Desensitization/Counterconditioning Resources

Articles and Websites
FaceBook Groups
Literature on Counterconditioning Humans
Videos
Posts on Eileenanddogs
Books
DVDs

Articles and Websites

ASPCA Article on DS/CC–A very thorough explanation of desensitization and counterconditioning.

CARE for Reactive Dogs Website–The techniques of desensitization and counterconditioning codified into an easy-to-follow protocol

FaceBook Groups With Extensive DS/CC Resources

Fearful Dogs–A group for people living or working with fearful, shy, timid or anxious dogs. Adheres to the following guidelines: Keep the dog feeling safe. Use desensitization/counterconditioning to address the dog’s fears. Teach behaviors using positive reinforcement.

Reactive Dogs–This group is for trainers, owners, or those who rescue, shelter, or foster reactive dogs. The group offers suggestions with treatments that fall in the category of desensitization, counter conditioning, and positive reinforcement. The group is archived but you can still join and there is a wealth of material.

Nail Maintenance for Dogs—Discussion in this group focuses on proper nail care techniques (including a specific protocol promoted by Susan Garrett) as well as positive training methods to teach dogs to enjoy having their feet and nails handled. This group is also archived but the materials are accesible.

Literature on Diverse Methods of Counterconditioning Humans (Not Dogs)

The counterconditioning part of DS/CC involves evoking an emotional state that is incompatible with the undesirable state (usually fear). With animals, we generally use food or play.

There are many more options when working with humans. All of the following have been used successfully as means of evoking a different emotional state (counterconditioning) during desensitization with humans.

Relaxation techniques (Wolpe and Lazurus, 1966, and many others)
Laughter/humor (Ventus, 2001; Kass, Roger, Feldman 1973; Smith 1973; Nevo and Shapira, 1989; Ventis et al, 1973)
Anger (Goldstein et al, 1970, Butler, 1975)
Response to music (Lowe, 1973)
Food (Jones, 1924)
Superhero fantasies (Lazarus and Abramovitz, 1962; Rubin, 2006)
Emotive imagery (plus a flashlight) (Jackson and King, 1991)
Games (Croghan and Musante, 1975; Warlick, 1979; Mikulas et al, 1986)
Humor/games (Crenshaw, 2001)
Replay/reenactment (Levine & Chedd, 2007)

Videos Showing DS/CC and/or Results of DS/CC

This is a Google spreadsheet I maintain that links to videos that demonstrate the use of DS/CC (or the successful results of such use) in varied applications and at different skill levels.