How to desensitize a dog to public places?
Lydia Mayert
2025-06-07 12:14:17
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If your dog doesn’t behave around people, other dogs, or in public areas generally, you’re really limiting the fun things you can do together. Dealing With People Some dogs get agitated or anxious around strangers — you can train this out of your pup through desensitization training. Start by inviting a friend around that the dog hasn’t met. If your dog overreacts, ignore him completely until he settles down, then have the “stranger” throw him a treat — with no further interaction. Continue in this manner — ignoring him if he overreacts, and rewarding him when he calms down. When Fido gets used to this, you can try bringing a few friends over to get him used to groups of people, using the exact same strategy. Then try taking him out to public places that aren’t too busy, and again, ignore overreactions while rewarding calmness.
Laila Frami
2025-06-07 11:54:21
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It is our job to work with them, to show them that what they may perceive as scary or a threat is, in fact, safe. Desensitizing can help not only overcome fear but build confidence going forward. As your dog grows, they will go through periodic stages of irrational fear. This stage is the most important time to build confidence, desensitize and help them overcome their fear. Desensitizing can be done at any age. I was able to safely and slowly introduce him to this new thing and help him recover from this fear within about 45 minutes. After positively and patiently introducing him, he was now desensitized to this scary new thing.