Couple nearly put their aggressive pup down when training didn’t work — then a 17-hour drive turned everything around

A couple was struggling with their pup’s worsening behavior and almost put him down forever. Before giving up, they decided to give him a final chance and their best shot to fix his behavior. Turns out, the stars aligned for them in an unexpected journey. Carley and Mercedes, who run their joint TikTok page, @carleyandmercedes, shared a viral video documenting their journey with Jax, a Black Labrador with aggression problems.

“Our Jax started showing signs of aggression at 10 weeks old,” a note on the video read. The couple included instances when their pup aggressively attacked them or refused to be touched. Eventually, the behavioral issues worsened with age, making each day difficult for the pet owners. “It got to a point where we couldn’t even touch him and specialists were recommending we put him down,” the text added. Jax did not like snuggling with them and reacted with random outbursts of temper. The couple considered euthanasia as the situation had reached an extreme point. “We didn’t feel we were equipped to deal with him, and rehoming would have been even worse for everyone.”

However, before resorting to the final and permanent option, Carley and Mercedes tried intensive training for Jax to unlearn his aggressive ways. When a dog trainer suggested she could help them with their pup, the couple drove 17 hours to Florida to meet her. After putting in ample effort, time, and energy, the pet owners began to notice “positive change.” They found Jax a lot calmer and gentler around them. It helped them rebuild their trust with their beloved pup. “Our trainer created routine and structure, along with obedience training.” Simultaneously, even the pet owners learned ways to help Jax and understood where they might have been going wrong. 

After three weeks of intense training, the couple returned home, hoping to continue the routine and structure created by the trainer. “We noticed more confidence in him and ourselves as the trust slowly came back,” the pet owners noted in overlay text. They were finally able to cuddle and snuggle with their furry pal. However, respecting the dog’s boundaries and understanding his body language remained key in forming a loving relationship. Jax blended with the family while letting go of his aggression and temper outbursts. 

Nevertheless, the pet owners concluded that it is never perfect and they still have “bad days.” Yet, they have accepted Jax for who he is, understanding there is no permanent fix to his behavior. But that does not mean their bond with the pup must be governed by caution and detachment. “The love and bond we share with him has done a 180. We put everything into him, and while he can never be ‘fixed’, he puts just as much effort as we do to be his best self,” the concluding note read. 

You can follow @carleyandmercedes on TikTok for more videos.