The Rise of the Over-medication of Dogs

The rise in popularity of the positive reinforcement training fad has coincided with an increase in medicating pets for anxiety and undesirable behaviors. The philosophy at Dan Perata Training is that dogs should be medicated for health issues such as worms and other parasities, antibiotics for infections, and medications for cancer and other long-term illnesses. A dog should never be prescribed psychotropic drugs because it's an easier solution than committing the necessary time associated with proper exercise and training. The drugs only mask the behavior; they do not change it.

For pet owners who work with a trainer and do not see results at the end of the training, do not assume that your dog's behavior cannot be fixed. If that trainer says that the pet does not respond to training and recommends medication, get a second opinion! Seek out a different trainer before giving a pet medication that might make him always lethargic and drowsy.

Very few behavioral problems require drugs; that's a short cut. Too often those unsure of how to deal with a pet's behavior resort to psychotropic drugs. In reality, the issue is poor training, or too much emotion being transferred from owner to pet. Owners sometimes treat a dog like a friend or a child, or unknowingly transfer their own anxious behaviors to their pets. This transference of behavior happens because dogs try to imitate human behavior. Some dogs are leaders, while some are followers. Some dogs are confident, and some are not.

We have had several concerned and frustrated pet owners turn to us after working with other organizations for many months. They have described unsuccessful training sessions and ultimately the medication of their pets that did not lead to any improvement of behavior. In each case once the dog was in training here at Dan Perata Training, the dog was carefully weaned off of the drugs, trained with our in-house method, and the behavior improved over time with the use of consistent structure and communication. We stress the words "over time" because no method of behavior modification is instantaneous. Be very wary of any trainer who suggests that a severely challenging behavior can be changed without hard work and dedication to the training method.

One aggressive dog that we worked with spent 16 months in an SPCA positive reinforcement training program. When the training didn't work, the trainer said that the dog could not be retrained and recommended heavy doses of medication. The client reached out to us and when we first met with their dog it was so severely medicated that it couldn't walk. Our first step was to work closely with a veterinarian to decide the best way to wean the dog off of the drugs. That alone took five and a half weeks. Next, we worked with the dog to lessen its aggressive behavior. By the end of training, the dog was able to socialize in our friendly group of dogs. Again, nothing happened instantly, but the progress we made with this dog was REAL. No medication Bandaids for the aggression. We truly modified the behavior.

There are two immediate actions that can be taken to ensure a healthy, happy pet and overall family experience. First, employ consistent training. Whether a hand gesture or a voice command, make sure everyone in the household uses the same cues with the pet. When one person allows a certain behavior and another person discourages it that might confuse a pet and cause anxiety. As mentioned before if an issue arises that you cannot fix at home, don't wait and see what is going to happen. Find a trainer to help you. Second, make sure your pet is getting enough exercise. A good run or quality playtime at the park or in the backyard can lessen anxiety and stress. It is often calming for the pet and may produce a naturally tranquil state.

If exercise and extensive training are unsuccessful in addressing a pet's issue, an owner might try a natural alternative, such as Cannabidiol (CBD) products, in combination with an exercise routine. CBD is a naturally-occurring compound from the cannabis plant (hemp). CBDs have provided some relief for pets with pain, tumors, aggression and anxiety among other conditions. Again, we do not advocate for any type of medication for behavioral issues as a permanent solution. If you want to try this route, do your own research, and have a conversation with your trainer and veterinarian about pros and cons of this form of treatment.

It can be difficult to train a pet, especially those with challenging behavioral concerns. For the health and happiness of your dog and your family it is important to address the root of the problem and not just temporarily suppress the symptoms.