Serious Question & Debate about when to admit that you are just not getting through

[Mrs.K]

When is enough, enough.
When do you give up trying and take it a step forward and admit that you are not going to get through and that maybe it's the best to either release the dog from his demons?
Would you either have him put down or try to get him into different hands? Could you live if something happened with the next person?

Is it okay to put a dog down because of aggression issues and knowing that even you love that dog you couldn't live if something happened in the new home?

So many people say "You have to try." and will shun you if you openly talk about putting a dog down and make it seem that you are just not good enough or that you don't try hard enough but when is enough, enough?

When another dog gets killed or severely injured? When the dog actually attacked a human being? Even if you have the dog under control there can always be the point when everything gets out of control... and is it a good life for a dog to keep him contained at all times just to keep him alive?

I am wondering about these things for quite some time...

[Konotashi]

Sometimes I do think that there is nothing that can be done for aggression. However, these cases are extremely rare. But I don't doubt that they exist. Sometimes it really is best for the dog to be euthanized.

Honestly, how great is a truly aggressive dog's quality of life? I think it is best to put those dogs out of their misery. Because they are miserable.

To answer your question - I think the time would be when the dog's quality of life and wellbeing is suffering because of his/her aggression.

[PaddyD]

Very sorry for your dilemma. Try rehoming the dog. I'm sure you will let the next owner know about the situation and make sure (as you can) that the next owner is qualified to handle him. Also, get a signed waiver of any liability to you. If you can't do that then put him down before he hurts someone. Not too sure how miserable he is but just think how miserable you would be if he caused misery to someone else.

[Mrs.K]

Originally Posted by PaddyD

Very sorry for your dilemma. Try rehoming the dog. I'm sure you will let the next owner know about the situation and make sure (as you can) that the next owner is qualified to handle him. Also, get a signed waiver of any liability to you. If you can't do that then put him down before he hurts someone. Not too sure how miserable he is but just think how miserable you would be if he caused misery to someone else.

Urm, I am not talking specifically about one of my dogs.
Well, I sort of am but it's my bitch, as always and sometimes I am doubting myself if it is the right choice to keep trying.She is very borderline so I am thinking about these things but to be honest, I could not re-home a dog knowingly, even if the new owners know about her issues. I could not do it knowing that something could happen. I couldn't have them sign the liability paper either. I could still not live with the guilt if ever something happened with a dog that I re-homed, knowing what kind of issues it has which is why the reason I have still my bitch and I'll keep her.

We did come a long way but I still have to watch closely and sometimes I wished I wouldn't have to watch closely.

[rjvamp]

Originally Posted by Mrs.K

When is enough, enough.
When do you give up trying and take it a step forward and admit that you are not going to get through and that maybe it's the best to either release the dog from his demons?
Would you either have him put down or try to get him into different hands? Could you live if something happened with the next person?

Is it okay to put a dog down because of aggression issues and knowing that even you love that dog you couldn't live if something happened in the new home?

So many people say "You have to try." and will shun you if you openly talk about putting a dog down and make it seem that you are just not good enough or that you don't try hard enough but when is enough, enough?

When another dog gets killed or severely injured? When the dog actually attacked a human being? Even if you have the dog under control there can always be the point when everything gets out of control... and is it a good life for a dog to keep him contained at all times just to keep him alive?

I am wondering about these things for quite some time...

sometimes dogs, like humans, have mental issues that truly need addressing - much like post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) soldiers - there are dogs that have it too, like Lava Dog as an example that was rescue dog from Iraq war and he has gone through a lot of rehabilitation....but still has some issues the Lt. Col deals with him on.

Amazon.com: From Baghdad to America: Life Lessons from a Dog Named Lava (9781602392649): Jay Kopelman: Books

Amazon.com: From Baghdad to America: Life Lessons from a Dog Named Lava (9781602392649): Jay Kopelman: Books

If medication doesn't work and even training doesn't help then maybe it is the environment and a new handler might be better equipped to deal with the dog and the personal or mental issues. Maybe the dog just needs one owner and no other dogs or pets around and in time the dog will come around. Maybe the dog needs a job where he can be aggressive or looks forward to getting to nab someone - Like a guard dog at a warehouse?

It is not an easy answer and I would not judge any decision a person would need to make in that situation.

[gsdraven]

Originally Posted by Konotashi

To answer your question - I think the time would be when the dog's quality of life and wellbeing is suffering because of his/her aggression.

In a nut shell, this ^.

However, if my life and the lives of household members (of any species) were suffering because of said dog then I would also say enough is enough. If I could no longer maintain a quality of life because of constantly managing the dog then keeping the dog is not doing anyone any favors.

This is of course individualized to different lifestyles. Obviously someone who takes pleasure in having guests a lot or taking their dogs everywhere may not to be able to manage a truly aggressive dog and maitain quality of life for themself or the dog as well as someone who is a homebody with few or no guests.

I would never rehome a truly aggressive dog unless I was positive that the person taking the dog were a better trainer and better equipped to manage the dog than I am. And that they truly wanted to deal with the dog. Otherwise, the dog is my responsibility until death.

In the end it is up to you to determine what is best for you and the dog and not anyone else.

[JustMeLeslie]

I am going through major aggression issues with Victor so I am curious to see how everyone feels about this subject.

[sit,stay]

I am a firm believer in humane euthanasia for some dogs. For a dog that is truly human aggressive, regardless of what caused the aggression, sometimes the safest option for the dog is to be euthanized. Most situations where that kind of aggression is acceptable/desirable is not much of a life for the dog.

I also saw an extreme case of animal aggression once, where the most humane option was euthanasia. This was a dog that just wouldn't respond to behavior modification/drug therapy/careful containment and was not safe.
Sheilah

[Stevenzachsmom]

Mrs. K....Is this a dog you have, or is this a hypothetical question?

Either way, if I had such a dog and I had worked with it, done everything possible and could not get through, I would not feel comfortable passing the dog onto someone else. Who is to say that person would succeed, where I failed? I could deal better with dog aggression than human aggression. Worst case - I could keep my dog away from other dogs. In fact, I have a dog aggressive dog who is now 13. It really hasn't been a problem. People aggression? Just too big of a risk. I would be by his side, when he was PTS and I would be very sad, but I think it would be the right thing.

[JustMeLeslie]

Originally Posted by Mrs.K

Urm, I am not talking specifically about one of my dogs.
Well, I sort of am but it's my bitch, as always and sometimes I am doubting myself if it is the right choice to keep trying.She is very borderline so I am thinking about these things but to be honest, I could not re-home a dog knowingly, even if the new owners know about her issues. I could not do it knowing that something could happen. I couldn't have them sign the liability paper either. I could still not live with the guilt if ever something happened with a dog that I re-homed, knowing what kind of issues it has which is why the reason I have still my bitch and I'll keep her.

We did come a long way but I still have to watch closely and sometimes I wished I wouldn't have to watch closely.

I am in the boat as you. I constantly have to watch Victor. I completely understand what you are saying. I absolutely know I can not re-home Victor. It is not an option for me either. I could not stand it if he hurt someone or if they use him for bait or chain him to be a guard dog.