04/20/2026
Behavioral euthanasia: it’s an uncomfortable topic. If you need assistance finding a board-certified veterinary behaviorist to talk you through this decision, you can search via this link: https://www.dacvb.org/search/custom.asp?id=5985
If you have gone through this, we see you. Message us if you’d like to chat about your experience without fear of judgement. Sometimes the hardest decisions in the world are the most compassionate, and you are not alone.
Something recently was brought to my attention, and I’m not the kind of person who hides. I face things head on and am as transparent as possible. So bear with me, this needs to be said.
NMBDT discusses behavior euthanasia with clients. Of course we do. We operate with utmost integrity, honesty, and believe in discussing with our clients ALL options and avenues with them, so they can make informed decisions with their family and dogs. Does that upset people? I’m sure it may, but until you’ve lived with a dog who has caused serious damage or harm to people or other animals or is a serious risk to the public, you have no right to judge anyone. Or job as trainers is not solely to get “results” - it’s to meet our clients where they are at, help them work with their dogs, understand their dogs, and in some really awful cases, manage situations that are tragic and difficult. We also have a pivotal role in keeping the public safe.
In the past, behavior euthanasia was only “okay” if a dog had done something catastrophic, but as these terrible and traumatic events began to increase, and the amount of behavior problems seen in dogs started to skyrocket, there was a realization that waiting until AFTER something awful happened wasn’t always a good option. Why wait until severe damage - both mentally and physically - was done? Why put families and animals through suffering. Discussing BE with dogs showing dangerous behaviors became much more prominent and accepted, in both the public, in rescue, and in veterinary practices.
Does that mean EVERY time we discuss it with clients it’s the outcome? Good God, no. Obviously not. Most of the time people come to us saying they DON’T want that outcome, and we work tirelessly to help them, but we absolutely support and withhold judgement if that’s a decision they come to. People should not live in fear, panic or severe distress with their animals, and the animals shouldn’t either. Just because as a society we have normalized aggression and maladaptive behaviors in dogs due to the increasing pressures our environments and expectations put on them, doesn’t mean a client making that decision is wrong. We have countless stories of cases where we have helped people and dogs successfully.
Aggression and reactivity are not the same as dangerous behaviors, they CAN be synonymous in some cases, but not every dog that displays reactive or aggressive behavior is dangerous. Helping our clients understand the differences and talking them through these situations is just as important as doing the actual training itself to help both humans and dogs live safely and happily together. The majority of our reactive and aggressive cases make great strides when the humans are educated on what their dog needs, how to work with them, and understanding them.
The idea that BE is worse than rehoming dangerous dogs is also not fair. Rehoming is absolutely a wonderful option for many clients and cases. Yes, we talk about this option too. But, that’s not always the right thing for the animal, the public’s safety, or the case involved. Keeping the dog and working with them is also something they have to consider from ALL angles. As you can see, none of this is cut and dry. There are LOTS of grey areas, and NMBDT stands behind discussing all of these with clients, so they can make decisions and discuss them openly, without fear or judgement.
Is it great for business? Nope. I could make a LOT more money if I told people that if they just pay me this much money, and do XYZ I could “fix” their dog and they’d never have to worry again. But, that’s not how we work. I would MUCH rather p**s people off but know I was honest and kept safety at the forefront of my mind than sell services and get “results” using short cuts or severe punishment to get dogs to fit into bubbles they weren’t designed for. Training and behavior modification is wonderful and a fantastic option for 90% of cases, but even those cases need to be well informed about risks, liabilities, and all the options they have.
Last month I had a case of a dog who had been to 2 trainers prior to an event that happened. The dog had a bite history, had been re-homed once, and was now in a new home. The dog attacked the new human and gave them 150 stitches in their legs while the roommate dragged the dog off the person. I was then called to talk to them at the advice of their veterinarian. This dog had been failed multiple times, and it was NOT the dog’s fault, but imagine me telling someone from their hospital bed that training could fix this and if they chose BE they were failing and didn’t love their dog? On the contrary, the clients I’ve had these discussions with love their dogs more than ANYTHING. So if we could stop the stigma with BE being the “easy” way out, that would be great. It’s often the hardest thing anyone can ever have to go through or do.
I wish I could say those cases are few and far between, but they aren’t. I did not become a dog trainer to look at scenes that look like crime scenes all the time. To be seeing bite marks and wounds on people and animals that were completely preventable, but that’s what I spend a lot of time doing now. Yes, I believe in training, but I also believe in safety, honesty, and supporting both dogs and humans to live happy lives together.
Last thing, I swear. Look at my house. Look at my dogs, my sanctuary, and my work. Look at our clients and community. Look at the time and hours and work we give for free to rescue and shelter dogs that need us. For 24 years NMBDT has shown time and time again how much we LOVE dogs. I JUST built a space exclusively for dogs to go play that may need more space and do better without other dogs around. We don’t do this for the fame or fortune. We do this work because we LOVE DOGS. ALL DOGS. That means that we have to be willing to have tough conversations and sacrifice our own needs and wants for the betterment of the dog, client, household, the public, whatever it is. We fight for dogs and their welfare every day, and we stand by our clients and community too.
We’re not for every person or dog, and that’s okay. You’ll still be treated with respect and kindness here. There are lots of trainers out there, we’re humbled and honored to be loved by many, but accept that not everyone stays. That’s okay. But, building a business by talking trash about another one is not a good look. You're also making the people who have had to make that agonizing decision feel like garbage, and that's even worse.
Slander and bashing a business publicly is a legal offense, and I’m taking it more seriously now. I will absolutely be in contact with my lawyer and handling things on my end appropriately.
Thanks for reading,
Helen St. Pierre
