Desensitisation and counter-conditioning — not a task for the enthusiastic amateur!

摘要

Many companion animals find it difficult to cope with the social and physical stimuli that they encounter in their domestic environment. Some of these animals will develop behaviours intended to enhance their attempts to cope in such environments. Inmany cases these behaviours fail to meet the owner's expectations of acceptability and advice is sought to address their companion animal's behaviour. Too often, owner attempts at altering pet behaviour concentrate on preventing the animal from engagingin the behaviour that causes problems for the owner, furthering the animal's welfare problem. However, owners that seek help from their veterinary practice can expect to receive advice that assists in removing the animal's underlying motivation to initiate the problem behaviour — thereby not only resolving the problem for the owner, but also improving the welfare of the pet. As many behaviour problems reported to (and experienced within) a veterinary practice involve fears and phobias, this article discusses how desensitisation and counter-conditioning can be used to address such issues.