To Medicate or Not to Medicate

by John Flores

I’m sure most of you have been following Fletcher’s progress and how far he’s come. A few people already know this but I want to share with you that Fletcher has been on doggy Prozac for about 2 months now. Now before all of you with anxious dogs call your vet to get a prescription filled I want you to read this first.

I will say this now. Prozac does not FIX anything. You don’t give your dog a pill every day and just expect this pill to turn your dog into the “perfect” dog no more than buying a pair of Air Jordan’s makes you a better basketball player. Does it help with the anxiety? In a nutshell, yes. But does Fletcher still get anxious? Yes, he does. Sometimes, Elvis moves too quickly when Fletcher is around and his fur starts to stand up. Sometimes, Wally howls for no reason and Fletcher starts to growl. In fact, he was on his meds when he tried to go after Elvis. The Prozac doesn’t fix that. My correction does and the positive reinforcement that follows to let him know that I have the situation under control. He’s been on this medication for 2 months now and if I leave him in the backyard for more than 5 minutes alone, he’s looking for a way out.

This is the first time I’ve worked with a dog that needed this and even I had my reservations about it. Keep in mind, Fletcher was rescued by, Priceless Pets, back in May so this wasn’t a decision that was made overnight. Also, he was put on this due to his separation anxiety. He was hurting himself every time he was alone. He was not put on meds because of his issues with other dogs. And just because he’s on it does not mean he can just go into any household right away and fit in with any pack. He, just like most dogs, will need a strong and confident pack leader, for the rest of his life. I still take him on walks and there are still dogs that trigger him. The meds make him easier to manage but the meds do not manage him. That’s YOUR job as a dog owner. Yes, Fletcher has made leaps and bounds in the past 4 weeks but a big reason for that is that I’ve MADE the time to spend with him and he’s in a household with a very well balanced pack. I have different Pittie Crew members working with him so it’s not just me that’s handling him but everyone that handles him, handles him the same way. It’s consistent. A dog on Prozac can still react negatively, trust me, I’ve found out with Fletcher. He’s with my pack all the time but NEVER when I’m not around. His crate has become a safe haven for him when I’m not home. I don’t think he’s ready to be left alone in a backyard. Will he ever get there? Maybe, but he’s perfectly happy in his crate. If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t just waltz right in there when it’s time for me to leave the house.

Dog training NEVER stops. Your dogs will ALWAYS need you for as long as they live. You stop being their pack leader and they will try to lead themselves. It’s not a pretty sight. So meds or no meds, it’s YOUR responsibility to make sure that YOU handle your dog and don’t rely on “the pill” to do the work for you. By all means, if you think this is something your dog needs, consult your vet, it’s very affordable, but also consult a trainer or a behaviorist in your area because if you think that pill will fix all your dog’s problems, it’s obvious the problem lies more with you than your dog.

I’ve never claimed to be the “dog whisperer” or some magician.  I don’t post the pictures or videos on my social media to show what I’VE done with Fletcher but more so to show that YOU have the ability to help your dog with their issues. Most issues are fixed with patience, leadership, and consistency. Notice I did not add the word, “love”, in there because if you really love your dog, you’re going to provide those things for them.

John Flores

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