# I'm Not Qualified to Talk About This Subject... But I'm Going to Anyway
- RuffStartDogTraining
- Jul 2
- 8 min read
"Not because I think I know better than vets, but because I think dog owners deserve conversations that go beyond 'take this tablet' or 'never use medication'. Like most things in dog training, I suspect the truth lives somewhere in the middle."
Let's get something out of the way before you decide whether to keep reading.
I'm not a vet.
I'm not a veterinary behaviourist.
I can't diagnose anxiety disorders, prescribe medication or tell you whether your dog should be taking it.
So why on earth am I writing about anxiety medication?
Because I work with anxious, fearful and reactive dogs. I see the heartbreak owners go through, the difficult decisions they have to make and, sometimes, the hope that one tablet might solve everything.
And I also think there's a conversation worth having.
This article isn't medical advice, and it isn't an attack on veterinary medicine. In fact, I have huge respect for vets and veterinary behaviourists. They deal with cases that are far beyond my qualifications, and there are dogs whose lives have been transformed because of the medication they've prescribed.
But I also believe that good ideas should stand up to honest discussion.
So, if you're still with me, these are my thoughts.
Not facts.
Not instructions.
Just one dog trainer's perspective, backed by experience, reading the available research and a genuine desire to do what's best for dogs.
Why This Matters to Me
Before we talk about dogs, I want to talk briefly about people.
Me, specifically.
I've wrestled with anxiety for much of my adult life. I've had full blown panic attacks.
Like many people, I reached a point where I was prescribed medication. I hoped it would make everything better.
It didn't.
In fact, for me, there were times when it made things worse.
Now, before anyone misinterprets that, I'm **not** saying anxiety medication doesn't work. It clearly does help many people, and for some it's absolutely life-changing.
I'm simply saying it wasn't the whole answer for me.
The biggest change came when I started seeing a counsellor regularly.
Having someone who helped me understand "why" I felt the way I did, challenge my thinking and teach me healthier ways of coping made more difference than medication alone ever had.
Looking back, perhaps the medication helped me get to a place where counselling became possible.
Perhaps it didn't.
I honestly don't know.
What I do know is that the counselling gave me skills that have stayed with me long after the prescription ended.
Why am I telling you this?
Because that experience completely changed how I think about behaviour.
Dogs aren't people.
Their brains are different.
Their emotions are different.
Their treatment is different.
I'm not suggesting we can compare canine anxiety directly with human mental health.
But there is one similarity that I think matters.
Whether we're talking about people or dogs, lasting change usually comes through learning.
Learning healthier coping strategies.
Learning that something once frightening is actually safe.
Learning how to make better choices.
Medication might make learning possible.
But it doesn't do the learning for us.
That's a lesson I've carried into every anxious dog I've worked with.
So... What Does the Research Actually Say?
According to the royal college of veterinary studies 1 in 500 dogs are on some for of anxiety medication, and that's not including "natural" (there's that word again) calming treats.
One thing that frustrates me about the internet is that everyone seems to pick a side.
Medication is either portrayed as the greatest invention ever, or it's treated as if it's some sort of conspiracy designed to drug every difficult dog.
Reality, as usual, sits somewhere in the middle.
The good news is that we actually have research looking at anxiety medication in dogs.
The two medications with the strongest evidence are Fluoxetine and Clomipramine.
Overall, studies suggest that both can reduce signs of anxiety in many dogs.
But here's the part that often gets left out.
Neither medication is considered a magic cure.
Recent reviews have found moderate evidence that they can help, but neither consistently outperforms the other, and the strongest results almost always come when medication is combined with behaviour modification.
That last sentence is the one I wish every owner heard.
Not because I'm a trainer trying to promote training.
Because that's what the evidence itself says.
Medication works best when it's part of a plan.
Not the entire plan.
Medication Doesn't Teach Dogs
Imagine someone who's terrified of public speaking.
Now imagine giving them a tablet that reduces their anxiety.
Will they suddenly become a brilliant public speaker?
Probably not.
What the medication might do is reduce their fear enough that they can start practising.
The practice is what builds confidence.
The medication simply creates the opportunity.
I think the same principle applies to dogs.
Medication doesn't teach recall.
It doesn't teach loose lead walking.
It doesn't teach confidence around strangers.
It doesn't teach emotional resilience.
It doesn't help owners understand what their dog is trying to communicate.
Training does that.
Understanding does that.
Consistency does that.
Medication may lower the emotional temperature enough for those things to happen, and that's incredibly valuable.
But I think it's important that owners understand the difference.
Because if we rely on medication without changing anything else, we're asking a tablet to solve a problem it was never designed to fix.
What *Bad Science* Taught Me
One of the books that has influenced my thinking more than almost any other is *Bad Science* by Ben Goldacre.
If you haven't read it, I'd highly recommend it.
It isn't a book that tells you not to trust science.
It's a book that teaches you **how** to trust science.
Goldacre encourages readers to ask simple questions whenever they read research.
Who funded the study?
What question was the study trying to answer?
Were negative findings published as well as positive ones?
Could financial interests have influenced what was researched in the first place?
Those questions apply just as much to veterinary medicine as they do to human medicine.
The reality is that pharmaceutical companies fund a significant proportion of veterinary drug research.
That isn't automatically a bad thing.
Without pharmaceutical companies investing millions of pounds into research, many genuinely life-changing medications simply wouldn't exist.
But commercial funding also shapes what gets studied.
Nobody can patent teaching a dog to relax.
Nobody can sell confidence.
Nobody owns better sleep routines, enrichment, owner education or improving communication between people and their dogs.
So naturally, far less money is spent researching those interventions.
That doesn't mean medication research is dishonest.
It simply means we should remember that the absence of research isn't the same thing as the absence of value.
Sometimes the most effective solutions aren't the most profitable ones.
Why I'm More Cautious About Young Dogs
This is probably the part of the article that's going to divide opinion the most.
And that's okay.
I don't expect everyone to agree with me.
Let me be absolutely clear about something before I go any further.
I'm **not** saying young dogs should never be prescribed anxiety medication.
There will always be exceptions.
There are puppies and adolescent dogs whose anxiety is so severe that medication may genuinely be the kindest and most appropriate option, particularly under the guidance of a veterinary surgeon and, where possible, a qualified veterinary behaviourist.
My concern is something slightly different.
I worry that we're sometimes too quick to medicalise behaviour before we've fully understood it.
Young dogs are still learning about the world.
They're going through developmental stages.
They're experiencing fear periods.
They're making mistakes.
They're discovering what is and isn't safe.
Some haven't been properly socialised.
Some are exhausted because they aren't getting enough sleep.
Some are frustrated because they don't understand what's being asked of them.
Others are in pain, and pain in dogs is often incredibly difficult to spot.
From the outside, all of those dogs can look anxious.
But they don't necessarily need medication.
They need understanding.
They need time.
They need good training.
They need owners who are willing to listen to what their behaviour is trying to communicate.
Before we reach for a prescription, I'd love to see every anxious young dog receive a thorough veterinary examination, an honest assessment of their environment and a structured behaviour plan.
Because medication can reduce anxiety.
It can't teach life skills.
When Medication Can Be Life-Changing
On the other hand, I've also met dogs where medication has transformed their lives.
Older dogs coping with cognitive decline.
Dogs with long-established fears that have become deeply ingrained over many years.
Dogs living with chronic pain.
Dogs whose anxiety is so overwhelming that they're incapable of learning anything because they're constantly in survival mode.
For those dogs, medication isn't taking the easy option.
It's giving them a chance.
If reducing anxiety allows a dog to sleep properly, engage with training, enjoy walks again and simply experience life with less fear, then I think that's a wonderful thing.
That's exactly what good medicine should do.
But even then, I still believe medication works best as part of a bigger picture.
Helping the dog learn.
Helping the owner understand.
Helping everyone move forward together.
The Problem With Black-and-White Thinking
One thing social media has taught me is that people love certainty.
Everything has to be right or wrong.
Good or bad.
Natural or pharmaceutical.
Training or medication.
But life rarely works like that.
Neither does dog behaviour.
I don't believe medication is the enemy.
I also don't believe it's the answer to every behavioural problem.
Sometimes medication is exactly what's needed.
Sometimes better training is what's needed.
Sometimes pain relief is what's needed.
Sometimes the biggest change comes from helping the owner recognise that their dog is overwhelmed, over-tired or simply frightened.
Behaviour is complicated.
Which means the solutions are usually complicated too.
My Approach at Ruff Start Dog Training
Whenever someone contacts me because their dog is anxious, I don't start by asking,
"What exercises shall we teach?"
I start by asking,
"Why?"
Why is this dog behaving like this?
Is it pain?
Fear?
Confusion?
Poor communication?
Previous trauma?
Lack of sleep?
Genetics?
A combination of all of those things?
Only once we start answering those questions can we build a plan that genuinely helps the dog.
Sometimes that plan involves teaching owners how to read body language.
Sometimes it's changing daily routines.
Sometimes it's introducing enrichment.
Sometimes it's helping owners slow down and lower their expectations.
Sometimes it's referring them back to their vet.
And occasionally, medication may become part of that plan.
If it does, I'll support that decision because my goal has never been to prove medication is wrong.
My goal is simply to make sure medication isn't expected to do a trainer's job.
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## References
Goldacre, B. (2008). *Bad Science*.
Landsberg, G. M., Hunthausen, W., & Ackerman, L. *Behaviour Problems of the Dog and Cat.*
Overall, systematic reviews of the available evidence suggest that **Fluoxetine** and **Clomipramine** can be effective in reducing anxiety-related behaviours in dogs when used alongside behavioural modification rather than as standalone treatments.
**Disclaimer:** This article reflects my personal opinions as a professional dog trainer. It is not veterinary advice and should never replace consultation with your veterinary surgeon or a qualified veterinary behaviourist.
## A Final Thought
If you've read this far, thank you.
If you've agreed with everything I've written, that's great.
If you've disagreed with some of it, that's okay too.
This article isn't intended to start an argument—it's intended to start a conversation.
Every dog is an individual. Every family is different. Every case deserves to be looked at on its own merits.
If you're an owner, my hope is that you'll ask questions, seek good advice and remember that there's rarely a single solution to complex behavioural problems.
If you're a veterinary surgeon, veterinary nurse, clinical animal behaviourist or fellow dog trainer, I'd genuinely love to hear your perspective.
Have I missed something?
Have I interpreted the evidence fairly?
Do you have experiences—positive or negative—that add another layer to this discussion?
I'm always learning, and I'm happy to change my mind when the evidence points me in a better direction.
At Ruff Start Dog Training, my goal has never been to tell people what to think.
It's to encourage them to think critically, ask questions and, above all else, do what's best for the dog standing in front of them.
If this article sparks a respectful conversation, then it's done exactly what I hoped it would.
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