Did you find success with a dog behaviorist?
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Anonymous
| My 7yo dog's anxiety has become out of control. Dog prozac hasn't helped. Our vet wants us to take him to a behaviorist, which will be costly and time consuming. I'm curious if this will be a waste of time and money, or if people have found great success with it. Please share your experiences. I also see some DIY online programs, so I'm considering trying that instead, but it is important that I get this right because I feel terrible for my dog and I love him so much. |
Anonymous
| Yes, very helpful. There are many drugs out there besides Prozac and you could find one that could be a gamechanger for your dog. In our case we tried Prozac plus some other things (on top of the Prozac). We ultimately settled on a higher dose of Prozac than the label calls for based on weight and it has helped tremendously for two years now. Amy Pike in Fairfax is wonderful! |
Anonymous
| Thank you! |
Anonymous
| Yes. We had a dog where it was meds or put her to sleep. The behaviorist worked with us to create a cocktail that made her severe separation anxiety manageable. |
Anonymous
| Yes, we have received great help for both of our rescue dogs from a behaviorist. She is in NoVA, can recommend her if you want. |
Anonymous
| Yes very helpful. My vet behaviorist has helped me figure out the medication. It is worth the money. |
Anonymous
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I've volunteered for a dog rescue for over a decade which uses a behaviorist, particularly for highly anxious dogs and biters. The meds alone are not a magic bullet, and it may take some time to find the right dosage and mix of medications. Behaviorists will usually provide a behavioral plan. In my experience, many owners don't follow through on the behavioral change/modification guidelines. It can take months to change deep-seated behaviors. Follow-through and CONSISTENCY on the part of the owner are key. That being said, I have seen many success stories where owners have been able to manage or improve the behavior of anxious and reactive dogs. But it is not quick nor easy.
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Anonymous
| What breed and how much exercise does he get daily? Is the daily routine consistent? |
Anonymous
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We had really good results with a dog behaviorist. Unfortunately we could only learn to manage our dog reactive dog, but not cure him. We didn't use medication though.
Super results with our other dog. Definitely give it a shot! |
Anonymous
| Also, you need to fully commit to the training. |