Sensitization in training refers to what?

• A. A reaction to a stimulus becomes even stronger when the stimulus is being shown repeatedly.
• B. A decrease in response to a repeated stimulus.
• C. Imitation of another dog's behavior.
• D. Reliance on the owner.

Answer: (A)

Sensitization is an increased reaction to a stimulus with repeated exposure. When a dog repeatedly encounters a trigger, their arousal, fear, or reactivity tends to intensify rather than diminish. This differs from desensitization or habituation, where the animal gradually responds less as they get used to the stimulus. In training, recognizing sensitization matters because exposing a dog to a trigger too often or too intensely can make the problem worse instead of better. The description of the reaction becoming stronger with repetition best captures this idea. The other ideas—diminished response to the repeated stimulus, copying another dog’s behavior, or relying more on the owner—do not describe this increasing reactivity pattern.