022 | Logan, Nobu, and Mona, on getting a new puppy after going through behavioral euthanasia

022 | Logan, Nobu, and Mona, on getting a new puppy after going through behavioral euthanasia

TRIGGER WARNING: behavioral euthanasia

The title could have said:
on dealing with haters and threats, or
on processing grief, or
on the power of friendship and love from both friends and strangers, or
on paying it forward and helping others by sharing their story.

Logan, like so many of us, got way more than they signed up for when they rescued Nobu who was a victim of the dog meat trade.
Not just in terms of having to deal with unpredictable aggression, but also when it came to becoming a trending topic on a subReddit to ban Pitbulls (which by the way, Nobu wasn’t even a Pitbull).

After Nobu was behaviorally euthanized, Logan got another dog, the adorable Mona, a cute American Staffordshire terrier from a reputable breeder.

We talk about everything Nobu, Mona and especially both the devastating impact social media can have on the one hand and the amazing positives that it can bring as well.
As one of Logan’s followers aptly put it: Mona is going to have the best internet family ever!

Links:

Find Logan and Mona on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mybravemona/
or on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mybravemona

Maybe the criticism you receive isn't as dramatic as what Logan got, but you would still like to be able to deal with it better.

Jump on a call with me to learn how my coaching can help you let criticism roll off you more easily.

Schedule a Call
015 | Ruff Around the Edges with Meaghan Marton, Sunny & Puppy, on setting Sunny free from his troubled life and celebrating all that he was

015 | Ruff Around the Edges with Meaghan Marton, Sunny & Puppy, on setting Sunny free from his troubled life and celebrating all that he was

Trigger Warning: behavioral euthanasia

 

This episode is full of amazement, wonder, celebration, grief, sadness, guilt, love and I want to say almost any and all of the emotions from all over the spectrum.

 

It’s long and unedited because a story like that of Meaghan and Sunny, which unfortunately does not have a happy end, needs to be told in full. 

As you listen to the episode you’ll hear how close happiness and sadness really are. You may judge or not, you may find relief in the story or not, you may ask “what if” or not, you may cry or not, but above all you will realize the impact making the decision to put an animal to sleep has on a person.

This topic is not talked about enough. A lot of shame exists around it, and often where there is shame there is silence. We need to talk about it though, for the sake of our animals and the humans that love(d) them.

So before we dive in I want to thank Meaghan for being vulnerable and willing to come on the podcast to share her story.

 

 

 

 

That story begins with a chance encounter with a gorgeous pitbull named Sunny on the streets of LA. It continues with living the vanlife and traveling the continental USA, to end up back in Canada.

It’s a story that speaks of learning as you go along. Like so many of us, Meaghan changed over from punishment-based learning styles to force-free training. She describes how she got to understand Sunny better as she learned more and more about how he ticked, and how it was fear that drove his behavior.

She also explains how and why she finally came to the decision to end Sunny’s life, and talks about the grief and guilt that came with it.

She too, similar to Annie Phenix, describes how tremendously helpful Losing Lulu, the Facebook group that provides support for guardians who have made the decision to go ahead with behavioral euthanasia, was.

Finally, we talk about serendipity and how a cat named Puppy helped her heal.

I hope that mainly what comes through in this episode though is the celebration of Sunny’s life.

 

Links:

Meaghan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meaghanmariie/

Meaghan on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeaghanMarieMarton

Running For A Reason fundraising initiative: https://www.instagram.com/running_forareason/

The animal farm Meaghan volunteers at: Charlotte’s Freedom Farm: https://instagram.com/charlottesfreedomfarm?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

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

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.

Schedule a Call
014 | Ruff Around the Edges with Annie Phenix & her dogs, on the shifts in our thinking about our dogs, and the sad topic of behavioral euthanasia

014 | Ruff Around the Edges with Annie Phenix & her dogs, on the shifts in our thinking about our dogs, and the sad topic of behavioral euthanasia

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.

 

Annie Phenix in her home

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.

Schedule a Call

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