Should I Put My 14 Year Old Dog to Sleep If It's Becoming Aggressive?
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Yes, You Should
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The average life span of a dog is just under 13 years. If your dog has reached 14 years old and is beginning to get aggressive, it may have reached its limit for a quality life. Aggressive dogs are dangerous, and the behavior of an older dog may be more difficult to correct.
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No, You Should Not
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Unless your dog is experiencing very poor health, there is no reason to put the dog down. You never know how long your dog will live. You can hire a dog trainer with expertise in rehabilitating aggressive dogs to correct the aggression, according to K9 Aggression. If it is a new behavioral pattern for your dog, there may be an underlying health issue that your veterinarian can solve.
Bottom Line
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You should never put a dog down simply because of a behavior issue, no matter how old the dog is. There are always options for giving a dog a new home or rehabilitating a dog. However, if the behavior is part of an ongoing, unsolvable health issue, it may be time to put down a senior dog.
References
- Photo Credit dog image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
