Overarousal

Is your high drive dog always "on" - seemingly unable to relax and scanning for triggers to focus their arousal? Read on!

Arousal

When dog trainers talk about arousal in dogs, they’re talking about the emotional experience of being in a heightened state of awareness.

Working dogs are notoriously easy to arouse. That makes sense! We want dogs that are easy to motivate, engage, reinforce, and make aware of their environment as required.

It doesn't matter if your dog is a terrier, a hunting dog, or a police canine; a degree of appropriate arousal and awareness of the environment is critical in a working dog.

While arousal is good within work and when combined with solid drives, it can also cause headaches for both the dog and the handler. For starters, some dogs link arousal with aggression and low frustration tolerance - these dogs are labeled “reactive”, “hyper greeters” “out of control” or they may redirect their frustration back on their handlers. Some highly aroused dogs are unable to relax when arousal is not useful; they get stuck in arousal and are a misery to live with. Arousal can also link to anxiety, which means the dog struggles to exist comfortably within their own skin. One description of some working dogs in perpetual high arousal is “arousal looking for a trigger” rather than triggers in the environment sparking the arousal.

You might find that you cannot walk your easily aroused dog down the street without your dog targeting everything that moves, and if they are inclined towards using their nose, like spaniels, the same thing happens when they become aware of a scent. They become stuck! Fascinated! And - intense. Energetic. Unable to hear the handler and hyper-focused on whatever trigger has captivated them.

Owners of these dogs often exercise or train them excessively in an effort to satisfy their “drive.” And it works! Temporarily anyway, because activity makes the dog happy by providing a focal point for their arousal. Add to that a working dog’s love of a solid adrenaline rush and no wonder these dogs are workaholics. But long term, it’s exhausting for the handler and doesn’t really solve the problem. The dog doesn’t require more training or exercise; the dog needs to learn to calm down when appropriate.

When arousal is attached to a trigger that we control, we call it drive. But when arousal is generic to the environment, it starts to look a lot like frantic behavior. The reality is that many easily aroused dogs, if not provided with an appropriate trigger, arouse on the entire world. "Chill" and take in the sights is not part of their vocabulary. Ever.

It's useless to think in terms of good and bad. Instead, think in terms of usable arousal, appropriate triggers, and developing techniques that allow the dog to calm down. Sometimes we have to teach our dogs how to modulate their arousal.

Within the High Drive Dog Program, there is a classroom that follows one dog's journey - 40 days of learning techniques to help Dice learn to modulate his arousal.

In the "Big Feelings" forum you will find discussions of techniques for moderating arousal in our driven dogs. You will also find handlers who understand what you are talking about and who want to improve their dog’s behavior while both recognizing and appreciating the link that arousal provides to usable drive.

In this space, you can discuss your dog with others who will non-judgementally give you ideas to help you with your situation. Our easily aroused dogs are not “bad” dogs. They are intense and generally extremely driven dogs who thrive in arousal and who actively seek out triggers anywhere they can get them. Each dog’s journey towards a better self is going to be unique so here you will not find a recipe. Instead, you will find ideas to contemplate, stories to read, and techniques to master.

The goal is not to “take the dog out of the dog”. The goal is to learn to live with your dog’s temperament, provide appropriate outlets for that arousal and energy and give your dog the tools they need to relax (or escalate) their arousal as appropriate.

If you’d like to learn more about this topic, check out the Facebook live that I did on arousal and join the High Drive program.