10/01/2026
🐾 BEHAVIOR EDUCATION MOMENT
One of the biggest misconceptions I see with dog behavior is the belief that a medication can fix the behavior itself.
Sometimes medication is absolutely appropriate.
But here is the part that matters:
💊 Medication can help change how a dog feels.
🐕 Training teaches the dog what to do next.
Medication may reduce fear, anxiety or emotional arousal enough for a dog to think, process and learn more successfully.
What it cannot do is teach your dog how to respond differently to a trigger, build confidence, develop impulse control, create new associations or learn a new behavior.
Those things have to be taught.
And here is something many dog owners do not realize:
Veterinarians receive extensive education in anatomy, disease, diagnostics, pharmacology, surgery, physiology and medical care.
Behavior is part of veterinary education, but it is only one area within a very large medical curriculum, and the amount of additional behavior education can vary depending on the veterinarian, school, electives, clinical experience and continuing education they pursue.
That does not make your veterinarian any less important.
It simply means veterinary medicine and canine behavior are different areas of expertise.
When fear, reactivity, aggression, resource guarding, separation issues or other serious behavior concerns are involved, the best answer is often not choosing between medicine OR training.
Sometimes it is both.
That is one reason I am incredibly grateful for my professional relationship with Sunrise Side Veterinary Hospital in East Tawas and their veterinary team, Dr. J.J. King and Dr. Katherine Lesko. ❤️
There are times when they recognize that what a dog needs is behavioral training and refer families to Reno’s K9 Language.
There are also times when I recognize that something I am seeing may have a medical component and I refer my clients to them.
That relationship matters because behavior does not exist separately from the body.
Pain can affect behavior.
Illness can affect behavior.
Fear can affect behavior.
Anxiety can affect behavior.
And sometimes training alone is exactly what is needed.
I am especially grateful that our community has access to Dr. Katherine Lesko, whose professional interests include integrative and rehabilitative medicine, pain management, nutrition and veterinary medical acupuncture.
That gives families access to a broader approach to care when traditional medicine, integrative care, behavior modification or a combination of those approaches may be appropriate.
One of the most important things I want every dog owner to know is this:
🚨 If your dog suddenly develops aggression, fear, irritability or a major personality change, please do not automatically assume it is “just behavior.”
Pain or illness should always be considered.
Good behavior work means looking at the whole dog.
Sometimes the answer is training.
Sometimes the answer is medical care.
Sometimes the answer is medication plus training.
And sometimes the most powerful thing we can do for a dog is put the right professionals at the same table.
📍 Sunrise Side Veterinary Hospital
1941 E US 23
East Tawas, MI 48730
📞 989 362 5711
There is no magic pill that teaches a dog what to do instead.
That part still has to be learned. 🐾❤️
Training humans while I teach dogs.
Reno’s K9 Language
