Dog Behavior Modification Through Desensitization

Does your dog have a certain behavior that occurs on a regular basis? Does it go “crazy” when the gardeners show up? Does it get overly excited at fast moving cars or do they get car sick? When guests arrive do you brace yourself for the certain to happen someone’s-at-the-door-I-need-to-get-excited response?

Not to worry. Dogs get into behavioral patterns much like we do. It has been tested and proven that in order to change a human behavior, we must consistently do the desired behavior for 30 days. If we slip up one day, we’re told that we need to start the count over.

Fortunately, behavior modification in dogs can occur as quickly as one session; however, don’t be disappointed if you have to take things slowly and progressively desensitize your dog to the trigger of the undesirable behavior.

For example: If your dog always run nervously from window to window barking while the gardeners are working and your standard response is to get nervous, run after them as you yell, “NO, STOP!” – it’s time for a different approach. Assuming that your dog has been through some training, put the leash on the dog and prior to the gardeners arriving, go over the basic commands and get the dog more focused on you. It’s difficult for a dog to run franticly when they are lying down.

Be prepared. Reward for the desired behavior (verbal praise works wonders). When the gardeners arrive, the dog will be in a different frame of mind. The leash can remain on as a training tool until the behavior changes.

It’s also good to remember that if your dog is lacking in exercise and they have not been given an opportunity to use that energy it WILL be inappropriately directed toward something else.

Exercise and training combined will help immeasurably with desensitizing your dog and changing their behavior.