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Published in the Ithaca Journal on Saturday, March 15, 2003
Overcoming fears takes plenty of patience and treats
Spotlight on Pet Behavior
By MICHELLE BAMBERGER
Special to the Journal
Question: Five months ago I adopted a two-year-old intact male wire-haired Vizsla who had lived his whole life in a kennel/run. Rudy is a good alert watchdog and is friendly, confident and obedient. He is initially wary of strangers, especially men, but warms to them within a reasonable amount of time except for my father and brother, both of whom Rudy encounters about once a week. Neither man has ever done anything harmful or threatening to Rudy, but he continues to race away whenever either enters the room. How can I help him overcome his fear of them and what might it stem from?Answer: Fears in dogs can develop from many causes, including genetics, inadequate socialization to people and novel situations, traumatic early experiences, and repeated exposure to fearful situations. In Rudy's case, his upbringing suggests that he may have had little exposure to different people and situations when he needed it most, at 7-14 weeks of age. This is the optimal period of time for dogs to learn how to cope with the world around them. within this time period, at 8-10 weeks of age, dogs are most sensitive to anything perceived as fearful (for example: bearded men, women wearing big hats, children on bicycles). If Rudy was exposed as a puppy to a man resembling your father or brother in general appearance or personality and that exposure was not a positive one, he may have developed his fear at that time.
Regardless of how the fear developed, it is important initially to avoid all unplanned interactions between Rudy and your father or brother. Continued exposure without prior training will only reinforce Rudy's fearfulness, not decrease it. Rudy should also have a "safe" place to escape whenever he becomes frightened, such as a kennel or under the bed.
It is also important to think about how you act during the time when Rudy is acting fearfully. Do you reprimand Rudy and demand that he return and be petted by your father or brother? Or do you try to calm him and tell him it's all right? Neither of these responses is helpful to Rudy. In the first situation, you are forcing him to become even more fearful than he already is, and in the second scenario, you are reinforcing his fear. So what should you do? When you unexpectedly encounter situations where Rudy is acting fearfully, it is best to quickly remove him from the situation. If you can not leave the situation, then it is best to try distraction in the form of the "jolly routine," where you act very happy and engage Rudy in play or commands that you he enjoys.
In order to help Rudy overcome his fear of your father and brother, you need to teach him to respond to them in a new way, without being afraid. To do this successfully, it is important to know exactly when Rudy first becomes fearful around your father or brother. Is it only after they enter the room or does he dash away as soon as he hears the car or when they ring the doorbell? Once you have determined exactly what triggers Rudy's fear, you can begin to use counterconditioning, where one response is opposed by eliciting another response, and desensitization, where the fear-inducing stimulus is moved closer and closer without eliciting a fearful response. To accomplish this, stage an appearance by your father or brother, but not both at the same time. Have Rudy by your side on his collar and light lead. Begin to distract Rudy with small, soft, tasty treats just before your father or brother appears. Have your father or brother be at a distance where Rudy knows either one is there, yet Rudy is not behaving fearfully. Continue to distract Rudy with treats as longs he does not behave fearfully (tail tucked, ears back, trying to run away). Have your brother or father stay at that distance for a few minutes and then leave. If at any time Rudy does display fear, stop immediately and remove Rudy from the situation. Rudy's display of fear means that your father or brother was too close and that you must rethink exactly when Rudy becomes fearful their presence. It may be that Rudy should be in another room when your father or brother arrives, and you begin the exercises with Rudy out of their sight and progress gradually to being within view.
However you approach these exercises, remember to progress very slowly and let Rudy's responses be your guide. The goal is to have Rudy be in the presence of your father and brother, even to be fed and petted by them, and not react fearfully. If you are having difficulty following these exercises, consult a veterinary behaviorist. Other exercises, as well as medication, may be necessary.
Michelle Bamberger is a veterinarian and owner of Vet Behavior Consults (www.vetbehaviorconsults.com), a practice based in Ithaca and devoted exclusively to solving behavioral problems in small, large and exotic animals. Send questions for her column to mjb57@cornell.edu, mail them Care of Jessica Keltz to The Ithaca Journal, 123 West State St., Ithaca, NY, 14850, or fax them to 277-6845.