Informazioni di contatto, mappa e indicazioni stradali, modulo di contatto, orari di apertura, servizi, valutazioni, foto, video e annunci di Barf Bottega Balù, Articoli per animali domestici, Piazza Trento Trieste 6/B, San Giorgio di Piano.
01/03/2025
THE FOOLISHNESS OF FLOODING
Using flooding as a behaviour modification technique involves exposing a dog to an intense amount of something they fear with the goal of eliminating that fear / anxiety / emotional response.
This approach is often recommended as a quick fix that achieves fast results.
Some examples of how flooding is used –
A dog fearful of water might be forced into a pool and prevented from escaping.
A reactive dog may be forced into a “sit” near other dogs or people and be punished for any signs of reactivity.
A dog afraid of loud noises might be forced to stay in a room while loud sounds play, with no way of escape.
In flooding theory, once a dog stops reacting, the fear has been cured, but at what cost?
Flooding is traumatic and may cause extreme stress, anxiety and even more long-term fear related problems, increasing negative associations.
Flooding often causes learned helplessness - an emotional coping mechanism that may look like a dog is completely “cured”, but in reality, they have shut down, given up, disengaged, become emotionally numb and detached. There is no other choice because no matter how hard they try there is no longer any point in trying to escape or react.
Flooding can destroy the trust our dogs should have in us. Dogs depend on us to advocate for them, protect them and keep them feeling safe from whatever they’re afraid of.
Flooding prioritises achieving quick fixes over emotional wellbeing and a safe and supportive environment.
Using modern, scientific, effective, ethical and humane modification methods like positive reinforcement, counterconditioning or desensitisation is the answer to achieving positive learning experiences, to build trust, relationship, safety and in turn, long lasting behaviour change.
The harm and negative consequences that flooding causes is certainly not worth it.
“In the soil of the quick fix is the seed to a new problem” …. Wayne Muller
