Yesterday morning I was taking my two young dogs into the nearby woods for some exercise. I take them one at a time since I am working on different things with them and we also get some one-on-one time. I had finished up with my first dog, Csili, and was entering my yard when I saw my other dog, Káosz, staring off at something. I didn’t notice at first because I was taking off Csili’s harness and booties but when I did look to see what Káosz was staring at (he wasn’t responding to me talking to him which was unusual) I saw what had his attention: a deer. This isn’t just any deer either this is a domesticated deer named Charley who enjoys playing and being chased by dogs! So I didn’t freak out or start calling and pulling at Káosz to come inside especially since he was just standing up on the fence (the bottom half is blocked for him to see out) calmly staring at Charley. I head inside to retrieve Káosz's harness and leash, switch out the treats in my treat pouch for higher value and make sure my other dogs aren’t able to come out and interfere with my new morning plan of predation substitution training. Káosz does manage to break away from looking at Charley and I am able to put on his harness which he was excited to help me with. Káosz hops back on the fence to look at Charley and I just keep ahold of the leash with no tension on it, then Charley hears some commotion and starts to run towards it (he’s an odd little deer). So now Káosz’s target is moving which is now much more exciting than before so Káosz starts to jump around excited and is wanting to run around the yard. I keep hold of the leash and don’t let him run around aimlessly and spinning himself into an overloaded frenzy. I make sure to have my high value treats at the ready (dehydrated chicken hearts in this case) and when he looks at me on his own accord I start tossing treats left and right allowing him to chase and consume. I can tell that he is really enjoying the safer outlet since he is quite engaged with it. Once I feel that he is starting to relax and the dopamine is on its way down I take him inside where I quickly prepare his lick ‘em bowl with peanut butter and hang out with him in my bathroom (away from my other dogs) while he enjoys this destressing treat.

Tools to be developed to help owners, trainers, ethologists and vets ... https://www.science.org/content/article/can-ai-read-pain-and-other-emotions-your-dog-s-face