Train dog to expect that strangers come with food

Our dog has begun lunging and barking at strangers due to fear. If someone approaches, I make him sit off to the side and let the person pass. I try to have treats in my hand so that I can distract him with the smell and reward him when he is quiet. I also make shushing noises and use gentle leash corrections when he barks. Could you provide more strategies to help him feel safe?

Most people are familiar with the idea of reinforcing good behaviour or suppressing the unwanted. The problem for fearful dogs is that they are reacting to a perceived threat. Fearful dogs are not thinking when reacting — no more than the terrified person who is screaming and beating a snake with a stick. For this reason, it’s important to deal with the fear first using an entirely different strategy called classical counterconditioning. While the term may be big, the strategy is simple.

Think in terms of cats and can openers. Imagine bringing a feral cat into a home. The cat fears everything. While the cat continues to fear many things, you start to notice that he has started to like one thing — the can opener.

The sound of the can opener predicts food. With consistent repetition, fear is replaced by happy anticipation. Eventually, the cat is running toward the sound, and not away from it.

It is this same principle that is used with fearful dogs. When the dog notices a stranger, food is given to the dog. Food continues so long as the stranger is present.

The message to the animal is that strangers predict special food. Over time, the dog starts to look forward to seeing strangers instead of attempting to drive them away.

Distance is your friend for this style of exercise. It allows the dog to notice the stranger, take in information without being overwhelmed. Use high-value food such as meat. Be consistent. All strangers should predict food.

Should the dog react, get out of the situation and reassess factors such as distance for future exposures. Like many simple things in life, creating an association can be complicated. Small details can impede progress. For example, using food to distract the dog can teach the dog that food predicts strangers. That can create fear of treats because the order of events is backward. Work with a professional to ensure the execution is correct. My dog becomes excited during car rides to the kennel. At first he would get this way only when we got near. Now he starts barking as we get into the car. We tried fooling him by taking different routes. At first this worked. Now the problem has returned. How can we fix this?

Switching routes to the kennel may give temporary relief. Longterm, the dog learns that all roads lead to the kennel. All car rides start to predict fun. The dog starts to vibrate in anticipation as soon as he sees the car.

Instead of trying to fool the dog with different routes to the same destination, teach the dog that car rides do not necessarily lead to fun activities.

For established problems, start small. Proceed to the car, then go for a walk or return to the house. Do this until the dog is no longer excited to see the car.

Then put the dog in the vehicle and then ask him to get out. Change the expectation from fun to boring. Finally, take short trips that lead to nothing that is exciting. Work toward longer rides until the dog can rest quietly in the car even if passing the kennel. Yvette Van Veen is an animal behaviour consultant and Canada’s 1st Tested and Certified PCT-A. Write her at advice@awesomedogs.ca