I am  hearing from many dog owners that they visited a Vet Behaviourist, and were informed their dog needed to be on some form of medication for its, anxiety, hyperactivity or aggression! How can a Vet properly assess a dog when the owner and dog go visit a Vet surgery for a consultation about their dogs behaviour? Why do so many of these Vets blame the dog for its behaviour and believe only medication will help the dog... and not a lifestyle and relationship change between the owner and dog? So many dogs are doped up on drugs that shouldn't be!

People like me go into peoples homes, into the dogs own environment, and spend the time with the owner and dog to get an understanding on why the dog is exhibiting the behaviour. Sure..a very small percentage of dogs do have a neurological problem that possibly can only be dealt with by medication.. But this is a VERY small minority of dogs.

If I relied on the dog owners view of why the dog was exhibiting the behaviour it is, by listening to them on the phone, or having the dog and owner attend my location..I'd never get a true understanding of why this behaviour developed, and why it continues. Most owners do not have the knowledge to understand why the dog exhibits the behaviour it does.. and in a lot of cases, nor do Vet's, who are assessing and advising,  dog owners. Why has our society been conditioned to believe that drugs are the answer to all our problems?

Dogs display behaviours for a reason. .and in MOST cases it is learned behaviour that can be modified.. and without drugs! It isn't the dogs fault it exhibits these behaviours.. It's due to a lack of understanding about dog psychology, and how our relationship dictates the behaviour of the dog. Educate the owner..not dope up the dog.. please!

The only way a true assessment of unwanted dog behaviour can be diagnosed, is in the dogs own environment, and not in someones office or at a training ground. A dogs behaviour is directly related to its relationship with its owners and the environment in which it lives. A very small minority may need some form of medication to help with modifying the behaviour. However I am hearing of more and more dogs being thrown onto medication without a proper assessment of why the behaviour exists, and without advice on where the relationship between the owner and dog needs to be changed.

Get our dogs OFF drugs!