With desensitization and counterconditioning combined we are able to diminish the dog’s negative emotional response to the trigger and over the process of many sessions change the negative response to a positive response. We then use counter conditioning to pair the sight of the trigger with something the dog really loves such as a high value food reward. Through proper management, counterconditioning and desensitization we can begin to rewire the dog’s negative emotional associations into positive emotional associations.ĭesensitization is the process of exposing the dog to the fear inducing trigger in short and achievable bursts from a great enough distance that the dog is able to perceive the trigger without going into a reactionary state. In order to curb the reactions we have to treat the underlying cause of the symptom. Many leash reactive dogs are perfectly ok with other canine companions off leash. When a dog is restricted by a leash while overwhelmed with these unsavory emotions, cortisol spikes in their blood to help them escape the fearful trigger or event, but because the leash is preventing them from “flight” the dog’s only option to cope with this state of panic is to “fight”. The loud display of a reactive dog is an irrational and reflexive symptom caused by the underlying emotions of stress, anxiety, excitement, fear or frustration. Leash reactivity is an involuntary emotional state that overwhelms the dog’s senses, and is triggered by the fight or flight center of the brain.
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