There’s nothing harder than putting down your most loved family member. The thought of euthanasia is really heartbreaking. However, it can be the most relieving thing to do for a dog that’s suffering too much! It is both good for you and the dog as well.
You should think about euthanizing the dog when it starts to endanger both himself and those around him. In light of the risks it poses, it might be your best option. However, you may train your reactive dog in a variety of ways to regulate it and keep it from turning hostile.
Nonetheless, be sure to speak with your veterinarian before making such choices because there are situations when it can be treated to make it better.
Read on to know more about when to euthanize your dog or if there are any better options that can make it better.
What Does a Reactive Dog Mean?
A reactive dog is one who responds adversely to a specific situation or environment. It is a dog that has a stronger reactivity to even the tiniest sensation. Even the simplest reactions can be harmful, such as persistent barking or growling at people.
In comparison to aggressive dogs, a reactive dog is less dangerous. Even if it might exhibit some uncontrollable behaviors, it can be handled with the right training at the right time and in the right setting.
Any reactive dog should never be unleashed in the outdoors. Instead of accepting the dog as a reactive dog and doing nothing about it, you must make sure that it is trained properly to stay calm.
What Are the Behaviors and Mannerisms of a Reactive Dog?
A sudden behavior change in your dog, who was a beloved pet who played with everyone and waggled its tail, can surprise you. It might suddenly decide to sit silently in a corner or, on the other hand, react much more. While any of these could be signs of a reactive dog, they don’t always have to be. Their age might be the cause.
A dog will slowly develop its behaviors over time which can cause it to become reactive. It may eventually become hostile if not given attention even then. The dogs exhibit these actions out of displeasure or perhaps fear from past events.
For instance, if you’ve kept your dog on a leash all the time, stopping it from doing anything, it can get frustrated with its life. And with frustration comes that extra energy that makes your dog reactive, even to a minute stimulus.
You should think about occasionally allowing your dog to run free and enjoy itself, but obviously with caution. The small amount of energy becomes absorbed if it is constantly restrained, eventually growing into a large explosive.
There is nothing to be concerned about if your dog continues to snarl and growl while on a leash but behaves happily when let loose. However, if the dog continues to bark despite being let out, you must exercise caution and watch what it does because the dog may be very frustrated.
Another mannerism that dogs exhibit is fear, either of something they may have personally experienced or of something that is bothering them in their surroundings. Because of comparable instincts triggered by earlier experiences, dogs may get fearful when they are near such stimuli.
This behavior puts the dogs in danger of biting other people out of fear, which is much riskier than being frustrated and can result in serious injury. You just cannot keep your dog on a leash in your backyard when you suspect something is wrong. You must take him for a walk, but make sure you do so alone or in a peaceful setting, away from other people.
Do Dogs Grow Out of Reactive Behavior?
Certainly not! Reactivity in dogs is something that needs to be carefully monitored. It is not a minor habit that wears off with time, like a puppy’s routine. Reactivity frequently gets worse over time and never gets better without proper training.
A reactive dog does not go through typical experiences. As was already indicated, anxiety and frustration are the causes of its behavior. If the fear is not addressed, the likelihood of aggressiveness will rise as the triggers grow.
Therefore, do not assume that dogs can grow out of reactive behavior and consider it to be normal. Make sure to provide it with the necessary training well in advance with the aid of qualified experts. This can keep the reactivity of dogs in control.
What Is the Difference Between Reactive vs Aggressive Dogs?
Reactive dogs are not always aggressive. However, they are still used synonymously, which is not right. Reactivity can often lead to aggression, but not if trained well before. There is a thin line of difference which I will talk about further in this article.
A reactive dog reacts strongly to a certain circumstance or situation. It is a dog that is more sensitive to the slightest sensation. It can happen from fear or frustration as previously mentioned.
A reactive dog, however, can be positively trained to influence better reactions. That being said, an aggressive dog has gotten out of control and is exceedingly challenging to train.
Leashing and preventing the reactive dogs from acting out may be the cause of their frustration. They could be afraid because of unpleasant experiences, strange noises, or even due to a lack of social interaction. There is a danger that your dog will get aggressive if these impulses are allowed to grow over time without being controlled.
A reactive dog is not as harmful as an aggressive one. They may just bark constantly or snarl at any passerby, whereas an aggressive dog may go to the extent of biting and puncturing other dogs as well.
It can be challenging to identify some aggressive dog behaviors. You only learn that after it’s too late. An aggressive dog could suddenly become triggered and snap at someone. Fear is the fundamental factor in aggression; it can be anything that triggers a similar reaction and causes the dog to defend itself even when there isn’t much danger involved.
Although they don’t sound very different, aggression in dogs is mostly caused by fear as a means of defense, whereas reactivity in dogs is caused by specific environmental cues.
How to Calm Down a Reactive Dog?
Handling a reactive dog is difficult. However, there are techniques you may use to calm them down without endangering anyone nearby or yourself.
1. Avoid Pulling the Leash
Make sure you are not pulling on the leash whenever you are walking your dog. While keeping a grasp on the leash, let it hang loose. Your dog may become anxious and feel trapped if the leash is tightened. When the leash is held loosely, they can move about without being disturbed.
2. Understand the Body Language
Understanding a dog’s body language is not that difficult. If you paid a little attention, you can know what they feel. It may be some annoying sounds, a strange person approaching, or something new in the house. You may like surprises, but your dog will definitely not. Make them familiar with any new stuff slowly.
3. Changing the Environment
If your reactive dog is difficult to control, consider a different environment. Avoid taking it for a stroll in an area where there are plenty of dogs. Walk them when the streets are quiet and there are fewer dogs about. To eliminate the temptation to stare at other dogs, you can also change the stroll to a location with lots of visual barriers.
4. Counter-Conditioning
The process of training your dog to modify its emotional response to a stimulus is known as counter-conditioning. Keep the treats ready in this method. The trick is to expose your dog to unpleasant stimuli that trigger it and distract them when about to attack by giving them treats.
Nonetheless, exercise caution when exposing dogs to such stressors. It shouldn’t make them more reactive.
5. Seeking Professional Help
The best course of action would be to seek expert assistance if none of the aforementioned solutions work. Reactive dogs can improve by attending one of the many training courses available. Your reactive dog might be able to settle down on its own with some positive training.
When To Put Down A Reactive Dog?
Reactive dogs don’t usually need to be put down unless the situation is intense. If your reactive dog has gone out of control, even with the above measures taken in calming them down, then it’s time to put down your dog or euthanize it.
If no training helps your reactive dog calm down, then it may become a threat to other dogs and even humans around. Instead of keeping them in solitude and making them suffer, it is best to put down the dog safely, giving it peace.
Should I Put A Reactive Dog Down?
You should not consider euthanizing your dog as the first and only option when it starts being overreactive. Try out all the possible ways (and not just those mentioned here) to calm down your reactive dog.
If nothing works, your last resort should be to put down your dog. Putting down your dog would definitely be very hard, but weighing all the cons, that can be the only option providing peace even to your dog.
Finally
Putting down your reactive dog is always the last option and your personal choice. Consult various vets before you end up on that decision.
Many times, some minor behavioral changes may seem aggressive to you like when dogs bark vigorously. There’s a quote that says, “Barking dogs don’t usually bite”. They may just bark at any stranger to protect you. Hence, ensure that you think well before any action.
I hope this article was of some help in making your decision. Always remember that giving your dog love may heal anything, but if there is no other choice than to put them down, please forgive yourself.