Desensitization - Approaching
Have treats, favorite toy, etc. (or praise if your dog responds to it).
1. Locate an object of 'distress' and move toward it, 3 feet at a time.
NOTE: 'Distress' can mean any emotion that is not calm and submissive,
such as: nervousness, insecurity, fear, anxiety, tension, excitement, territorialism,
dominance, obsession, or over-possessive behaviors.
2. Every three feet, have the dog stop, sit, and look at you.
3. As dog complies, treat or reward it.
4. Move three feet forward again. Have dog stop, sit, and look. Reward.
5. Continue until the dog cannot comply, then GO BACK to the last place it did comply.
Stop, Sit, Look. Reward.
6. Move three feet forward again. Stop, sit, look. If dog complies, continue forward.
If not, go back to step 5.
7. Continue until you can get 3 to 5 feet from the target and the dog stays focused on you.
Desensitization: - Being Approached
Have treats, favorite toy, etc. (or praise if your dog responds to it).
1. Set up an object or person or dog that creates 'distress' and have it move toward
you and the dog, 3 feet at a time. NOTE: 'Distress' can mean any emotion that is not
calm submissive, such as: nervousness, insecurity, fear, anxiety, tension, excitement,
territorialism, dominance, obsession, or over-possessive behaviors.
2. As your subject approaches, have the dog sit, and look at you.
3. As dog complies, treat or reward it.
4. Have the object move three feet forward again. Have dog sit, and look. Reward.
5. Continue until the dog cannot comply, then have the object GO BACK to the last place
where the dog was able to comply. Have the dog sit, Look. Reward.
6. Object moves three feet forward again. Object stops, dog sits, looks, gets it's reward.
If dog complies, continue forward. If not, go back to step 5.
7. Continue until your object can get 3 to 5 feet from the you and your dog stays
focused on you.
Remember, the focus of both of these exercises to teach your dog to be in a socially calm,
submissive state of mind in situation where it is usually stressed. We are rewarding only
calm, submissive behavior.