Desensitization Your Dog Wont Just Get Used To the Things He Fears These days, more and more dog owners have become aware of the term desensitization and are attempting to use it to help their dogs overcome fear or aggression toward people, other dogs or even scary situations. The good thing is that more dog owners now recognize that there is an alternative to just punishing the dog for bad behavior. However, dog owners who attempt this process on their own often have a poor understanding of what desensitization really is and how to do it correctly Definition When dog trainers refer to desensitization (DS), we are usually referring to systematic desensitization, the process of gradually exposing a dog to something it fears at distances or intensities that do not cause the dog to react with fear or aggression. During the DS process, we use food, play and other things the dog desires to create a positive association. Examples of systematic desensitization Heres a video of beautiful desensitization session. The trainer does a fantastic job of setting clear and easily-achievable steps for the dog to accomplish. Notice how very little is asked of the dog at first, and then the difficulty is gradually increased. https://youtube/watch?v=_I3c-J7HNxs Not all DS sessions will go so quickly. Some require multiple training sessions over weeks or even months. Here is an example of a longer DS process with a pit bull-type dog that exhibits a strong prey instinct around cats: https://youtube/watch?v=m-Tqd-t6A8o While this dog is not afraid of cats, the DS process sets the dog up for success, gradually increasing the difficulty over time. ________________________________________________________ What is NOT desensitization Habituation Whenever a dog owner wants a dog to get used to something it fears through simple exposure without any training or conditioning, they are really hoping for habituation. While this approach can work with neutral or mildly unpleasant sounds, sights or interactions, if the stimuli is strong enough to provoke a fearful or aggressive response in a dog, it is highly unlikely that the dog can relax enough to get used to it. More often, attempts to habituate a dog result in sensitization, leading to a more extreme response in the future. Flooding Flooding is prolonged and forced exposure to something that is aversive to the dog. It includes pulling a fearful dog into the dog park or immersing a dog-reactive dog in an environment with numerous other dogs. This approach is often seen on The Dog Whisperer. While many people believe they are helping their dog will get used to the aversive, this approach often fails in the long run. After all, if you are afraid of spiders, will it lessen your fear if I fill your bedroom with tarantulas? Will you get used to them or learn that they are not a threat? No, more than likely, you will become sensitized to spiders...and will no longer trust me. When a dog is flooded with the thing they perceive as a threat, the overwhelming stress can cause them shut down from stress. This is known as learned helplessness. The dog may not be barking, lunging or trying to escape, but he isnt exhibiting signs of normal behavior in that situation, such as relaxation or enjoyment. Although it appears to the untrained eye that flooding works, the effect is just an illusion. Most dogs will exhibit fear or aggression in that situation in the future, and some may escalate the intensity of their reaction. Positive Punishment Exposing a dog to something that provokes a fearful or aggressive reaction and then punishing the dog for reacting is not DS. This method is popular with trainers who use aversive equipment, such as shock collars. While they may be able to suppress the dogs reaction in the moment, this approach does not change the underlying emotional state of the dog and is not desensitization. If the dog is reacting in a training situation, the distance is too short or the intensity is too great. This is referred to as pushing the dog over-threshold. When a dog is in this state, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the dog to learn. THE USE OF DS Depending on the behavior problem, desensitization can be a slow process or it can move fairly quickly. Since every dog and behavior is different, it can be difficult to know where to begin. By working with a qualified professional, you can learn how to create a DS program specific to your needs. The key to a successful DS program is setting the dog up for success. The more successful he is at performing the alternate behavior around low-levels of the things he fears or reacts to, the faster his training will go.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 00:24:27 +0000
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