Reactivity/Aggression : Options

Behavioral Euthanasia, Medications, Training, Rehoming? 

In the world of dog owners, this is a question that comes to mind when a dog is acting… Off. 

Reactive. Fearful. Aggressive. 

Sometimes we hear of a dog who bites at everyone that comes into the house but is gentle with the family. Sometimes we hear about “aggressive” dogs who live in junkyards who no one can approach. Sometimes we hear about dogs who attack their own families “out of nowhere.” 

When we hear of these things, our minds almost immediately go to, “I could never have a dog like that.” Or “How do they live with it?” Or “That is so dangerous, they should just get rid of the dog!” We, as humans, can be judgmental when it’s not our own dog. 

No one wants to have a dog like that, but for millions of people, they DO have a dog like that. 

One of the first things to note is that it’s not always “aggression.” The amount of truly aggressive dogs is less than 10%. Most aggressive signs; Growling, snarling/showing teeth, lunging, barking, biting… That’s a reaction to something. Whether internal or external with the dog, it’s a reaction to some sort of stimuli that prompts the dog to need to show that they won’t back down. 

Oftentimes, it’s related to fear. A dog’s fear of the unknown. Think of it like a noun: Person, Place or Thing.

A common example is the Doberman breed, they are so shy and without being socialized or exposed to things early, they can react with “aggression” when presented with something new. They make great guard dogs for this reason, they protect what they know, they protect what they love, they reject the unknown because they can consider it a threat to their person/place. 

Before reading further, please remember: There is no quick fix to working with aggression or reactivity. No matter what options you choose, you have to put the work in.

In cases where dogs have been known to bite, they generally are taken to the vet as a last resort, either out of finances or embarrassment and shame. Some owners try to do whatever they can to figure out the problem themselves first. The Google machine is often referenced and scoured for any information on how to rectify the situation. Tools are bought that owners have no idea how to use, Youtube becomes key with 1,000+ trainers making videos on aggressive dogs with varying degrees of issues and success rates. Owners may ask anyone with any kind of animal experience what to do; from retail employees to groomers to daycare employees before seeking professional help from either a trainer or a veterinarian. 

Often a veterinarian is the next step. An exam to see if the “aggression” is part of a host of medical issues. The next reaction of many veterinarians is to try to medicate with anti-anxiety medications such as Trazodone, Gabapentin, Fluoxetine, etc. 

This isn’t a bad solution, sometimes it’s the perfect solution! But many owners feel that medicating their dog is somehow a failure on them, as an owner. Or they feel that medicating their dog is too hard or too expensive. Many medications require yearly bloodwork to continue to use and that can be expensive as well as the cost of the medication itself. 

Sometimes the veterinarian will recommend a trainer or behavioral specialist to assess the underlying behaviors. This option is usually where the “aggression” can be investigated into a root cause, such as trauma (emotional or physical) and fear. If owners pursue this option, it can lead to a reason behind the behavior but can also come with its own cost, sometimes traveling depending on where the trainer operates. This is a viable option as well, sometimes referred to as rehabilitation or desensitization. This may include learning positive associations with fearful stimuli. If a dog is afraid of a car but gets a high value treat (like chicken) every time they take one step towards the car, they can learn that the car means food which means something positive. Each type of trainer will have their own technique; In-home training, board and train, circuit training, to name a few. 

Another option that most owners will turn to is rehoming. Giving the dog up to a shelter or a friend of a friend to take care of. This is a valid option, but can come with some complications. The shelters in Illinois, in the Chicagoland area specifically, are struggling. They are full, adoption rates are low and intake rates are high. They are taking in more dogs than they can adopt out, house and medically treat to remain at no-kill status. 

Most shelters will also not take a dog with any kind of a bite history. The reasoning for this isn’t just because of possible danger. It’s because it’s harder to adopt out a dog who has a possible bite history, it leaves the shelter liable for any bites that occur after adoption. Unfortunately, a shelter may not take this type of dog because of money. It takes more time, energy, resources and yes, money to rehabilitate and adopt out a dog who has reactivity issues than it does to adopt out a dog with no known issues. 

Most owners will not adopt a dog with issues, for exactly the same reasons. It takes time, energy, money and a mental resolve that the average owner does not possess. Very little percentage of owners want to stroll through a shelter and say give me the meanest, sickest, most damaged dog you have. 

So most owners go with a friend of a friend who has always wanted a dog, but it just becomes a vicious circle. Now this new owner has a dog who may need help and doesn’t know what to do next. 

As a trainer, I know training can’t always help. As a veterinary assistant, I know medication can’t always help. Sometimes the last resort, for the health, safety and quality of life of the dog and the owners… Behavioral Euthanasia is the answer. 

As a trainer, I’m not an advocate for behavioral euthanasia, but I understand the need for it. I’m not someone who will suggest it first, but I know it’s the last resort option. Sometimes it’s the only option, and sometimes it’s the best option. I’ve seen my fair share of “aggressive” dogs in the last few years. Several who are on a few medications to keep them calm and relaxed. I’ve counseled owners with reactive dogs to look for triggers to keep from being bitten by their own dog, either on accident or on purpose. 

As a veterinary assistant, I've actually met dogs who couldn’t be touched with how reactive they were, or they were truly what is considered “aggressive” with intent to harm. There were no other options, for the health and safety of the family and the quality of life for the dog. It can be considered cruel for a dog to live on high doses of medication just to prevent a bite to a person or another dog. Removal of triggers and observation of behaviors can sometimes only do so much. Unlike with humans, where therapy and modification of thinking can assist with living a healthy, happy life. Dog’s are animals, they don’t have the higher brain function of an average adult human. They don’t reason in the same way we do. 

Dogs use intrinsic thinking or emotional based thinking. They go off of experience, if they had one bad experience with a person, place or thing, it can become something to fear. If they had one good experience with a person, place or thing, it can become something to love.

Whenever Behavioral Euthanizing a dog becomes a thought, I always recommend looking at every other option first. A veterinarian can help you decide what would be best, they work with dogs for a living, they know the psychology and sometimes they are also licensed behaviorists as well as doctors of veterinary medicine (DVM). 

I want to stress that it should never be the FIRST option when it comes to reactivity. Exhaust every route first and then discuss it with your vet before turning to it. 

To wrap this up, reactivity and aggression can be hard to deal with, but you’re not alone in dealing with it and there are many options. You just have to do your best to look at all of them and do the work and hope that everything turns out okay in the end. 

For more information about shelter intake volume and statistics, please refer to this article from the ASPCA based off of 2024 statistics :  https://www.aspca.org/helping-shelters-people-pets/us-animal-shelter-statistics

Local shelters to the Chicagoland Area; The Rescue Vets, Chicagoland Eskie Rescue, A Journey Home Rescue, Just Giants Rescue, Forever Home Rescue, Angel Dog Alliance, Help.Save.Pets. , Magnificent Mutts, Rescued Rascals, IL St. Bernard Rescue, A.R.F. - Animal Rescue Foundation, Starfish, Wags 2 Wishes, Rover Rescue, Chi-Town Pitties, Hopeful Tails, etc.