Flooding as a dog behaviour modification procedure is almost always a terrible idea. Yet, it remains a popular approach in dog TV shows and online content. Unfortunately, people searching for information on dog training—particularly about reactivity and aggression—are frequently exposed to methods that rely on flooding.
This is both disappointing and unsurprising.
The Influence of Media and Popular Culture
In the early 2000s, the TV show Fear Factor captivated audiences by forcing participants to confront their deepest fears—whether that involved snakes, spiders, or extreme heights. The show had no real therapeutic value; in fact, the psychological impact of these forced exposures ranged from negligible to outright harmful. However, it made for commercially appealing content.
The same principle applies to many popular dog training shows. The promise of a dramatic transformation in just minutes makes for compelling viewing, but what is really happening?
In many cases, these so-called transformations fall under the umbrella of flooding—a procedure that is not only ineffective but also often misapplied.
What Is Flooding in Dog Training?
Flooding is a technique in which a dog is exposed to a feared stimulus at full intensity while being prevented from escaping or avoiding it. The idea is that the dog will eventually stop exhibiting fear responses.
For example:
The Problems with Flooding
More Ethical and Effective Alternatives Exist
Ethical and scientifically sound methods, such as desensitisation and counterconditioning, achieve long-lasting behaviour change without unnecessary distress.
Incorrect Application
Even in human clinical settings, flooding is rarely used, and when it is, it is carefully controlled. The aversive stimulus must be removed once the fear response ceases. In dog training, this condition is almost never met. Instead, dogs are often forced into overwhelming situations where their fear is intensified rather than reduced.
Risk of Learned Helplessness
Flooding can lead to a state known as learned helplessness, where the dog stops responding because it has learned that its actions have no impact on the environment. This can generalise beyond the specific fearful situation, leading to an overall suppression of behaviour.
Potential for Lasting Psychological and Physiological Damage
Studies indicate that exposure to high-stress situations can cause long-term emotional and physiological side effects. Since animals cannot verbally communicate their distress, it is difficult to assess when emotional harm has occurred, making flooding a highly risky approach.
Flooding in a Clinical Context
In human psychology, exposure therapy is sometimes used for PTSD, OCD, and anxiety disorders. However, this process is overseen by highly trained professionals in controlled environments. The same level of expertise is rarely present in dog training, where flooding is often applied by self-taught trainers with no formal education in behaviour science.
If you needed help overcoming a serious fear, would you trust someone without formal training? The same consideration should apply to dogs.
What’s Really Happening in Popular Dog Training Shows?
When we see a dog that appears "cured" after a short, intense exposure, it is often not because the fear has been resolved. More likely, the dog has entered a state of learned helplessness. To the untrained eye, the dog looks calm, but in reality, it has simply stopped trying to escape because it has given up.
This is both disappointing and unsurprising.
The Influence of Media and Popular Culture
In the early 2000s, the TV show Fear Factor captivated audiences by forcing participants to confront their deepest fears—whether that involved snakes, spiders, or extreme heights. The show had no real therapeutic value; in fact, the psychological impact of these forced exposures ranged from negligible to outright harmful. However, it made for commercially appealing content.
The same principle applies to many popular dog training shows. The promise of a dramatic transformation in just minutes makes for compelling viewing, but what is really happening?
In many cases, these so-called transformations fall under the umbrella of flooding—a procedure that is not only ineffective but also often misapplied.
What Is Flooding in Dog Training?
Flooding is a technique in which a dog is exposed to a feared stimulus at full intensity while being prevented from escaping or avoiding it. The idea is that the dog will eventually stop exhibiting fear responses.
For example:
- A dog afraid of loud noises might be confined to a room while loud sounds play, with no option to leave.
- A dog fearful of water might be forced into a pool and prevented from escaping.
- A reactive dog may be placed close to other dogs while escape behaviours like barking and lunging are suppressed.
The Problems with Flooding
More Ethical and Effective Alternatives Exist
Ethical and scientifically sound methods, such as desensitisation and counterconditioning, achieve long-lasting behaviour change without unnecessary distress.
Incorrect Application
Even in human clinical settings, flooding is rarely used, and when it is, it is carefully controlled. The aversive stimulus must be removed once the fear response ceases. In dog training, this condition is almost never met. Instead, dogs are often forced into overwhelming situations where their fear is intensified rather than reduced.
Risk of Learned Helplessness
Flooding can lead to a state known as learned helplessness, where the dog stops responding because it has learned that its actions have no impact on the environment. This can generalise beyond the specific fearful situation, leading to an overall suppression of behaviour.
Potential for Lasting Psychological and Physiological Damage
Studies indicate that exposure to high-stress situations can cause long-term emotional and physiological side effects. Since animals cannot verbally communicate their distress, it is difficult to assess when emotional harm has occurred, making flooding a highly risky approach.
Flooding in a Clinical Context
In human psychology, exposure therapy is sometimes used for PTSD, OCD, and anxiety disorders. However, this process is overseen by highly trained professionals in controlled environments. The same level of expertise is rarely present in dog training, where flooding is often applied by self-taught trainers with no formal education in behaviour science.
If you needed help overcoming a serious fear, would you trust someone without formal training? The same consideration should apply to dogs.
What’s Really Happening in Popular Dog Training Shows?
When we see a dog that appears "cured" after a short, intense exposure, it is often not because the fear has been resolved. More likely, the dog has entered a state of learned helplessness. To the untrained eye, the dog looks calm, but in reality, it has simply stopped trying to escape because it has given up.
A Better Alternative: Desensitisation and Counterconditioning
For almost every case, desensitisation and counterconditioning are far superior to flooding. These methods involve gradually exposing the dog to a feared stimulus at a low intensity while pairing it with positive experiences. This allows the dog to form new, positive associations and adapt without overwhelming fear.
In my years of experience training dogs, I have yet to encounter a case where flooding was the best or even a reasonable option. Not only that, but I frequently consult with or refer cases to professionals who specialise in behaviour modification, ensuring that dogs receive the best possible care.
Final Thoughts
While dramatic, flooding-based transformations may make for good TV, they do not make for ethical or effective dog training. If you are facing behavioural challenges with your dog, seeking guidance from a qualified professional with formal education should be your first step. Ethical, science-based approaches not only produce better results but also protect your dog’s well-being.
If you’d like to learn more about how to use desensitisation and counterconditioning effectively, I have a video on my YouTube channel covering these techniques in detail. I’ll link it below.
By choosing humane, science-based methods, we can ensure that dogs receive training that is both effective and compassionate.
RSS Feed