As per Wikipedia, desensitization in psychology is defined as the diminished emotional responsiveness to a negative or aversive stimulus after repeated exposure to it. We got Alex when she was about 3 months old, and from the beginning she got exposed to different people, environment, dogs, etc., and that is why I am able to use her to help other dogs to be balanced.
Alex can easily walk in a crowded place without a second thought. How long does it take to desensitize a dog from a particular thing/situation? There is no time frame for that because every dog is different. Some dogs can take a couple of hours or days while others can take months or even a year or more. That is why the best thing to do when you get your dog is to expose him to as many things as possible.
Also, please make sure that you start slowly. I took Alex, little by little, to different places, making each place more hectic and noisy. Do not put your dog in a situation that would cause him to shut down by overwhelming him with the amount of stimuli you are exposing him to and find the right trainer to help you do this.
Bella, our foster failure, has Alex as a perfect example to follow, but not all pet parents are fortunate enough to have a furry kid like my Alex. If you are not able to help your dog, talk to different trainers, behaviorist, vets, etc., in order to enlist their help and get your dog on a road to recovery. Living with your dog should be a pleasant, relaxed, joyful experience, and if that is not the case then is up to you to change that.
Alex was exhausted after our outing in Chinatown last year when we visited Toronto, Canada. New places, smells, and people can get your dog pretty tired that’s why I am taking Bella, little by little, to different places. We’ve covered a lot of areas in our neighborhood so we’ll be venturing out a little further this Summer and blogging about it. I am starting all over again with Bella, but that’s fine because that means new adventures and more outings. Have a great weekend and don’t forget to walk your furry kids.
AllMyCanineCompanions 
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a doubt donate to this brilliant blog!
I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
I look forward to fresh updates and will share this site with
my Facebook group. Talk soon!
Thanks.
Bella looks like a very sweet pup. Thank you for sharing this.
She is:-) Thanks for stopping by.
so true and explained so well. the same desensitisation techniques work great with horses too, I find,
Thanks. I did not know that. I love to look at horses, they are gorgeous.
Thank you for visiting and the like of my Weekly Photo Challenge post “Split Second Story”.
🙂
Great post…. We have a new dog in thee and house and are working on getting her used to being around lots of people and other dogs. A guide like Alex would be tally helpful about now!
Totally agree with you. My Alex is priceless to me for so many reason, and thanks to her I have been able to work with other dogs and get them to be balanced. The best to you and your new canine companions.
Warren was terribly fearful when I got him at 18 months. We have been working on specific fears as we move from suburb to country to city – first humans, then pooping in the yard, dogs, trucks, cows, bicycles, buses, skateboarders, and people carrying guitars on their backs.
Excellent! Keep up the good work. I am so glad Warren has you a his pet parent:-)
Foster failures are the best. 🙂 Good for you! What a way to give a great dog another chance.
Thanks:-) Yes, I agree with you. But Bella also did a wonderful thing for me, she helped me mend my heart and for that I’ll be forever thankful to my girl, Bella.
They really do save us, too. 🙂
Yes, they do:-) Have a great day.