Dog phobia · VR in clinical practice
Specific phobia · animal subtype (dogs)
An intense, disproportionate fear of dogs, with avoidance of streets, parks, or visits. Often begins in childhood and interferes heavily with daily life.
30 minutes to review the product, equipment and your practice's needs. You do not need a headset for the call.
Why VR for this phobia?
Sourcing dogs of different sizes and temperaments in a graded, safe way is logistically complex and hard to control in vivo. VR lets you control the animal's size, distance, movement, and barking, and repeat the critical sequences with no risk.
VR hierarchy · 5 graded levels
Each level should be completed with SUDS in the target range across at least two consecutive sessions before advancing. The most common mistake is moving up levels too fast because the scenario is so easy to change.
- 1
Small, calm dog, leashed, at a safe distance
SUDS target: ≤4
- 2
Medium dog at rest, mid-distance in a park
SUDS target: ≤5
- 3
Dog moving or barking at a controlled distance
SUDS target: ≤5
- 4
Gradual approach to a dog held by its owner
SUDS target: ≤4
- 5
Sharing a space with a calm, off-leash dog
SUDS target: ≤3
Clinical notes
The dog-exposure scenario is on the roadmap; in the meantime the methodology (a 5-level hierarchy, SUDS, debrief) applies with or without VRET. Dog phobia responds well to structured graded exposure.
Specific contraindications
- Severe baseline cybersickness (run an SSQ before treatment)
- Acute trauma from a dog attack <6 months without prior processing
Is Dog phobia a scenario you need?
Confirm this scenario’s availability and compatibility with the team before preparing a session. This guide remains available as reference material.
30 minutes to review the product, equipment and your practice's needs. You do not need a headset for the call.
VRET is professional clinical-support software, not a certified medical device. Supervision, indication, and application remain the responsibility of the licensed clinician in charge.