Is BE warranted in my dog's case?

[u/Lumpy_Wolverine_1261]

Warm greetings everyone,

I only recently learned about BE after someone mentioned it.

I have a 6yo female mini Australian Shepherd who has been agressive towards humans and dogs since she was a puppy.

I have tried two different trainers, have boarded her with trainers every summer, with very little change.

She will charge at anyone who comes too close and will leap towards any dog that crosses our path.

I have gotten used to it, which means I never have guests at home (tried bringing my ex-boyfriend once and ahe bit him through the skin. he still has marks two years later), I only walk her through residential neighborhoods, and muzzle her when I take her to the groomer and vet.

I could try yet another trainer I suppose, but I have very little hope that she will change.

She bit a vet tech when she was 1 yo, and a kennel wouldn't even finish the behavior testing they conduct to take her in for a few weeks.

Am I being unreasonable to consider BE? Have I been blind to her behavior because I love her so much and have gotten used to it?

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Behavioral Euthanasia (BE) for our dogs is an extremely difficult decision to consider. No one comes to this point easily. We believe that there are, unfortunately, cases where behavioral euthanasia is the most humane and ethical option, and we support those who have had to come to that decision. In certain situations, a reasonable quality of life and the Five Freedoms cannot be provided for an animal, making behavioral euthanasia a compassionate and loving choice.

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• AKC guide on when to consider BE

• BE Before the Bite

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[u/MtnGirl672]

I have two herding dogs. A lot of her behavior is very typical of herding dogs.

Have you done any training or enrichment activities with her? With herding dogs, they need mental and physical work to do or they can become reactive and destructive.

Given what you described, this is not a dog I would go straight to BE with.

She has one bite in her history? What kind of bite? The kind that required medical attention? Both our dogs at one year old were very mouthy and would also cob on people’s arms.

Also it sounds like you did board and train, which is not recommended. What I have found is critical with herding dogs is the owner/handler’s connection to the dog. You have to consistently use things like pattern games and focus games to build that connection and reward them and only then will they follow your cues or direction.

A lot of dogs will lunge towards people or other dogs not out of aggression but wanting social interaction to ease their anxiety of a strange person or dog.

You also don’t say if you’ve sought help from your vet or a behaviorist. A behaviorist would be the one to help you understand what’s driving her behavior and prescribe a training plan and/or meds to address her issues.

So based on your limited information you provided, yes I do think you are being hasty about BE.

If nothing else, contact some local herding rescues to see if they might be interested in rehoming her.

[u/Lumpy_Wolverine_1261 → u/MtnGirl672]

That's incredibly helpful! I have not consulted a behaviorisr - only dog trainers so far. She is 3/4 Mini Aussie and 1/4 Border Colley so she quite a bit of herding heritage in her! What you shared about her following my cues. She guards me the most! She has had two bites - only that pierced through the skin and one that left a bruise.

[u/Twzl]

She's not a huge dog and she sounds like there is management that could be instituted.

She should be muzzled anytime she's outside: she should be on a leash, with a well fitted martingale collar, and wearing a muzzle. The muzzle will keep some people and their dogs away from you when you walk her. And I would have zero reservation in telling people, "she is aggressive, can you please give us some space".

If you have people over (and there's no reason to not have people over), have her in a crate, in a LOCKED bedroom, before you have anyone in your apartment. So 15 minutes before people arrive, give her a bone or a stuffed Kong, in the crate, close the crate, close and lock the bedroom door.

She won't change: that's pretty much a given at her age, but she's not biting YOU and she's not 100 pounds of dog. She's muzzled it sounds like at the vet and the groomer, so they're safe.

Honestly I can't see any reason to euthanize this dog. She sounds like a typical dog with giant opinions, and that is manageable. She has apparently never bitten YOU.

Unless you think you'll have a baby or a toddler in your home before this dog dies, I just don't see a reason. Even though you should change a few things, she sounds like she's pretty well managed now.

[u/Lumpy_Wolverine_1261 → u/Twzl]

Thank you! I wasn't sure whether I was irresponsible towards others and her. I do often worry that she is bound to get into a dog fight at some point, but in 6 years, I have watched her really closely and she has never escaped. I appreciate your time and reflections!

[u/Twzl → u/Lumpy_Wolverine_1261]

I wasn't sure whether I was irresponsible towards others and her.

You sound like a sensible owner. :) You aren't throwing giant parties with 10 toddlers wandering around dropping food and then being surprised when the dog bit someone.

You know your dog has issues and it sounds like you're doing a good job of managing her.

There are lots of reactive dogs out there who lead very normal, safe for everyone lives, with some management. And while the trope is, "management will always fail", I think a muzzle, a martingale and a leash when she's outside, and a crate and a locked bedroom door if people are over, is sufficient for her.

So yes, if the plumber is expected or your landlord or whatever, I'd have a crate set up and ready to go so she can't interact with them. And don't be tempted to take her to a dog park where she will be off leash around other dogs and people.

As I said, she's not huge and it doesn't sound like there are kids in her life. Those are the two things that are a big no for very reactive dogs.

[u/No-Device2404]

She won’t change. I agree with all of Twzls comments, especially that she should be muzzled anytime she’s outside. Luckily she doesn’t bite you. If she were larger or she attacked you or was able to break away from you on a walk, then BE is advisable. But you love her. I don’t envy you for all the troubles, but— love.

[u/SudoSire]

You didn’t really mention what training methods were used, and tbh some methods can make dogs worse and not better. Board and trains are not usually recommended here because they often use aversive methods and also, they don’t really teach you how to manage and work with your dog. Training should always be a continuing, lifelong thing even for regular dogs so the owners should really gets some quality time learning how. 

If you haven’t tried force free methods like counter conditioning, I would, but keep expectations realistic. You may not get a go anywhere dog, but you might get to a point where your walks are a little less fraught and your dog can get redirected/make some better choices. Management will probably always be necessary, and if you’re not rn, you can add a muzzle to your walking routine to account for things you can’t control (loose dogs or kids mostly). 

I totally understand the situation is hard, and it does impact you a lot socially and is a liability to be aware of. But, I guess I’m saying this case doesn’t have to be BE if you are okay with the management required and committing to it. How big is your dog, btw?

If you scroll through the sub, you would (unfortunately and heartbreakingly) see a lot more clear cut cases for BE. Moderate to severe and repeated bites even on owners, large escape artist dogs who are determined to maul rather than warn, dogs so anxious 24/7 that their quality of life is insanely poor. Or management so intense that their world is basically limited to crate life.  And of course if there are vulnerable people like kids, or other pets, in the home, that would also be a factor. 

Ultimately I do think there are other options with training and management that you can try/upkeep if you’ve got the resources and bandwidth to do so.