If your dog exhibits an unfavourable response to a stimuli, you may be able to change his or her attitude towards the stimulus via a process called counterconditioning.
Desensitisation training is typically combined with another training method called counterconditioning.
Think of the damage your windowsill would take if your dog screamed and hissed at everybody who passed your home. These unhelpful sentiments and actions must be transformed into desired ones.
Do not scold your dog if they react in an unwanted manner, but instead reward your dog when they don't react so they can begin to associate the trigger with a positive outcome.
The dog will also associate the item with something positive like treats, toys, praise, and petting due to the counterconditioning training that was done concurrently.
If the trigger is a person, start with the person being far away and over time have them move closer, just like you would with an object.
Despite the type of trigger, it's important to remember that these training sessions are on your dog's timeline, not yours. Discuss your training plans with your veterinarian.