7 Things you Must do When you Rescue a Dog
Rescue dogs are great. They come in every flavor and each has quite a story to tell. My Great Pyrenees, Luke, is a recent rescue (from SPIN rescue) and I’ve had other rescues.
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Dog Behavior Blog
About ScottScott Sheaffer, CBCC-KA, CDBC, CPDT-KA, is a certified dog behaviorist. Scott specializes in the assessment and treatment of fear, anxiety, aggression and phobias in dogs six months and older. Learn More |
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Did you know there are 7 major types of dog aggression?
Most people think of dog aggression as a one-dimensional diagnosis for a dog that is presenting with behaviors such as barking, growling, biting, lunging, etc. The reality is more complicated.
Read MoreWhat to do When an Off-Leash Dog Approaches
“What should I do if an off-leash dog approaches?” is a question that I’m asked more frequently since Antoinette Brown was killed by several loose dogs in Dallas, Texas in May of 2016. It’s understandable that most people want a straightforward and uncomplicated one-size-fits-all answer. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
Read More3 Words I Wish Dog Owners and Dog Trainers Wouldn’t Use
There are three words that make me cringe when used in the context of dog behavior or dog training. When dog owners use these words, they normally do so because they are simply not fully informed. When dog trainers use these words, it can indicate an out-of-date, uneducated, or even harmful, approach to training dogs.
Read MoreFake Dog News, It’s Everywhere
Fake news is something everyone seems to be talking about in politics. However, there is another kind of fake news that directly impacts dog owners and lovers – fake dog news. It’s everywhere. Unfortunately, in some cases it causes dogs to needlessly suffer.
Read More10 Ways Veterinarians Can Contribute to Your Dog’s Overall Behavior Treatment Plan
People rely on their veterinarian for their dog’s physical health. Vets can also be counted on to play a role in a dog’s behavior treatment plan. "I've found that the majority of veterinarians are helpful contributors to the treatment plan team."
Read MoreWill Behavior Medications Change my Dog's Personality?
©Scott Sheaffer, CDBC, CPDT-KA, USA Dog Behavior, LLC
"…for the first time in the dog’s life, they are seeing their dog’s true character that now includes play, increased confidence and increased energy."
Many moderate to severe behavior issues I see in dogs require the use of behavioral medications as part of the treatment plan. It can greatly increase the success of behavior modification in some cases; it can also speed up the process.
These drugs are known as psychopharmaceutical, psychotropic or psychoactive medications and are the same drugs used in humans for the same issues. See my article, The Truth About Doggy Downers, for more information.
Common, and not so common, examples of these drugs used for dogs to facilitate behavior modification include fluoxetine (Prozac), trazodone (Desyrel), alprazolam (Xanax), clonidine (Catapres) and naltrexone (Vivitrol).
In most cases, I work with your veterinarian to help control your dog’s anxiety using medication since anxiety is the root cause of most behavior issues such as aggression (all types except prey aggression – although I would argue that prey aggression is not really aggression at all), separation anxiety, inappropriate urination, fear and compulsive disorders.
When the subject of these medications comes up, the next statement from the owner is usually, “But I don’t want to change my dog’s personality.” I completely understand, but I encourage the owner to consider the following:
When dosed correctly, most of the medications have no significant sedating effect on the dog.
I remind owners that in some cases we want to modify the dog’s personality. This would be especially true in cases of aggression and fear issues.
It is not uncommon for clients to tell me that their dog’s temperament has changed in ways they didn’t expect after starting meds. They frequently reveal to me that, for the first time in the dog’s life, they are seeing their dog’s true character that now includes play, increased confidence and increased energy. Anxiety can negatively affect dogs in many ways.
Another question I get from owners is “How long will my dog need to be on these drugs?”
Normally I tell clients to consider an initial six-month trial period. During this period, it’s important to adjust dosages as necessary and possibly change medications if we’re not getting the desired results.
At the end of the trial period we can evaluate whether it is necessary to continue the medications.
While a small percentage of dogs will stay on these medications for an extended period, most can be tapered off these drugs as we begin to see the results of behavior modification.
The other question I often get from dog owners is, “How much will this cost?”
Fortunately, all of the medications used to help with behavior issues are available from local human pharmacies such as Walmart, Walgreens and CVS. As a result, owners are also able to shop for competitive pricing using tools such as GoodRX.com.
Just like with humans, the amount of medicine required varies according to the dog’s weight and the specific medication. I’ve found that the cost averages about $50 per month per dog when generics are used. Surprisingly, in many instances the cost for prescription medications is less expensive than lesser effective (or completely ineffective) over-the-counter supplements that frequently are nothing more than an owner placebo and a profit generator for the seller.
There is no reason to be afraid of these medications if they can help your dog work through a significant issue. Working with a veterinarian can make this a not-so-difficult process for you and your dog.
7 Dog Behavior Questions I'm Always Asked
As a full-time dog behavior specialist, I meet with dog owners, rescue organizations and veterinary practice employees almost every day. There are at least seven questions I am repeatedly asked by them. I’m surprised by some of them.
Read MoreDon’t do to Your Dog What Some People do to Their Children
You and your spouse met a new couple at one of your kid’s soccer games a few months ago. At each subsequent game it becomes obvious that both families really get along. Before you know it, everyone is having dinner together.
Read MoreThe Truth About Doggy Downers
"It has to be one of the greatest ironies in veterinary medicine that all psychopharmaceutical medications are developed using animals…before being approved by the FDA for use in humans and only then used clinically in animals."
Read More100 Reasons Why You Need to Give Your Dog More Respect
Virtually every dog I see is not getting the respect it deserves from its owners. Let me explain why I feel this way. If you’ve brought a new dog into your home recently, you know what a hassle it is to incorporate this new guy into your life.
Read MoreThe 5 Lowest and 5 Highest Maintenance Dogs
When selecting a dog breed, it’s important to consider the time and resources available to you for the care of your new dog. While individual dogs are different, breeds can provide a good indicator of what your responsibilities will be with your new family addition.
Read MoreConsider This Before Adding a Young Puppy to a Home with an Older Dog
Do you ever get questions soliciting your expert advice but the questioner really has already decided what they’re going to do? One of those questions I frequently get is, “Scott, we’re thinking about getting a new puppy to help our 12 year old Lab feel young again. Is that a good idea?”
Read MorePretenders Who Claim to Treat Aggressive Dogs, Buyer Beware
The following is an email I recently received: “Scott, we have a Border Collie mix named Brutus that was starting to show signs of aggression around people. We hired a highly recommended dog training company who taught us to show dominance to Brutus by using a prong collar and correcting him…”
Read MoreBuying a Puppy Instead of Rescuing? Consider These 7 Facts Before You Do
It’s easy to find a really cute puppy from an enormous number of breeders these days, both legitimate breeders and puppy-mill breeders. Fact of Life: Once puppies reach about 16-20 weeks of age they start looking and acting like dogs; they grow up fast.
Read More10 City of Dallas Dog Ordinances That May Surprise You
Every large city has animal ordinances (regulations) regarding the care, treatment and control of dogs. Violating these regulations can result in a citation or even criminal prosecution. I’ve worked with animal services in different cities and find that many of the local residents aren’t aware of some of the more obscure, but important, animal ordinances for their city.
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People often ask me, “Scott, what’s the number one thing I should pay attention to in my dog’s behavior?” It’s a fair question. As dog owners, we’re told to keep up with diet, exercise, training, socialization, enrichment, vet visits, and the list goes on and on. All of that matters.