I just wanted to stop and take the time to thank you for all your help. Without your guidance, I would not have the wonderful dog I have now. She is quieter and more relaxed.
— Jennifer Smith, Eugene Oregon
Desensitization, Counter Conditioning, Classical Conditioning
Desensitization
Changing a dog's emotions requires working the dog a distance from stimuli that is so great that the dog can eat, relax and not be concerned about the stimuli it previously has reacted to. Ideally the distance is such that the dog does not display any negative emotional reaction. Once numerous successful responses have been obtained at this level of training the dog will be moved closer to the upsetting stimuli.
Counter Conditioning
Counter conditioning is a process in which an undesirable response is replaced with a desirable response. When we are working to change a dog's emotions the undesirable response would be fear, aggression, anxiety while the desirable response would be relaxation. Changing a dog's emotions requires that we put the dog under conditions in which it can relax while we reward relaxation.
Classical Conditioning
As dogs experience their environment they form positive, negative or neutral associations based on their experience. Things in the dog's environment are neutral, safe and enjoyable forming positive associations or dangerous and unpleasant forming negative associations. Dogs are always forming associations of this is safe for me, dangerous for me or neutral. These associations influence the dog's decisions and are the basis for how the dog reacts to things in the environment.
An Example of A Dogs Association
Most dogs get really excited when the owner gets out their leash. This is because the dog has learned the leash means an enjoyable activity is going to take place. That could be going on a walk or a trip in the car. The dog associates the leash with the fun activity.
Humane, Positive Tools
Changing a dog's emotions requires that we use tools that never elicit pain, discomfort, fear or startle the dog. We have to convince the dog that we love, enjoy and are happy about the same thing it finds upsetting. This is why I ask each owner to never use a chock, pinch or shock collar. It is important that owners dog not scold, reprimand or even show despair over their dog's behavior.