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VetVine Client Care

Posted On Jun 16, 2025

Updated On Jun 25, 2025

Sound Desensitization

Behavior

This question was submitted in a past webinar on "Disorders of Anxiety, Fear, and Panic" ...

Question:
I am a trainer and would like to know why you think sound desensitization is the "lazy way" to deal with that particular fear.

Answer by E'Lise Christensen, DVM, DACVB:
Oops! I didn't mean it to sound that way. Sound desensitization isn't lazy. It's the process of doing it at meal times that makes it lazy. I love lazy. Lazy = efficient in my mind. Clients like efficient. Dogs like efficient because they feel better faster. There are other harder ways to do sound desensitization than doing the work at meal times AND meal times are not appropriate b. mod sessions for all dogs though.  

I hope that answers your question, but be sure to let me know if it doesn't!  :)

Response from Attendee:
I probably missed that part about "during meal time." I actually find that any b. modification during actual family meal times is not the best time, most of the time (there is always the exception), as the client cannot really focus on their dog and the training, they are having dinner after all :)  So, setting up mock situations, dining included, in a less stressful environment for all, is one of my strategies - thus my original question. You have provoked me to re-evalute my perception of lazy vs. efficient!

Response from Dr. Christensen:
Totally! Human meal time is not such a great time to train. I meant during the animal's normal meal time. :)