Counterconditioning-based interventions for companion dog behavioural modification: A systematic review.

Abstract: Undesirable companion dog behaviours negatively impact the lives of both owners and dogs. Therefore, it is imperative that behaviour modification interventions are researched to establish effectiveness. Counterconditioning is commonly recommended for modification of a broad range of undesirable dog behaviours, however, to date, no comprehensive review has investigated the effectiveness of this technique. This study aimed to evaluate the existing literature on counterconditioning interventions for dog behaviour modification, adopting broad inclusion criteria. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 12 peer-reviewed papers and 2 dissertations were identified. A review of these 14 studies found that there were discrepancies in the definitions and applications of counterconditioning-based interventions. These discrepancies were based on the contingency with which dogs received reinforcement and could be categorised into classical and operant counterconditioning methodologies. The majority of the studies resulted in positive outcomes, particularly when addressing undesirable kennel behaviours and aggressive behaviours towards other dogs or household visitors. However, separation-related behaviours were found to be more resistant to change. Furthermore, heterogeneity in intervention techniques, reliance on expert implementation or instruction, and small sample sizes, limit the generalisability of the results. Our review confirms the effectiveness of counterconditioning in reducing undesirable dog behaviours, however it is essential that future studies clearly detail all aspects of the intervention, such that methodologies can be accurately understood, applied, and compared. Future research should also focus on increasing sample sizes and including physiological measures of stress of participating dogs.