How to Desensitize Your Dog

It's heartbreaking to see our dogs shy away from people, objects, and other animals that can enrich their lives. To put your dog at ease, you can desensitize them through gradual exposure and by creating new, positive associations with their triggers. Over time, your dog will learn to overcome their fear and live a fuller, happier life.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Coming Up With a Treatment Plan

1
Identify your dog’s triggers.^{[1]XTrustworthy SourceAnimal Humane SocietyLeading animal welfare nonprofit organization providing medical care, training education, and resources for animal ownersGo to source} A trigger is the object, person, or place which causes the dog to panic. Dogs react in different ways to their triggers. For instance, your dog might put its tail between their legs, bark, run away, or whimper in fear. They might react aggressively to certain stimuli, for instance by barking, lowering their head, or bristling the hair on their back.
- You have to be able to identify whatever is triggering your dog before you can begin to overcome it.^{[2]XExpert SourceElisabeth Weiss
  Professional Dog TrainerExpert Interview. 3 September 2020.}
- Make note of situations in which your dog demonstrates signs of fear, aggression, or other unwanted behaviors. Look for patterns in the their negative behavior and identify specifically what triggers your pet.
After discovering your dog’s triggers, write each on a piece of paper, starting with the most serious and working your way down to the least serious. For instance, perhaps your dog is agitated by all visitors in the house, but is especially rattled by young children. You could rank adults as less scary for the dog than children. Does your dog demonstrate fear at being picked up, or being picked up in a certain way? Do all little children trigger your dog, or are crying children more traumatic for your dog?^{[3]XTrustworthy SourceAnimal Humane SocietyLeading animal welfare nonprofit organization providing medical care, training education, and resources for animal ownersGo to source} Use these and similar questions to figure out exactly what fears are most and least serious in the dog’s mind.
3
Expose the dog to their triggers gradually.^{[4]XResearch source} Start with the most mild trigger. Suppose your dog is very scared of adult men, somewhat less scared by adult women, and mildly scared of little children. By exposing your dog to, for instance, young children for a short time each day, your dog will gradually begin to realize that the trigger is nothing to be afraid of. You could have your dog spend five minutes each day with young children.
- After a week or so, you could increase the amount of time spent to ten minutes each day.
- After another week, you could increase the time spent in the presence of children to fifteen minutes.
- When your dog is comfortable with young children, move on to the next trigger level (adult women in the above example). Repeat the process until it has been desensitized to all negative triggers.
- Exposing your dog deliberately to their triggers for a specific amount of time constitutes a training session.
If your dog is triggered by young children, for instance, do not bring your dog to the local playground unless you intend to have a training session there. If your dog is exposed to stimuli in an uncontrolled environment or at rates which are greater than those you’ve been using during exposure training, your work could be jeopardized and your dog may revert to their old habits.
5
Choose how to modify your dog’s behavior. There are two ways to modify your dog’s behavior: counter-conditioning or gradual desensitization. The two modes are virtually identical and usually used together. Used with care over a long period, either mode will reduce your dog’s trigger responses gradually.^{[5]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}
- Gradual desensitization calls for the dog to be slowly exposed to their trigger over time, increasing the intensity or proximity of contact with the trigger until it no longer causes your dog’s negative behavior.
- In counter-conditioning, you give your dog a high-value treat when they're exposed to their trigger. That way, they will start to associate that trigger with something positive—a treat—rather than thinking of it as something to fear.^{[6]XExpert SourceElisabeth Weiss
  Professional Dog TrainerExpert Interview. 3 September 2020.}
- Counter-conditioning calls for your dog to be slowly exposed to their trigger over time and respond in a different, more positive way than it naturally would when in the presence of the trigger. If your dog learns quickly and likes treats, counter-conditioning is probably the best choice.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Desensitizing Your Dog Gradually

1
Be patient with your dog. Different dogs react to different stimuli in particular ways. Something like garbage trucks which causes one dog no stress at all might be a significant trigger for another dog. Do not increase the level of exposure to the trigger stimulus too quickly or your dog might become even more, not less, sensitive to the trigger and come to mistrust you.
- Some dogs might be quickly desensitized in a mater of weeks, while others might take months to change their behavior.^{[7]XResearch source}
Counter-conditioning requires replacing a negative reaction like fear with a positive reaction by changing the association your dog has to a given stimulus. In order to counter-condition your dog, you’ll need to know what your dog likes. The most useful choice for a reward is a doggie treat. Alternatively, you could use small strips of chicken, beef, or liverwurst. Find a treat your dog likes and use it to counter-condition your dog.
3
Give your dog a reward when exposing them to their trigger.^{[8]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source} For instance, if your dog is triggered by young children, sit with your dog while a young child is in view. When your dog is calm, either before it can start panicking or after the panicking ends, give it a small, yummy snack. It's crucial to only give the dog a treat when they're calm; rewarding them while they're still fearful can train the dog to be scared.
- Try exposing your dog to its trigger from a safe distance. For instance, if your dog doesn't like balloons, you might take them to the park, then have someone else hold the balloon off at a distance. Allow the dog to see the balloon, then apply counter-condition by giving them a tasty treat^{[9]XExpert SourceElisabeth Weiss
  Professional Dog TrainerExpert Interview. 3 September 2020.}.
4
Gradually expose your dog to more intense triggers.^{[10]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source} For instance, in the case of a dog who fears bikers, after achieving counter-conditioning with your dog at 30 yards, you could move your dog closer at a range of 25 yards. After your dog is comfortable with a biker at this range, move your dog closer to the stimulus at 20 yards. Remember to feed your dog a steady stream of treats while the trigger is in view. Continue in this way until the trigger does not inspire the negative response.
- For instance, if you were conditioning the dog with the balloon, you might bring the balloon a little closer at each session. Over time, the dog should begin to react less and less.^{[11]XExpert SourceElisabeth Weiss
  Professional Dog TrainerExpert Interview. 3 September 2020.}
These need not be continuous minutes. For instance, you could expose your dog to their trigger for three minutes, then rest one minute, then repeat, and end with a short two-minute trigger exposure.
6
Combine rewards when your dog stays calm during trigger exposure. For instance, you could both feed your dog a yummy snack and also pet them gently. Or, you could give your pet a snack while saying comforting things like, “Good dog,” or “You’re doing great” in a calm, reassuring tone.
- When your dog can be exposed to their trigger without demonstrating negative behavior, you can stop giving them treats and celebrate having successfully counter-conditioned your dog.
- Don’t combine treats for good behavior with yelling or punishment when your dog reacts negatively to the trigger. Punishment or scolding will only slow the process of desensitization and counter-conditioning.
7
Maintain your dog’s good behavior. Conduct follow-up sessions at least twice a month so that your dog will not develop their fear again. Monitor your dog for signs of backsliding. Should your dog begin to show sensitivity to the trigger which you worked on before, do another round of desensitization training to prevent the recurrence of the negative response.
- If your dog has serious trouble maintaining their good behavior, or if counter-conditioning seems ineffective, consult your vet about the possibility of using anxiety medications to calm your dog. Medication can be helpful to keep a dog calm during desensitization and counter-conditioning training.^{[12]XTrustworthy SourceAmerican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsLeading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal crueltyGo to source}
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Question
How do I desensitize my dog to sounds?
Elisabeth Weiss
Professional Dog Trainer
Elisabeth Weiss is a Professional Dog Trainer and owner of Dog Relations NYC, a dog training service in New York, New York. Elisabeth relies on science-based, force-free, and reward-based techniques. Elisabeth offers behavior training, puppy manners, body awareness and injury prevention, diet, exercise and dog nutrition services. Her work has been featured in New York Magazine and on the Dog Save the People podcast. She also trained all the dogs in the movie "Heart of a Dog" by Laurie Anderson that features Elisabeth's journey with Laurie Anderson's and Lou Reed's dog Lolabelle and how her passion for playing the keyboards played a significant role in improving her quality of life after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Elisabeth Weiss
Professional Dog Trainer
Expert Answer
Start by figuring out what sounds trigger your dog. Then, you can start working with your dog to desensitize them. You might try counter-conditioning, which involves giving your dog a high-value treat when they are exposed to the sound that triggers them. Over time, they will be less afraid of the sound because they'll associate it with treats.
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Question
How do I desensitize my dog to bikes and motorcycles?
Elisabeth Weiss
Professional Dog Trainer
Elisabeth Weiss is a Professional Dog Trainer and owner of Dog Relations NYC, a dog training service in New York, New York. Elisabeth relies on science-based, force-free, and reward-based techniques. Elisabeth offers behavior training, puppy manners, body awareness and injury prevention, diet, exercise and dog nutrition services. Her work has been featured in New York Magazine and on the Dog Save the People podcast. She also trained all the dogs in the movie "Heart of a Dog" by Laurie Anderson that features Elisabeth's journey with Laurie Anderson's and Lou Reed's dog Lolabelle and how her passion for playing the keyboards played a significant role in improving her quality of life after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Elisabeth Weiss
Professional Dog Trainer
Expert Answer
Try setting up a situation where the dog is around the trigger, but have it so far away that the dog doesn't react to it. Then, give the dog a treat like roast beef or steak. Gradually bring the dog closer to the trigger, rewarding it each time it doesn't react. That way, the dog will eventually come to associate the trigger with treats instead of fear.
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Question
I recently took my 1-year-old Pomeranian/Husky to the store. He is terrified of people! He shakes badly or runs away in a panic if they're close by, or wanting to give him attention. What should I do?
Community Answer
Walk your dog on suburban streets, there should be a few other people walking. Don't stop or acknowledge anyone. Just walk past them, then praise your dog or give him a treat when he doesn't respond negatively. Another strategy is to have a friend that your dog doesn't know walk in the opposite direction around the same block. They should slip the dog its favorite treat each time you pass. Do this until the dog is happy to see your friend. If your dog doesn't take the treat at first, have them drop it, and let your dog pick it up when he is ready. Eventually, stop and shake hands. Repeat this on multiple occasions with different people, then have them pet his head gently.
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