Is Arousal a Good Thing in Dogs?

Is Arousal a Good Thing? 

It is! It's important to have the correct level of arousal for a situation. I teach my dogs to read the room and respond accordingly.

Here are some examples of different arousal levels:

1. If I am at home watching Netflix, I prefer my dogs to be calm, sleeping, or chewing a bone.
2. If I am participating in a high-energy dog sport, such as flyball, I may want my dogs to exhibit excessive arousal, barking and jumping in excitement while awaiting their turn.
3. If I am in a mall with my service dog, I want them to remain calm and responsive. 
4. If I am playing agility, obedience, freestyle, or rally, I want my dogs to be in a medium to high arousal state. They should be excited yet clear-headed enough to play the games.

It's important to note that achieving the desired behaviour in dogs is not an automatic process. Each unique environment demands a conditioned emotional response and corresponding behaviours, and as a teacher, it's my responsibility to help dogs achieve this. 

Taking the mentioned examples into account, I would shape a young dog's behaviours to achieve the necessary arousal levels that would help them succeed in each environment.

1. When I am at home relaxing, I make sure that all the needs of my dog are met first, which includes providing them with enough exercise and enrichment. Once everything is taken care of, I settle down to watch Netflix and give my pup a chew toy to keep them occupied. I reward them with low-value treats if they lie down and relax, or use soothing touches to help them calm down. In case they need some extra help, I sometimes tether them to the sofa to limit their choices and ensure that they behave well.
2. When I am at a flyball game with my dogs and they get excited while watching the other dogs run, I will give them praise and encouragement. I will then redirect their attention to a tug toy by calling their name and using big playful actions to keep their energy level high. I do this in short intervals to conserve their energy for the game.
3. When taking my service dog to the mall, I make sure to continuously reward them for good behaviour such as waiting, heeling, and lying down. I choose a food reward that keeps them interested but not so much that they stop thinking before responding. If they have trouble with a particular behaviour, I might use a high-value treat (which causes their pupils to dilate and drool) but have a plan to phase it out later. Once the behaviour has been established, I use lower-value treats to reinforce the desired calm feeling associated with the behaviour. 
4. To engage my dog in sports such as Agility, Obedience, Freestyle or Rally, I would use a combination of play (toys, food, and personal interaction) and skills associated with the particular sport. To build engagement, I would practice in various exciting environments such as a soccer game, dog park, or festival, gradually increasing the distance as my dog becomes more focused on me in these high-stimulus situations.

To manage your arousal levels more effectively, it's essential to understand your goals for arousal in different situations and strive to maintain them right from the start. The key is to develop a habit of consistency over time. With some effort, you can adjust your arousal levels to align better with the environment. 

If you would like more assistance, please schedule a Discovery Call, and we can discuss your situation in more detail.