Early De -Sensitizing Training
The best time to cure a dog of
thunderstorm phobias is between 5 and 8 weeks. Same goes for
desensitizing for dog shows, too. Yeah, really! It's simple, too!
All you need is a tape recorder/CD player/boom box, the tape/CD, some
nice chewy knuckle bones or other goodies and a nice, comfortable area
for the pups to do their thing. Works well either inside or outside
(depending on your neighbors!) If the breeder you got your pup
from didn't desenitize, not to worry, just get some tapes as soon as
possible and start playing.
Dog Show Racket has clapping, barking dogs, sliding van doors and comes
only in a tape. Thunderstorms and Agility Trial sounds are in CD
form.. Just alternate them each day and you'll have a "bomb
proof" pup in no time at all. (You can use the Agility Trial tape for
show as it has lots of chatter, dogs barking, etc. Actually, I like it
better than Dog Show Racket and you don't have to flip the tape.)
I begin by giving the pups all a knuckle bone to chew. I pop in a
tape/CD and play it moderately the first day, progressing to louder
each day. Most play about an hour each. Sometimes the
desesitizing goes really fast, other times slower. It all depends on
the "inattention" of the pups to the noise. By slowly increasing the
noise, the pups desensitize and it becomes secondary to the wonderful,
fun time they are all having gnawing on those bones. For slower pups,
always give them NEW bones. The excitement is greater than with an
older one that's been chewed on before. Hey, we all like new things!
You can use these same tapes/CDs to desenitize your older dog, too. It
is harder though and you must make sure the dog has something they
really enjoy and are into it before starting the tape on the lowest
level. Move up ONLY when the dog is no longer reacting to the noise.
Just keep inching up the noise level until it's "real life" or slightly
louder.
Here are some sites that sell these CDs.
Thunderstorms
Agility Trial Noise
Dog Show Racket