What occurs when a dog initially startled by a gun grows accustomed to the noise after repeated exposure?

The phenomenon described in the scenario is known as habituation. This process occurs when an animal is exposed to a stimulus repeatedly and gradually stops responding to it as it becomes familiar with the stimulus. In the case of the dog startled by a gunshot, initially, the sound causes a fearful reaction, but through repeated exposure, the dog learns that the noise is not a threat and becomes accustomed to it, leading to a diminished response.

Habituation is a fundamental learning process that allows animals, including dogs, to focus their attention on stimuli that are more significant or relevant to their safety and well-being. In contrast, other options like learned irrelevance refer to a situation where an animal stops responding to stimuli because they learn that these are not important, while adaptation is a broader biological process that may not specifically involve learning. Sensitization is the opposite of habituation, where a response to a stimulus increases with repeated exposure rather than decreases.

Understanding habituation is essential for trainers, as it helps in desensitizing dogs to various sounds or stimuli that may initially provoke anxiety or fear, enabling them to become more comfortable in different environments.