Dog behaviour problems are the main reason for rehoming, relinquishment and euthanasia [1]. Dog behaviourists are able to help resolve these issues.
They will be able to dig down deeper than just training and may suggest treatments and remedies for the underlying emotional issue.
Generally, a trainer will use a second-order reinforcer such as words, hand signals or clickers. This allows them to reward behavior from a greater distance.
Desensitization
Often paired with counterconditioning training (more on that in a later article), desensitization is a process of gradually exposing your dog to sounds or objects that trigger fearful responses until they are no longer frightening. This can be done in a variety of ways, but it is important to pair the exposure with something rewarding such as treats or playtime.
It is also important to monitor your dog’s reactions and to stop if they become agitated, excited or overwhelmed. A professional behaviorist can help you tailor a programme that works best for your pet.
Flooding
Flooding, or immersion therapy is a training technique that exposes your dog to a fearful stimulus until they stop reacting to it. This is common for people who foster or adopt fearful dogs and is often done with the intention of “fixing” their phobias.
Unfortunately, this method doesn’t work and can actually worsen a behavioural problem. Instead, a trained behaviourist will use counter conditioning and desensitization techniques.
The most common sign of improper flooding is when a dog shuts down and looks away to avoid the scary stimulus. This is not the outcome that you want for your pet. You should learn more on this sign at https://www.bulldogology.net/.
Habituation
Almost any response or behaviour can become habituated. The process can occur to both arousing and non-arousing stimuli, but usually relates to a behaviour that is not a reflex.
For example, a dog that barks to get attention may start to bark less often if the owner ignores it consistently. This is habituation at work.
Vet teams can help with habituation by slowly and repeatedly exposing dogs to new experiences in an environment that is safe, calm and fun. This will build a catalogue of positive information that the dog can draw on for future exposures.
Extinction
Many pet owners use extinction as one of the main procedures for dealing with unwanted behavior. For example, if your dog jumps for attention, you may ignore them and gradually stop giving them reinforcement every time they do it. Extinction is not a perfect solution for problem behaviors, however. There are several factors that can influence how resistant a behavior is to extinction.
One of the most common is a phenomenon called extinction burst, which occurs when an animal starts doing something that they think will earn them reinforcement even though it has been stopped. This can lead to frustration and aggression.
Counterconditioning
Unlike desensitization, counterconditioning aims to change the dog’s feelings and unwanted behaviours. This can be done by associating a negative stimulus with positive experiences like treats, attention, or verbal praise.
For example, if your dog barks and lunges at people who approach the house, this is a fear-based reaction. Using counterconditioning, you could teach them that the approaching delivery person predicts good things like treats.
Remember to work under-threshold with both counterconditioning and desensitization, and use reward based training to reinforce desired behaviours. Trainers often abbreviate these techniques as DSCC (dscc and cc). These tactics are most effective when used in combination.
Response Substitution
Rather than trying to stop an unwanted behavior through punishment, a pet can be enticed to engage in a new response that is incompatible with the undesired one. For example, training a dog to focus on their owner instead of barking at the mailman across the street can help reduce fear and anxiety.
For this to work, the dog must be able to value the desired behavior. Valuable rewards, a history of performance, and intermittent reinforcement all increase resistance to extinction. A strong leash, head halter or other control device is usually required to ensure that the pet can be kept away from stimuli during retraining.
Shaping
Many people get excited about shaping because it seems like it would be a great way to teach their dogs lots of different things. However, they soon find out that it can be very challenging for their dog to learn all those new behaviors at once!
Shaping works best when the trainer breaks down the behavior into a series of small, easily-achievable steps. Each step is then reinforced until the finished behavior is achieved. If the gap between the steps is too large, the animal may struggle to figure out what you are asking them to do.
