How to desensitize a dog that's easily triggered?

Desensitization is a behavior modification technique in which you purposely and gradually expose your pet to a stimulus that has triggered a fear response. The stimulus is always controlled, starting at a very low level, so that your pet does not experience fear or display signs of stress. Over several sessions, you gradually increase the intensity of the stimulus, as long as there is no sign of fear. Manage the distance from the trigger, beginning far away and gradually getting closer. If the trigger is a noise, adjust the volume, going from low to high. If the trigger is a moving object, such as a bicycle, change the speed at which it moves, working from slow to fast. Break the trigger up into components: Some triggers are composed of multiple parts, such as sound, motion, sight, and smell. For desensitization and counterconditioning programs to be successful, it is necessary to have good, safe control of the pet, a strongly motivating reward, good control over the stimulus, and a well-constructed desensitization gradient. Counterconditioning is a behavior modification technique in which you pair something that causes a negative emotional response with something known to create a positive emotional response in your pet. Tasty food treats are commonly used to create a positive emotional state.

Working to change a dog’s emotional response to their triggers is one of the most important parts of a behavior modification program, and it’s done through a process called Counterconditioning & Desensitization. Counterconditioning & Desensitization (CC/DS) uses principles of classical conditioning to change the emotional responses our dogs have to their triggers, from negative, to neutral or positive. Remember, no negative feelings, no more reactions! The sweet spot for Counterconditioning & Desensitization is when your dog is just at threshold in relation to their trigger. By allowing your dog to observe their trigger at this low intensity, we’re allowing their mild feelings of concern to dissipate – instead of escalating into a full-blown stress response – and be replaced with feelings of relaxation. With repetition, the presence of a trigger at that intensity will no longer cause even mild concern. The goal with controlled CC/DS sessions is to extinguish any negative emotional responses to the trigger at the current level of intensity, before moving on and increasing the level of intensity.