Vet School 101 Anger management via kibble control (On canine aggression and dietary protein)

July 29th, 2008  

Add Comment36 Comments

I changed my cats over to a high protein diet about a year ago. I haven't seen any change in agressiveness, but they do have more energy. I wonder if the effect isn't more in line with high carb diet = pudgy dog = dog too low energy to start a fight?

2CatMom July 29th, 2008 12:11:00 PM

There is so much research being done, it would be good if there were better pathways to get praticial information to people who need it. My 'duh' moment was learning that spaying female rats is now a good option to help delay those mammarie tumors--oh and not letting them get as fat. Simple stuff, but how many pet female rats are a health weight and spayed?

emily July 29th, 2008 12:46:00 PM

Since you mention Vincent, I was wondering if you saw any change in his aggressive behavior after he was neutered.

Linda H July 29th, 2008 01:00:00 PM

I have to admit that I'm skeptical about the high protein = aggro dogs hypothesis. I have not read the study, and it does raise and interesting idea, but one suggestive study does not make a scientific argument. Additionally, it only suggests that a high protein diet may make dogs that are already aggressive even more so, not that a high protein diet is either a) bad for dogs or b) going to turn Spot into Kujo.

I would theorize that the high protein diet makes the dogs feel great, healthy and full of vim and vigor, which in the case of already aggro dogs might allow them to act up even more, thus showing higher 'aggression scores.' This of course reveals my bias, which is that high protein diets are more appropriate for dogs than high carb diets. That and I have a dog with grain allergies, who HAS to be fed grain-free, so a low protein diet is not and never has been an option in my house. This will be especially true as my pets age, since many studies have shown high protein % diets are especially helpful for older dogs who need to retain muscle mass while eating fewer calories.

I wish you well with Vincent, but I know I'm most likely to attribute better behavior to your modification training and not the dietary change.

lindabcs July 29th, 2008 01:14:00 PM

Back in the early '90s I was raising two male borzoi pups & supplementing their high powered feed with vitamins as directed by the breeder. Supplementation was doing nothing for their leg joints but alternating between making them sloppy through the wrists or too upright, but they were becoming increasingly aggressive with my other dogs which was of more concern.

I finally tossed the breeder's instructions, deep-sixed the supplements, selected a lower protein kibble & raised two delightful boys.

Ellie July 29th, 2008 01:28:00 PM

What % of protein in a kibble would be considered "high protein"? Just curious so that I can look at mine and compare.

Roxanne July 29th, 2008 01:40:00 PM

Patty - Have you tried any of the other Solid Gold formulations? I started my ESS on the "holistique blendz", which is the lowest % protein of any of their diets - primary protein source, fish meal, is listed 4th on the ingredients. I noticed some palatability issues with it. Now I feed her the "Hund-n-Flocken" - which has lamb and lamb meal as the primary ingredients and protein source- as her primary kibble. She really likes it, and has done well on it.

Chip July 29th, 2008 02:09:00 PM

In my one rat study, an 18% protein diet (so sayeth the Innova Senior bag) worked to take the edge off and mellow my guy out. I got the idea from feeding horses -- if you lower the protein content of horse feed it usually results in a mellower animal.

So no, I'm not surprised, but am also happy that there's some science to back up my hypothesis. :-)

Deanna July 29th, 2008 02:19:00 PM

I will be interested to see how Vincent progresses! I'd never heard about this, although we discuss diet and protein content often on our breed forum, mostly due to several dogs with EPI and liver shunts.
I've never noticed a link in my dog with the protein content & behavior, I guess I will pay more attention. The only time I have ever seen her aggressive was the only time I gave her a bone (high protein no doubt) to keep her busy while we were painting a room and she went super-aggressive. Like a wild wolf on a fresh kill. If we even looked at her, she growled and ran away with the bone. It was funny on one hand because she's only 7# and normally super mellow, but it was alarming on the other because aggressive is aggressive. We've not given her bones since then.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out with Vincent, I look forward to the posts!

Creature of Habit July 29th, 2008 02:29:00 PM

Accprding to the study, just one week of a dietary change can have a noticeable effect but lindabcs has an interesting point: does even one week of higher protein make them feel "great," as in, "full of vigor"? Dunno, but long term studies don't seem to support the higher protein=longevity in dogs. But then, the long-term studies I refer to are those spun out of the Purina/Hill's camp where the cheapest grain is seemingly holy for its potent profitability.

Dr. Patty Khuly July 29th, 2008 03:14:00 PM

And, no, Vincent was neutered at about 13-14 months. I saw no reduction in aggression. But, then, how much more aggression *would* I have witnessed had I not neutered him then...? In retrospect, I would have neutered him earlier in the hopes of achieving a less aggressive demeanor.

Dr. Patty Khuly July 29th, 2008 03:16:00 PM

Oops--here's a link to Vincent's back story:
http://www.dolittler.com/index.cfm/2007/11/14/pets...%20palate.soft%20palate.redirected%20aggression.neuter.veterinarian:

And here's a link to the study:
http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma...

Dr. Patty Khuly July 29th, 2008 03:20:00 PM

I first read about that in Dr. Dodman's "The Dog Who Loved Too Much" (1996) He talks of two cases, one territorial aggression (anxiety or fear-related) and one fear of people/fear-related aggression where he recommended feeding a low-protein diet. So his theory has been around for awhile, but seems like it hasn't filtered down.
Do you remember what show you heard it on? I'd love to try to listen to it online.

lin July 29th, 2008 03:35:00 PM

Sorry, Dr. Patty, I think this is a crock! And still belongs in the Old Wives Tale club. I wonder what the whole study actually says. The abstract is fairly equivocal.

CathyA July 29th, 2008 04:13:00 PM

Respectfully -- this is only ONE study. As many know, it's pretty easy to develop a study that will show you exactly what you want it to -- drug companies do it all the time!

That said -- all three of my dogs are on high-protein diets. Two of them are racing-strain Siberian Huskies, who are eating a diet high in both protein and fat. My older English Cocker has much the same diet without all the fat.

All three have the most lovely temperaments you could hope for. We've had occasional issues with my strong female, but that only occurred around other strong female Nordic breeds and we've modified that behavior enough to be able to control it.

The difference? None of them eat kibble very often, and when they do it's a grain-,preservative-, and additive-free brand. I started being extremely careful of what I fed them when my male Sibe was diagnosed with a heart issue. After consulting with a canine nutritionist, we embarked 6 months without additives, preservatives and non-whole foods. That 6 months brought a grade 3 murmur to a 1, an enlarged heart back to normal, and stopped exercise-induced fainting. We never looked back. My dogs are now 8, 9 and 13; vets who don't know them usually estimate their ages (even after looking at their teeth) at 3, 4, and 6.

I, for one, would not look at just the amount of protein in the diet as causing a problem. I would be more inclined to look at the SOURCE of the protein, and its metabolic interactions with everything else in the food...

Jo July 29th, 2008 04:32:00 PM

It might only be one study, but as someone who deals with the more "aggressive" side of JRTs, I apprecaite any and all info I can get! It's not unusual for JRTs to come into rescue because of aggression.

I find my dogs Natural Balance, and I JUST switched tot he AMP which has a higher protein content - not clear on how much higher though. One of my dogs was needed to put on a pound or two and I wanted to bump up his calories. He has been a bit crankier, but who knows if that's due to the fosters or the weather or goodness only knows what!

I'm playing it safe though and putting them back on the "normal" Natural Balance they were on previously!

Amy July 29th, 2008 07:30:00 PM

I did read that in Tuft's Your Dog, can't remember when though. Having terriers, it is hard to distinguish what is referred to as aggression (unless it is human oriented). Now all but one, are senior age and lost much poop and vinegar. The oung 4 year old is happy and delightful, with true Scottie temperment "alert but not quarrelsome".

I've tried low protein for kidney disease treatment/prevention, but didn't find that to be any miracle either, with fat content a bit too low.

Barbara A. Albright/New Hampshire July 29th, 2008 08:06:00 PM

Sorry, tail wagging the dog here. Jo had some great points about protein sources, and it should also be noted that back when these theories came out high protein = high ethoxyquin/BHA/BHT (and generally, still does, just sadly, no longer on label).

There was also note of this theory in "Dogs" by the Coppingers (which by the way is a MUST read for any true enthusiast who goes one step above dog lover and delves into the science end of things for the sheer joy of it!). They mentioned (much to my disgust, I must admit) that they found they could reduce their incidences of mealtime aggression in their kennel dogs by switching them from "high protein kibble" (again, I don't recall if the content was mentioned) to pig pellets which are much lower protein (not to mention contain practically NOTHING you would EVER want your dog to eat... as a matter of fact, a large portion of the melamine tainted dog food ended up in "pig slurry").

Well, of COURSE it did. You think kids are going to fight over rice cakes? No, but they'll fight over pieces of steak and fresh fruit and tacos!

I agree wholeheartedly with the theory that the aggression increases simply because it correlates with the increase in energy. We run a rescue, specializing in special needs and "unadoptable" dogs. This includes aggression. Our last case of dominance aggression took us longer to switch her food over than it did to rid her of her most severe issues. Will she always be a dog that has those tendancies? Of course she will. However, she came to me eating Iams, and after two bites in the period of a week and a vet recommendation for euthanasia, she came to us for rehab. She spent a week with us, and was placed a home capable of handling her correctly to avoid future problem behaviours.

The majority of aggressive behaviour is owner result, not food result. Aggressive tendancies can and in my opinion are, innate, but the literal action of aggression lays in the handling of the dog, not in the fault of those who feed their dogs a natural diet.

Now anxiety, on the other hand, along with territorial or possession aggression we find improves GREATLY on an increased protein, no additive diet, similar to children with ADHD. Cut out all the unnatural foods, and the behaviour diminishes. There is still work to be done, but quite honestly in situations where I would otherwise simply look like the trainer who lowered the dog's anxiety level, I now look like the miracle worker who has extinguished it altogether. I give credit where credit is due, because quite frankly the more people who know, the fewer dogs I have to deal with, and the day I no longer have a reason to do what I do will be a VERY happy day indeed.

Till then, our very experienced camp says "bring on the grain-free kibble, the raw, the cans, keep away the preservatives, the excess carbs, the sugars, and with the exception of green tripe, if YOU wouldn't eat it, don't feed it to us either!"

A quick sidenote... with the absolute, utmost respect Dr. Khuly... we have also never had to medicate a dog for behavioural issues with anything stronger than the occasional dose of rescue remedy, etc. Dodman is a HUGE fan of pharmaceuticals for dogs, as evidenced by his many, many, many case studies (I've read all of which he's published). I have spoken with several owners and suggested that they speak with their vet regarding medication, but only EVER in severe anxiety cases (self-mutilation, etc). The use of medication for aggression issues is something that I just simply can not condone. What is needed is the correct trainer. That trainer may not be "purely positive" (god forbid!). He/she may treat the dog like a dog. (heavens!) There may be corrections and aversives involved (goodness no!). But provided that you have a trainer who actually understands what the dog is thinking, and not simply trying to "get the dog to submit" -- god I hate that phrase -- these techniques work. They work for other dogs, and they work for qualified individuals when applied correctly, evenly and timely. And for those of you who are wondering, no, I am not a fan of Mr. Milan. I think he's *almost* got it right, but even I would treat a dog with an obvious case of clinical OCD with medication before beginning behavioural therapy.

You must dread these long winded posts, but I have to get this last point in. Dodman has to recognized and APPLAUDED for his NILIF (Nothing In Life Is Free) program. Quite frankly, if people would actually follow it (and I mean, truly follow it, with emphasis on the word NOTHING) you would find your aggression issues dropping. There's always an adjustment period, followed by the "but he's just so cutesy-wootsy!" period, which causes people to cheat the way they do on diets, but if they actually stuck with it, took the reins, became the BOSS... people may actually one day take over the world again. My dogs know (and tell the newcomers immediately upon arrival!) that they don't GET ANYTHING without mom's say so. They do exactly what they are told, when they are told it. As long as they follow those simple rules, magical things follow them all day. Treats, toys, play time, walkies, car rides, swims in the doggie pool, ball throws, couch snuggles... Bad Dogs are banished to their bed (their "time out") where they stay for a length of time until mom releases them to offer a chance to show they are prepared to listen. In my home, all dogs live by the NILIF program, all the time. After all, imagine if everything in YOUR life were free, or think about those people you know who maybe have had things just a bit too easy. How balanced are they?

And what does any of it have to do with what they eat? Dr. Khuly... does Fois Gras ever make you just want to bite the heel of your waiter's shoe? ;O)

Kim July 30th, 2008 05:02:00 AM

I know, I know, shut up already, right?

I just found the ace that will bring down this study's house of cards...

It was performed on SHELTER DOGS. You know, under-exercised, under-stimulated, over-agitated shelter dogs with NO previous histories.

I'm also willing to bet that every single dog (including the low-protein guys) were overfed, because as we all know, the higher the food quality, the less realistic the feeding recommendations on the bag are.

So we have a shelter full of dogs who have been most likely previously fed storebrand crap. You then place them in a high-stress environment, fill them full of more rocket fuel than even a sporting dog could use and provide them with (I am assuming) minimal exercise/stimulation.

Hmm... you say they got aggressive? No way! Who woulda thunk it!?

I want to see a control group eating a good, moderate protein diet, let's use Innova (love Natura's stuff). I want a good smattering of breeds, too, and not 11 for crying out loud, let's get at least 75.

Then I want a "low protein" group, let's try Burgham's Oven-Baked, it's non-preservative, and it's free of rendered meat too, what a plus. Again, 75 random dogs and breeds.

Then let's try a "high protein" group. Because I've had questions come up in the last few years regarding potato sensitivities in dogs, let's avoid the standards like Evo, Natural Balance, Orijen, etc. Let's try either Legacy or Instinct (my gut says instinct, I've had such incredible results with them and they have an alternative protein as well, so let's use their Turkey and Duck). Again, 75 dogs, all breeds, all walks of life.

Here's the tricky part. All dogs would have to be removed from their owners and placed with approved trainers/handlers for the duration of the testing (8 weeks to get a proper result, I would say, just like with allergies). This is the only way to ensure handler compliance, and even this is not 100%.

I think you'd have an easy time getting the food companies to sign up if given option of anonymity. The owners you would think would have a hard time handing their dogs over for eight weeks, but if you've ever lived with a dog who bites you, 8 weeks away from him/her can seem like not such a terrible thing. The trainers would be the difficult part. Not a lot of people out there willing to go the distance and do it properly with an aggressive dog, let alone 150-200+ of them.

My point? That Dodman's study is fatally flawed, and that to do one properly would be, well... logistically a nightmare.

But hey, if anyone out there wants to give it a shot, we do up to 10 dogs at a time, depending on size, it would only take us about 3 years or so to do it on our own, at capacity, with no vacations, assuming someone would fund us. lol

Like I said before, I'll stick with what I know. Ask all the dogs who have passed through here because at some point they have bitten someone. Part of our adoption contract is a list of approved foods. Instinct, Orijen, Legacy, etc. Only high-protein, only grain and preservative free, bonus points for feeding raw. We've NEVER had a repeat offender.

Knock on wood (and wish me luck, we've got three newbies coming in this week). :O)

Kim July 30th, 2008 05:33:00 AM

Great posts, Kim! I agree wholeheartedly. I don't trust the results of this study simply because they don't make sense to me. It also seems too much like the urban legend that feeding a dog raw meat will make it bloodthirsty. Protein is a great source of energy for dogs (who are built to eat meat), and I thought this was common knowledge. It just doesn't make sense that limiting it would be better for them in any way.

Janine July 30th, 2008 10:54:00 AM

What I want to know is why follow-up studies have not been undertaken--by this group or any other. The sample size is small. Makes sense for a first go-round. Why not take it to the next level. Dr. Dodman?

Dr. Patty Khuly July 30th, 2008 12:21:00 PM

I'm assuming they used kibble for the study - kibble containing who-knows-what-all low quality, junk ingredients. The protein source in whatever they fed was probably a minor ingredient with the fillers being the main ingredients. I'd be interested to see if they could replicate the results feeding a home prepared diet of whole foods.

YesBiscuit! July 30th, 2008 03:19:00 PM

I find it interesting that the corrolation between agressive dogs eating low protein food becoming less agressive has turned and people feel that means that simply feeding dogs high protein food will make them agressive..

it is kinda scarey to make that leep.

I like Kim's post about the pig food.. very telling..

connie July 30th, 2008 04:25:00 PM

Dr Patty
Have you ever heard of an increase in aggression after neutering? I have a 4 or 5yr old boxer that I rescued (stray w/ no history). I had him for about 4 months before he was neutered. He did show some mild “off” behavior prior to the neuter but about 6 weeks after the neuter his aggression increased DRAMATICALLY. He went from being basically normal while on walks to hyper vigilant and very reactive. Also after the neuter he became overly reactive towards people coming to our door.

I mentioned this to a couple vets (one who specializes in behavior) and was told this was just a coincidence. What do you think?

(BTW I am a huge believer in spay / neuter, all my pet are altered and always will be)

elaine July 30th, 2008 06:51:00 PM

elaine: Sometimes pets need to get comfortable in an environment (4-5 months?) before finding their natural groove. Having said that, some pets can be traumatized by stressful experiences. This is more common with cats (though it's uncommon, in general, when it comes to companion animals).

Dr. Patty Khuly July 31st, 2008 08:06:00 AM

Malnutrition can make anyone (dog or man) passive! Protein deprivation is an inhumane and short-sighted solution that makes dogs suffer for the negligence of poorly-trained owners.

One need only watch "It's Me or the Dog" or "Dog Whisperer" to know that dog aggression is caused by, and/or maintained, by dog owners' inappropriate attitudes and behavior.

The solution to aggressive dog behavior is informed, properly trained dog owners who actively take responsibility and become their dogs' pack leader; NOT malnutrition!

Nancy Lion-Storm July 31st, 2008 02:50:00 PM

Sorry Nancy, but as someone who works with canine aggression issues professionally, I beg to differ.

As I'm sure that Dr. Khuly will agree, there are a number of medical issues where one of the symptoms is aggression. One of the most common is PAIN. I had a client whose dog yelped and bit any family member that picked the dog up -- turned out the poor dog had a dislocated elbow. Of course, that was found out after they had been punishing the dog for biting and growling for a week before calling me.

Bottom Line: For any aggression issue, before I will work with a dog they need to have a clean bill of health from their vet -- because there's a number of metabolic and physiological issues that can cause a dog to react aggressively.

Being a "pack leader" has never been known to cure hypothyroidism, epilepsy, hypoglycemia, or Cognitive Dysfunction... think about it -- when you don't feel well, are you always bright and happy? When you have a migraine, are you more likely to talk sweetly or be a bit snappish?

jo July 31st, 2008 03:23:00 PM

"Being a "pack leader" has never been known to cure hypothyroidism, epilepsy, hypoglycemia, or Cognitive Dysfunction... think about it -- when you don't feel well, are you always bright and happy? When you have a migraine, are you more likely to talk sweetly or be a bit snappish?"

Thank you. I left out the issue of health problems. I agree with you Jo, an aggressive animal should be checked first for medical conditions. No animal should be punished for inappropriate behavior, if its health checks out OK, it should be disciplined, not punished.

Nancy Lion-Storm July 31st, 2008 08:59:00 PM

Some of you are living in a fantasy land. Not every owner is to blame for their dog's aggressiveness, nor is training alone -- note the word "alone" -- always sufficient to resolve the problem. In many cases, getting aggression under control may determine whether the dog continues to have a home, or whether the dog lives or dies. Do you believe the dog is better off in a shelter than at home on a medication? My last dog was aggressive towards other dogs. My only guess as to why is that she was not properly socialized as a puppy (before I got her) and then shortly after I got her, she developed knee problems which prevented her from socializing for several more months. Her vet's instructions were to keep her crated. In any event, we worked on training, and even the trainer concluded that the best we would achieve was to train her to IGNORE other dogs. She was never happy about any dog being near her. There was no need for her to interact with other dogs, so I kept her away from other dogs for the rest of her life. I had that luxury.

But what if you have a dog which is aggressive towards humans? I don't think anyone here has suggested that (1) high protein food CAUSES aggression, merely that where aggression is present, reduced protein might ameliorate the situation; and (2) it is high-handed, purist, politically correct nonsense to reject out of hand a therapy which might stand between the dog and the needle. Yes, behavior mod should be done in conjunction. But if the owner is too lazy, or too overwhelmed by work and children and family, what's your answer? Give the dog the pill, or put him down?

Susan July 31st, 2008 11:34:00 PM

Elaine- by any chance was your pup given his rabies vaccination during this time? Some dogs have gotten aggressive for short periods of time after the rabies vacine is given. A Chesapeake Bay Retriever who was staying at my house got a rabies shot, and became very aggressive for about 10 days. When we called the vet, he said that just like the disease, it causes brain swelling. And some dogs react aggressively. After about 10 days, he was back to normal.

Dr K, have you had this experience?

Also, as one who feeds raw- I say POPPYCOCK to the notion of high protein making dogs aggressive. And as far as the horses on high protein feed, we never had problems wit pastured horses. Just the ones cooped up 23 hrs a day in stalls. Who woldn't be aggressive in that situation?

agadoresmama July 31st, 2008 11:49:00 PM

agadoresmama: Nope. No rabies vaccine should cause aggression, "brain swelling" or any signs of rabies itself. If it does it's an adverse reaction--not related to the expected physiological effects of vaccination with this or any other vaccine.

Dr. Patty Khuly August 1st, 2008 08:19:00 AM

Susan:

"But if the owner is too lazy, or too overwhelmed by work and children and family, what's your answer? Give the dog the pill, or put him down?"

Sorry, but I don't think that too lazy, too overwhelmed, or taken over by pod creatures is an excuse for a band-aid solution. Would you rather see a dog muzzled all the time for barking, or put down? Crated contstantly for hyperactivity for put down? Sorry, but that's BS. I'd like to see the owner take responsibility for his/her dog or find someone who can.

What about children? Would you like to see that child who is simply eating WAY too much processed food and receiving FAR too little attention/exercise medicated into submission, or would you prefer to see the problem corrected?

My point in regards to medication is that, with the exception of RARE cases, it does not solve the problem. We've become a society of quick fixes, and it's to the detriment of our long term health and well-being.

As for the low-protein food war, I put feeding an 18% protein diet right up there with constant crating, muzzling, inappropriate use of a training tool, etc... I've seen the long-term damage caused by these high-carb diets, and the effects can be difficult, sometimes impossible to reverse. Not to mention, they don't cure the aggression, they only make the dog so damn fat and tired he can't be bothered to get off his ass and bite anyone.

Hardly a solution, and hardly a valid study. That was the point. This is not a give me black or give me white situation. Please don't try to make it so.

Kim August 1st, 2008 02:49:00 PM

Jo said it perfectly----pain & illness has to be addressed & ruled out. This may not be easy or a quick once over----vision, hearing, infection, teeth, joint disease can be so subtle but cause tremendous discomfort---causing all forms of unwanted aggression!

Barbara A. Albright/New Hampshire August 1st, 2008 03:42:00 PM

My take on the ideal approach to aggressive behavior is that once you've done all the medical testing you can...once you've consulted a behaviorist and have started down the long road of behavior modification...once you've satisfied yourself that you've done everything right...then you can try the drugs...and if something else comes down the pike that may make a difference, then it behooves you to give it a go. Low protein, high protein, tryptophan or not; as long as it won't hurt my dog by trying I'll give it a go.

Dr. Patty Khuly August 1st, 2008 05:34:00 PM

Well, let's make the great leap and believe that a sample size of 11 can even produce a statistically significant result. (Which, um ... no.)

Yeah, malnutrition is a time-proven way of making animals, including human animals, temporarily docile.

So?

H Houlahan August 1st, 2008 06:28:00 PM

Every dog is an individual. What might work for some dogs may not work for others.

This is not new information to me either and I have had cases where a food change did help dogs with issues. I have also heard that protein acts like a stimulant for some dogs, like caffine in people.

Breed issues also should be taken into account.
How your dog metabolises food may be different than how your friends dog metabolizes food. Otherwise there would be be no dogs with food allergies would there?

There is no magic bullet for ANY problem. The sooner the average owner learns that the better their dogs will be. Dogs do behavior that works for them in some way. To relieve stress, boredom or to get attention, a reward they feel is valuable, or to avoid punishment. (Not all attention people think is negative is so in the dogs perception. ie. the dog jumps up so you push it off. Touching the dog is positive attention to some dogs because it is both attention and physical touch.)

The story about the dog growling over a bone shows that it was a very important resource to that dog. He hadn't acted like that before probably because he never had anything he valued as that important before. (remember it is the dogs perception of value that is important with resource guarding)

And whoever was comparing cats to dogs dietary needs to realize they are completely seperate species with different needs.

Dr. Dodman may like the pharmacuticals however he ALWAYS advocates a behavior modification protocol to go along with them. As I understood it from his seminar he uses medication to help the dog be able to relax (or whatever that dogs needs) so the dog is better able to learn from the B-Mod. A stressed dog is incapable of learning after all. (it is only reactive) So for him medication is only a facilitator to the behavior protocol. (as I understood him)

His thoughts on seretonin levels and aggression were very interesting too. And his studies on aggression and the thyroid link were thought to be poppycock years ago and yet that has beared out to be a true link after all. Just a thought.

I think every tool you have in your arsenal of knowledge to help dogs with aggresison issues is a good thing. As long as it isn't harming the dog then it should be considered as an option.

Good luck with Vincent.

Marie August 3rd, 2008 02:22:00 PM

Add Commment

Your Name:

CAPTCHA Verification