A dog that bolts under the bed every time the mixer grinder starts is not being dramatic. The sound is genuinely alarming to her, sudden, high-pitched, and unpredictable. The mistake most owners make is assuming the dog will habituate on her own with enough exposure. She usually does not. Repeated exposure to something frightening without any change in what it predicts just confirms the fear. Counter-conditioning works differently: it changes the emotional association, so the sound stops meaning threat and starts meaning something the dog actively wants.
