What is Desensitization and Counter-Conditioning in Dog Training?
A user-friendly guide to desensitization and counter-conditioning for fearful dogs. Photo: Alzbeta / Shutterstock Whether you want to use counter-conditioning to get your dog to like other dogs, or desensitization to teach your dog that alone-time is okay, this guide is for you. It explains what these technical terms mean – and, importantly, the tips you need to know to get it right. First, we’ll look at how to spot a fearful dog, because these techniques are often used to help resolve different kinds of fear. Sometimes, desensitization and/or counter-conditioning are used alongside medication. If you are concerned about your pet or want to know if medication might help your dog, speak to your veterinarian. Recognizing signs of fear in dogs It can be difficult to recognize signs of fear in dogs, and people often miss it, even in situations where we know many dogs are afraid (e.g. fear at the vet or in response to loud noises ). This means many dogs are not being helped with their fea...