02/09/2026
THE FLAWS OF FLOODING
Using flooding to change a behaviour involves exposing a dog to an intense amount of anything that causes fear, anxiety or distress, with the goal of getting them used to it and eliminating that emotional response.
This approach is often recommended as a quick fix that achieves fast results.
Some examples of how flooding is used –
A reactive or nervous dog may be forced to “sit” or walk close to other dogs or people and be punished for any signs of reactivity.
A dog fearful of water might be forced into a pool and prevented from escaping.
A dog afraid of loud noises might be forced to stay in a room while loud sounds play, with no way of escape.
Flooding is traumatic and may cause extreme stress, anxiety, increase negative associations and create even more long-term fear related problems.
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 have in us. Dogs depend on us to advocate for them, protect them and keep them feeling safe.
Flooding prioritizes a quick fix attempt over emotional wellbeing.
Systematic desensitization and counterconditioning allow dogs to cope, think and learn without being overwhelmed. These methods involve gradually exposing a dog to a feared stimulus at a low intensity while pairing it with positive experiences. This allows dogs to form new, positive associations and adapt at their own pace without overwhelming fear.
These methods build trust, confidence, relationship, safety and in turn, true behaviour change.
No training objective is worth the harm that flooding can cause.
