Why is a veterinary behaiorist recommended for my dog?

When a dog is experiencing severe anxiety, fear-based reactivity, or aggression, their nervous system is often stuck in “survival mode.” In that state, it’s very difficult for them to learn new skills or respond calmly — even with consistent training. By helping reduce that underlying anxiety, we create the mental space for learning and positive behavior change to happen.

This is where working with your veterinarian can make a real difference. Behavior medications don’t “fix” behavior problems on their own, but they can lower the intensity and frequency of anxious or reactive responses. Think of it as turning down the background noise so your dog can better focus, relax, and engage with training. Once the baseline stress is lower, our behavior modification plan can take effect more consistently and safely.

In tandem with behavioral medication, working with a modern, fear-free trainer adds tremendous value. While medication helps stabilize your dog’s emotional state, my role is to help you manage triggers, build confidence, and teach coping skills through safe, low-stress methods. This combination helps keep things stable in the short term and builds a strong foundation for long-term progress. Medication and training together often lead to faster, more reliable improvement than either approach alone.

The best outcomes happen when your vet and your trainer collaborate closely — the vet focuses on the medical side of anxiety management, and we focus on the behavior and environmental strategies at home. 

Together, we can make sure your dog feels calmer, safer, and more capable of learning new habits. I’m happy to communicate directly with your veterinarian if that would be helpful to ensure we’re all aligned.

Common questions about working with a veterinary behaviorist:

Question: Will my dog’s personality to change?

Answer: Although every dog is an individual, the addition of a prescription medication to address their fears, anxiety and/or phobias is not designed to alter their personality. Medication is intended to help your dog regulate their behavior and gain control and are usually in a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (“SSRI”). Do note that other behavioral medications can have a sedative effect. These situational medications are prescribed for situations that your dog finds particularly stressful (i.e. vet visits, thunderstorms, car rides, etc.)

Question: Will my dog have to take medication forever?

Answer: It depends! We have worked with many dogs who have made significant strides using SSRI prescriptions and in conjunction with training protocols have successfully reduced or eliminated their need for daily medication. We have also worked with many families who select to keep their dog on their prescribed medications as their dog may need daily support to feel and behave their best. Ultimately, the path forward will be a collective discussion and effort between family, trainer and behaviorist.

Question: How often do I have to give my dog medication?

Answer: Certain medications do require daily administration while others are limited to times when a stressful situation will arise.

For example, if you know your dog is afraid of really loud noises, you could select to give them a situational medication on July 4th to ensure they are able to have eased stress and fear during an expected time. In contrast, if your dog is prescribed an SSRI medication for their generalized anxiety disorder, you would follow a protocol to give them medication daily.

Question: What are common side effects of medication?

Answer: Common side effects of SSRI medications: loss of appetite, and in some cases, increased irritability. It is a common observation to see dogs sleep a bit more when they initially begin the medication. Common side effects of situational medication include: lethargy, sedation/drowsiness, ataxia (drunken gate), and increased appetite.

Helpful Link: How Do I Get My Dog on Behavior Meds? Getting a Vet Prescription

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