Reactive Chihuahua

[u/Brilliant_Living_420]

Our girl Dot has been part of our family for 6 years of her life. We adopted her from a shelter when she was about 6 weeks old. She never had any behavioral issues until she turned 2. It started with aggression over toys towards our other dog, and then escalated to random spurts of aggression towards her at any time. My husband and I decided to send her to 6 weeks of dog training to help with her behavioral issues. The trainer told us she was in the top 3 most difficult dogs he'd ever worked with. As soon as we picked her up with our other dog, the aggression towards her was instant. She learned how to behave well on leash, listen to commands, and basic obedience, but the aggression is still an issue to this day. It's not constant, and happens so randomly that it makes it even more difficult to know when a fight will break out. We now have a baby, and she's about to crawl, and I do not want her to end up in the crossfire of an aggressive outburst. I have been bit when in the middle of them, by Dot, or trying to break up a fight. Our trainer thinks it is highly unlikely that we would find someone that could take on her needs, and we might have to consider euthanasia. We find it very difficult to consider that because all other times she is a great dog. Her aggression is focused on our other dog. We think she'd do amazing in a single person household with no kids. Any advice on where to look or if anyone has been in a similar situation?

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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.

If you are considering BE and are looking for feedback:

All decisions about behavioral euthanasia should be made in consultation with a professional trainer, veterinarian, and/or veterinary behaviorist. They are best equipped to evaluate your specific dog, their potential, and quality of life.

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• AKC guide on when to consider BE

• BE Before the Bite

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[u/SudoSire]

Why does she need a home with no kids? Shouldn’t it just be no other pets? Do you have current reason to believe the resource guarding/aggression will apply to humans when there are no other pets to fight with?  

Also, board and trains are often no good and use aversive methods, which can make aggression worse. I’m not sure I’d be trusting their evaluation of your dog. 

Btw, you have to accept the sub rules BEFORE commenting or replying, otherwise they will get auto removed. The rules are pinned to the top of the main subreddit. Use the arrow to scroll, the toggle to accept, then submit. 

[u/Brilliant_Living_420 → u/SudoSire]

That's a good point, but I do think there could be jealousy with a child since that's how some of the aggression starts with our other dog. Appreciate the advice! Perhaps another trainer evaluation would be good.

[u/SudoSire → u/Brilliant_Living_420]

I understand and agree but I guess I’m asking if you’ve ever witnessed that personally so far? Any dog with human-focused aggression is much harder and less ethical to place so I wanted to check. The redirects aren’t great but you could be limiting their prospects a lot by making the assumption of no kids ever. No small kids like toddlers might be more reasonable though. Your dog being small is extremely helpful for rehoming prospects. 

[u/Brilliant_Living_420 → u/SudoSire]

Yeah, for sure. She's only ever bit me, and only when I've been in between them or breaking up a fight. It doesn't seem to be human base aggression.

[u/Monkey-Butt-316]

What did they do in the board and train to mitigate her distress about other dogs? I’m sure you could rehome her easily - no need for BE

[u/Brilliant_Living_420 → u/Monkey-Butt-316]

She was fully emersed with other dogs, mostly service animals that he owns and trained. He didn't share any concerns of her being distressed around the other dogs or having any fights with those dogs.

[u/Monkey-Butt-316 → u/Brilliant_Living_420]

But … what did they do to train her?

[u/Brilliant_Living_420 → u/Monkey-Butt-316]

I mean, yeah, exactly. She basically learned leash commands and how to obey in public. It didn't seem effective at all with the main issue which is aggression.