A trigger can be any environment, object, sound, smell or just about anything. If a dog has associated a trigger with a negative experience it can easily snowball out of control. This can be very distressing as a private dog owner and disastrous for a service dog. Luckily, if the dog is properly handled these triggers can be completely mitigated or reduced to the point that they are easy to deal with. This process is called desensitization. There are a multitude of training methods that concentrate on overcoming these triggers.
In this blog we will be discussing variable threshold training.
The first step in any style of desensitization training is identifying what the core trigger is that is creating reactions from the dog. It may seem at first glance that the dog is acting very aggressive towards the neighbor but it is actually that he always wears sunglasses and it is the glasses that are making the dog so uncomfortable. This is where being a trainer is more like being a detective than a teacher. Once the reaction from the dog is identified it is important to add and remove variables until the root cause is identified. If you train to reduce the symptoms and not the core problem you may see progress but all you have done is create an unpredictable dog.
Once the core trigger is identified we have to create an environment in which we have as much control as possible. This includes being able to reproduce the trigger at will, reducing as many other variables as possible, and most importantly be able to move away from the trigger as far as you possibly can. Now that we have created the training environment we can begin using thresholds to desensitize the dog from the specific trigger. Remember that every training regiment will take different amounts of time, as it is entirely up to the individual dog, and only works for a unique trigger. If a dog needs work on multiple triggers it is important to address each one separately.
For the purposes of this explanation we will use an example from my own training history. After months of successfully training one of the service dogs in our program it came to our attention that the dog had a very strong reaction to the sound of truck air breaks.
First, I created my optimal training environment by choosing a space with as few distracting variables such as other dogs, people, sounds, smells etc. I had one of my trainers stand at the end of a long private road with no traffic or people with an air compressor, ready to press the trigger creating that “air break” sound.
Next, I went far far down the road with the service dog in training. As we slowly and very calming walked back towards the other trainer who is letting out air consistently I carefully watch the dog’s body language. The moment that I see the dog even slightly react to the sound, regardless of how far we are from the trigger, we retreat away from the trigger until I see the dog relax again. Then we move back and forth parabolic to the trigger just outside the threshold where the dog is reactive. Next retreat far away from the threshold and give the dog time to decompress before repeating the process. Remember to watch the dog’s body language and allow them to determine distance and time. After a few days we made it all the way to the compressor as the dog was on his back getting belly rubs as the compressor was going off above him.
The very important key is not to measure anything in human terms, not distances, not time, not repetitions. If you allow the dog to tell you where they are or are not comfortable you can allow the dog to make the slow and steady progress that will create successful and lasting desensitization. In order to train this properly you do need to be able to read detailed and subtle canine body language.
With the use of variable threshold training you can complete desensitization with truly lasting effects. A more common approach to desensitization is called flooding. In this style of training, the trigger is identified and then the dog is forced to endure extreme versions of the trigger without being able to escape until the dog is no longer responsive. Trainers using this method then declare that the dog is fixed. It may seem like a faster more effective approach but in reality you have interrupted the response in that moment but have driven even deeper negative associations with the trigger that can explode at any unpredictable time. A service dog needs to be the very definition of predictability and have no negative associations so that they can reliably help their person at all times and places.
This concept of always being aware of thresholds can be invaluable in a wide variety of training situations but is absolutely integral in desensitization. Identify the triggers, create your ideal training environment, and allow the dog to dictate pace, distance, and time, its own thresholds.