Behavior problems are the leading reason pets are surrendered to shelters in the US. Yet most of these issues are entirely treatable — if owners know where to turn. Dr. Bridgette Wilson, Dogwood’s veterinary behavior specialist, sets the record straight.

✗  MYTH: “My dog is being dominant — he just needs to know who’s boss.”

✓  TRUTH: The ‘dominance theory’ of dog behavior has been largely discredited by modern veterinary science. Most behaviors labeled as dominance — growling, resource guarding, jumping — are rooted in fear, anxiety, or lack of communication. Punishment-based approaches often make these behaviors significantly worse.

✗  MYTH: “She’ll grow out of it. It’s just a phase.”

✓  TRUTH: Behavioral issues rarely self-resolve — they typically worsen without intervention. Fear responses and reactivity that begin in puppyhood become more entrenched as the animal matures. Early intervention consistently produces the best outcomes.

✗  MYTH: “He was abused before we adopted him — nothing can be done.”

✓  TRUTH: A history of trauma does not mean a pet is beyond help. Many animals with difficult pasts respond beautifully to structured behavior modification and targeted anxiety medication. Dr. Wilson specializes in fear and anxiety disorders and creates personalized protocols for each patient, regardless of history.

✗  MYTH: “Cats don’t need behavioral help — what they do is just ‘cat stuff.'”

✓  TRUTH: Cats experience anxiety, compulsive disorders, fear aggression, and inter-cat conflict just as dogs do. Urinating outside the litter box, excessive grooming, hiding, and aggression are all treatable conditions — not personality quirks to simply endure.

✗  MYTH: “Behavioral medication will sedate my pet and change their personality.”

✓  TRUTH: Behavioral medications — when prescribed by a veterinary specialist — are not sedatives. They reduce the neurological ‘noise’ of chronic anxiety, allowing your pet to actually learn and benefit from behavior modification. Most owners describe medicated pets as ‘finally themselves again.’

✗  MYTH: “Training classes will fix my dog’s aggression or anxiety.”

✓  TRUTH: Group classes are excellent for obedience but are not designed to treat clinical behavior disorders. Exposing a reactive dog to a group class before addressing the root cause often makes things worse. A behavior disorder requires a clinical behavior assessment.

✗  MYTH: “If I rehome my pet, they’ll be better with someone else.”

✓  TRUTH: Behavioral issues travel with the pet. Rehoming a pet with untreated aggression or anxiety typically results in the same problems in the new home — and often leads to shelter surrender. A proper behavioral evaluation can transform both your pet’s wellbeing and your relationship with them.

✗  MYTH: “Veterinary behavior help is only for extreme cases.”

✓  TRUTH: Behavior consultations are valuable at any stage — from ‘something seems off’ to ‘I’m at my wit’s end.’ Early-stage intervention is the most effective and fastest to resolve. If your pet’s behavior is causing stress for them or your family, that’s reason enough to seek help.

Dogwood Behavior Services:  Dr. Bridgette Wilson offers comprehensive behavioral consultations for dogs and cats. New patients welcome — Marietta, GA. Call (404) 609-1234.