Trigger Warning: Behavioral Euthanasia
Many of you will know Annie (pictured above with Armani, photographer Tica Clarke’s dog, © also Tica Clarke) as the author of the book “The Midnight Dog Walkers” and as a dog trainer who specializes in dealing with reactivity and aggression cases and we do talk about that, but in this episode she also talks about life with her own dogs, Radar, Echo (the border collies pictured below), Zemi (pictured as a puppy further below), Cooper and Finn (the bullystick chewing cattledog mixes below; the latter two also being known affectionately as “the hooligans”).
Annie explains how she shifted her thinking around what she wants from and for her dogs and how the paradigm shift she sees in the dog training industry has made her want to hang up her shingle as a dog trainer again.
That shift has everything to do with seeing our dogs as sentient beings with emotional and physical needs that need to be met ALONGSIDE those of the human. It’s not “either/or”, it’s “and”. A plethora of trainers and new training ideas come up in our discussion and they are all linked below.
We talk about how she only wanted three things from her hooligan cattledog mixes and that was: to get along with people, to get along with dogs, and to come when called.
We also talk about why Annie decided on cattledogs, when “her breed” is the German Shepherd. That has everything to do with Zemi, her Shepherd who Annie has had to put to sleep because of behavioral issues. Zemi who arrived in Annie’s home as a puppy was 2,5 years old at the time. Annie hasn’t been able to have another German Shepherd after, and that says something.
Behavioral euthanasia is not an option any dog lover wants to choose ever. Annie explains what led up to the decision, and talks about her thoughts and feelings afterward as well.
She’s worked in rescue a long time and is a trainer who specializes in difficult dogs which might have made it even more difficult to accept that “we can’t save them all”.
What brings her the most sadness is the knowledge her other dogs suffered because of Zemi.
If you are considering behavioral euthanasia for your dog or have had to go through it already, please find a host of links on the topic at the bottom of this post that could be of worth you, whether to aid you in making the decision or to help you process the grief afterward.
Links:
All of Annie’s links:
Annie’s website: www.phenixdogs.com
Annie’s Facebook Group: The Official Midnight Dog Walkers Club
The first book: The Midnight Dog Walkers on amazon.com (out of print, still available in Kindle format)
The new book, to be released September or October of 2022, available for preorder on amazon.com: Positive Training for Aggressive and Reactive Dogs: Proven Techniques to Help Your Dog Recover from Fear and Anxiety and Enjoy Walks Calmly
Other trainers and trainings brought up in the podcast:
Dr. Marty Becker’s Fear Free website: https://fearfreepets.com/
Kim Brophy’s Dog Mediation Course: https://kimbropheylegscourses.thinkific.com/courses/legs-applied-ethology-family-dog-mediation-professional-course
Kim Brophy’s website: https://www.dogdoorcanineservices.com/
Kim Brophy’s Meet Your Dog book on amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Meet-Your-Dog-Game-Changing-Understanding/dp/1452148996
Denise O’Moore’s website: https://www.intodogs.org/
Dogster Magazine, the magazine Annie used to write for: https://www.dogster.com/
Andrew Hale’s website: https://trainpositive.co.uk/
Andrew Hale’s Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogcc/
The Beyond the Operant series on YouTube, also by Andrew Hales: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkbPkJzbljZUxwUoykDTJA2aeWl1q3Hwj
Linda Michaels M.A.’s website (Linda created the Hierarchy of Dog Needs®): http://www.dogpsychologistoncall.com/
Do No Harm Dog Training Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/664027960470508
Chirag Patel’s website: https://www.domesticatedmanners.com/
Trish McMillan: https://trishmcmillan.com/
Sue Alexander: https://www.dogsinthepark.ca/
The Canine Enrichment Ideas Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2326424080971527
Behavioral Euthanasia Support Groups/Counseling/Resources:
The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center Behavioral Euthanasia Fact Sheet: https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/sites/default/files/import/files/documents/pdf/vmc/Behavioral%20Euthanasia%20fact%20sheet.pdf
The University of Tennessee Knoxville Veterinary Social Work (www.vetsocialwork.utk.edu) – This school has veterinary social workers who can help you process your grief.
Resources for pet loss through Colorado State University: www.vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/argus/pet-loss-support/
LSU School of Veterinary Medicine has a support page: www.lsu.edu/vetmed/veterinary_hospital/services/counseling_services.php
VetVine® Virtual Pet Loss Support Services (www.vetvine.com/article/657/vetvine-virtual-pet-loss-support-services): A safe on-line space to talk about pet loss. Sessions are led by compassionate facilitators.
Losing Lulu on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/losinglulu) – this is an extremely well moderated support group for owners who have made the decision to put down a pet for behavioral reasons. The support here is first class. If you ever felt alone in this painful decision, this compassionate group will prove to you that you are not alone.
Behaviour Euthanasia Decision and Support Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2232229546906347
Surviving Grief (https://www.facebook.com/SurvivingGriefGarySturgis) on Facebook is a general grief page that also addresses losing a pet.
Lap of Love has some resources on how to know it’s time: https://www.lapoflove.com/
Association for Pet Loss Bereavement: www.aplb.org
Podcasts and Webinars:
https://caabpodcasts.com/index.php/2020/05/01/behavioral-euthanasia/: Trainer Trish McMillian discusses BE with Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (CAAB)
https://hannahbranigan.dog/podcast/125/: Drinking from the Toilet podcast with trainer Hannah Branigan and Veterinary Behaviorist Dr. Chris Pachel.
https://aggressivedog.thinkific.com/courses/navigatingdifficultconversations?fbclid=IwAR1TOldWjsTTGL3f5nAfYau7DZL5zwYptD1BeiSbyUAl6aome_4RxyqyUwQ This is a $29 webinar discussing BE with Veterinary Behaviorist Dr. Chris Pachel.
If this episode brought up things you could need help managing your mind around, get in touch with me
It’s helpful to have someone mirror your thoughts back to you.
