Desensitisation - fear and anxiety
The goal of counter-conditioning and desensitisation is to help your dog feel safer and calmer around things that they are scared of. Counter-conditioning means changing an emotional response, such as fear, into a feeling that is more neutral or positive, and desensitisation means doing this very slowly and carefully, starting at a low intensity and gradually and systematically building up the intensity of the trigger. This is harder to do right than it looks and it’s recommended to work with a professional!
Steps:
- Start far enough away from the trigger
- Begin at a distance where your dog sees/hears the trigger but is still calm and able to eat treats. If your dog is barking, lunging, or unable to focus, you are too close, move back.
- Pair the trigger with something positive
Every time your dog sees or hears the trigger, give high-value treats. Pair the trigger with good things.
Example:
- Dog sees another dog → treats appear
- Person walks past → treats appear
The order is important: you can sensitise (make things worse!) your dog, or help them anticipate the scary thing and therefore not like the treat presented by doing this in the wrong way. Treat = scary person! Treat = bad.
- Keep sessions short and successful
Short, calm training sessions are more effective than long sessions where your dog becomes stressed. - Gradually decrease distance or increase exposure
As your dog becomes more comfortable, slowly work a little closer to the trigger or increase exposure little by little. Move slowly and only progress if your dog remains calm. - If your dog reacts, create more distance
If your dog starts barking or becomes distressed, calmly move further away and make the exercise easier.
The goal is not to force your dog to “face their fears,” but to help them feel safe and build positive associations over time at a slow and steady pace. Slow is fast here!
