminders each day of my beautiful boy. I wish I could turn back time, it's been almost 4 weeks and I realize now the mistakes we made in listening to the wrong people and the vet failed us. The decision was based in fear. I hope that I can get the message out that a full blood panel needs to be completed. Our beautiful boy had an infection, but we didn't know what it was. The vet didn't do a full investigation and didn't even suggest that could be the problem for sudden aggression. There is lyme disease in our area and that can cause unexpected aggression. Even a doctor that I saw a few days ago for my own health issues as a result of this tragedy said the vet failed. I am learning these things after the fact. It has been very painful.
I will keep depending on God to heal my heart and take me through a journey of forgiveness. I've seen God do amazing things in my past and need to have faith that there is light at the end of this storm.
Isaiah 61:2,3 He will comfort and console those who mourn, To give them beauty for ashes,The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness

[@Middleagedmoose]

Thank you 🥹

[@dwightbain8328]

I'm a 47yr Autistic husband and father of 2 my wife has stage 4 metastatic breast cancer our Beautiful 15 month old cane Corso named Bruno we have to behavior euthanize him also and it's breaking our hearts

[@angelachambers5503]

THANK YOU!!!

[@manuelcosta2115]

How do I get my dog from stop to spin around in circles and barking at my front door she is a 19month female German shepherd thanks

[@plastikloser]

Look up impulse control and door greeting vids

[@michelle7mostandardschnauz192]

Plenty of exercise.

[@RaduBigGun]

All the people are talking mostly about dog euthanasia but not a video about aggressive cats euthanasia. Cats can be aggressive too

[@RaduBigGun]

@@rosyclown They can't kill people but they can wound people.

[@pbk9]

Have you tried more severe corrections on an e-collar? Seems unfair to the dog if you have not exhausted all the options. From what you are saying, it does not seem very hard case.

[@melphillips1608]

Some places have bans on tools. Like UK.

[@MarieDipiero]

If someone is listening to this video. I can almost guarantee they tried everything. And likely distraught. Peace and love to those who had to make this decision.

[@DaysOfSodaAndLantana]

I was at the point where I had made the decision to put down our baby. My husband and I had both been diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer, we were moving in with brother and sister-in-law, and our dog snarled and barked at everything and everybody but us. We tried a behavioral specialist. Paid a fortune and got nothing. It wasn’t explicitly said, but the vibe was our dog probably couldn’t be changed and would probably need to be put down. He never but anyone because I was hyper HYPER vigilante. It was exhausting. And what would we do with him at my brother’s house? They had a dog and a cat. I was at my breaking point. I would have put him down, but my husband said no, we aren’t doing that. My brother and him put a wire fence across their yard and each dog had their own half. Then we paid another fortune for a dog trainer. He used an e-collar and there was an intense two-week boot camp away from us. I was worried-rightly. Our dog bit him twice-one was very bad-and chewed through his muzzle. The trainer said he never uses muzzles on dogs but had to put one back one our dog. But he-the trainer-was AMAZING. He kept with him and now-our baby is a completely different dog. He still isn’t the most friendliest dog ever, but he is so so so SO much better! He is an extremely fearful dog and the trainer had to force him to see that the everything in the world is not out to kill him or his beloved mama and daddy. He also did help us some in how we deal with him.
I firmly believe that sometimes the right decision is to put them down. I would have if I had been on my own, or if we couldn’t have sent him for training. You shouldn’t feel guilty if that is what needs to be done.❤
BUT, if your circumstances allow, and you can find a trainer that works with aggressive dogs, I HIGHLY recommend, because of my personal experience, that you try training with an e-collar.

[@ginaaaaaaaaxaxaxaxaxa]

This is an extremely unhelpful and hurtful comment.