From the Pharmacy Counter of Tarma Shena
Farei Infrequently
September 15th 2026
I once said that there is no pixie dust when it comes to dog training but trends over the last few years have proven me wrong. It’s not a new trend, but it’s one I notice creeping up little by little over the years.
Kind of like how LGDs weren’t chicken safe until two years of age and now we see posts that say four and five instead. I saw a comment the other day that dogs are still teething at eighteen months of age. It’s a common theme in the positive only training space we find ourselves in these days.
Nothing is ever anyone’s fault.
Not Yours.
Not the dog’s.
It’s just the way it is.
“Veterinarians and data studies show an upward trend in prescribing anti-anxiety medications like Prozac (generic name: fluoxetine) for dogs, mirroring rising awareness of pet mental health. [1, 2]
This is not a “rising awareness of pet health”, this is our pixie dust.
You don’t have to train.
Rescues don’t have to rehabilitate.
Breeders don’t have to commit to stable temperaments.
“Documented behavioral problem labels (such as fear, anxiety, or aggression) increased tenfold over the last decade. Interestingly, the study noted that roughly 70% of dogs prescribed these medications did not have a formal corresponding behavioral diagnosis label in their immediate primary care record, often pointing to situational or as-needed use prescribed during specific visits”
You read that correctly, seventy percent of dogs prescribed medications did not have a corresponding behavioral diagnosis.
Nobody cares if the dog has an actual problem, only if the humans have a problem with the dog. That is enough to warrant a pharmaceutical solution.
And you know what else?
The number of behavioral medications prescribed to dogs under one year of age is rising drastically too. It took me a while to find that one though because you won’t see Prozac or Trazodone, no it’s “situational Gabapentin” for anxiety.
If you were an adult in the 90s you probably remember Ritalin.
During the 1990s, Ritalin became the household shorthand for treating children's behavior, specifically Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The decade saw an enormous surge in diagnoses and prescriptions, sparking intense public debate in news segments, talk shows, and pop culture regarding over-prescription and children's behavior.
Go back and watch one of those commercials now, zombie kids certainly don’t cause their parents any trouble.
And neither do zombie dogs. It will sleep most of the day while you are at work, sleep in the car on the way to the vet, and sleep on the porch at the family BBQ.
Easy Peasy.
Read any post where someone is asking for training help and the number of people recommending medication because it “helped their dog” is absolutely astounding. You do not need a trainer and you don’t have to put in any effort.
Here is your pixie dust.
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