Medicating behavior.

....now, before everyone grabs their cyber pitchforks and starts blowing up the comments section, hear me out (...and any negativity will be deleted, anyway *blink, blink*).

We've had countless clients who've been through a number of trainers come to us. Many will have dogs on medication for various forms of anxiety, nervousness and fear, aggression... or even overly-excited, "good" energy. Many will say they don't "feel right" keeping their dog on medication for behavioral struggles... why? Because there's a part of them that instinctively understands drugging a dog is not a solution and does nothing to address the actual source, core issue, and root cause of the problem. The only thing it does is alter and disrupt the internal chemistry of the dog (which could create more problems). Of course, there are some very extreme cases that may warrant this for a period of time; but this is a rarity.

"Behavior" is symptomatic of the actual problem. Drugs address the symptoms. Not the problem itself (and may contribute to more problems in the process).

Here at Pack Fit, we break "behavior" into two different categories. What we call, "classroom behavior" and also "real world and functional behavior". This is a very important distinction for the general public to understand when looking for a trainer. Do you simply just want to help your dog attach meaning to verbal cues and directives (e.g. "sit", "down", "off", "place", etc.; although, "compliance" to these directives is connected to other things that need to be spoken to and developed) and learn tricks? Perform certain tasks like: opening a refrigerator door, closing a door, picking up a toy and putting it in the basket, sitting up on their hind legs, etc.? Or are you struggling with behavioral question marks (e.g. "selective hearing", aggression, reactivity, leash pulling, counter surfing, destructiveness, anxiety - general, social, separation, fear, "stranger danger", guarding, introducing another dog, associations, offshoots of trauma, etc.)? Both speak to very different aspects of the dog and both require different approaches to training.

Those trained in "classroom behavior" make up a great majority of the "pet dog" industry (*excellent* area for the single quadrant, "purely positive" trainers). This deals more with the mental aspect of the dog, and focuses on purpose and performance based, task oriented "behaviors". The focus is on a dog "doing" (e.g. obedience training, agility, trick training, search and rescue, detection, etc.). Performance-based skillsets. "Actionable behaviors".

"Real world and functional behavior" is what we specialize in, and is what most folks struggle with with their "pet" dogs. This shade of behavior speaks to the whole dog, especially the emotional aspect. How the dog feels in their own skin, in the world around them, and under our care. Any trauma the dog may have experienced. The focus is on a dog "being" and learning how to be.

Doing and being. Yin and yang. The balance of things. Much like raising and developing a child: school / education/ brain training.... and also confidence building, teaching how to handle their emotions, how to share space, how to treat others, etc. Basically, their self and world concept: how they feel in their own skin, how they feel in the world around them....and also *how to handle how they feel.*

Both aspects are needed. Both need to be spoken to and conditioned, as both support and complement each other. Oftentimes we'll see a dog who is very well trained... but not well behaved. Or a really well behaved dog... who's not well trained. Or a dog who's simply struggling with existing.

Circling back to the main point, pharmaceuticals may be needed for pain, an injury, or if there's an actual disturbance in the chemistry of the dog. But this does not make up the majority of behavioral cases folks are struggling with; and we often see trainers who are fluent in classroom behavior take on cases of real world and functional behavior... then recommend euthanasia, isolation, or pharmaceuticals because dealing with this aspect of behavior exceeds their tools, skills, knowledge, and expertise.

And I speak from experience: https://www.packfit.net/lobos-story

Look, folks.

Behavior is information.

Behavior is a manner of expression.

Behavior is also a form of communication.

As it is with human beings: we see what's not being dealt with. We will see what's been suppressed, locked away, shamed, criticized, judged, and what's not being said through behavior.

There's a saying, "hurt people hurt people", which is absolute truth. Dogs, children... and even adults.... will give us a hard time because they're having a hard time. It's ALL communication.

This also leads into the discussion that what's being regarded as "mental health".... is actually **emotional health**. Trauma. The great Dr. Gabor Mate says, "The trauma isn't what happened to us; the trauma is what happens inside of us as a result of what happened to us."

We have a global epidemic of an inability to handle unpleasant or uncomfortable emotions. Even pleasant emotions, at times. We have an inability to sit with emotion. Get curious about emotion. Instead, we judge it, label it, run from it, numb and suppress it, shut it off, shut it down, teach our sons not to feel because "boys don't cry", and lock it away. Emotion, too, is information. And what's underlying it deserves and needs to have a voice. To be recognized. Heard. Understood. And embraced and spoken to.

In conclusion, the last thing "behavior" needs is to be judged and silenced. Behavior is a voice that's simply trying to be heard. *Needing* to be heard. Outside of anything health or medically related, problematic behaviors are reflective of imbalance and discrepancy. An imbalance in what needs are being met and not being met (for many humans, this is the case with *emotional needs*). What's in excess, what's lacking, and/or what's completely missing. Let your dog be heard. Let their frustrations, grievances, fears, insecurities, uncertainties, sensitivities, etc. have a voice, and **make the effort** to understand it, help and guide them through it....and find the most appropriate professional who can help you all through the process of healing the disturbance.