Your Dog Isn’t Being Bad — They’re Over Threshold

If your dog suddenly stops listening, explodes on leash, can’t take treats, or seems to forget everything they “know,” it’s tempting to assume they’re being stubborn, defiant, or naughty.

In reality, something very different is happening.

Your dog is likely over threshold.

Understanding threshold is one of the most important shifts pet parents can make—because once a dog is over threshold, learning stops, and punishment or pressure only makes things worse.

What Does “Over Threshold” Mean?

A dog’s threshold is the point at which stress, fear, excitement, or frustration becomes so intense that the brain shifts into survival mode.

Below threshold, a dog can:

• Think and process information

• Respond to cues

• Eat treats

• Learn new skills

Over threshold, a dog:

• Reacts instead of thinking

• Barks, lunges, freezes, spins, or shuts down

• May ignore cues they know well

• Often cannot take food

This isn’t disobedience—it’s biology.

Why Learning Stops When Dogs Are Over Threshold

When dogs feel unsafe or overwhelmed, their nervous system prioritizes survival over learning.

Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline flood the body, preparing the dog to:

• Fight

• Flee

• Freeze

In this state:

• The thinking part of the brain takes a back seat

• Memory and impulse control decrease

• Problem-solving shuts down

This is why saying “they know better” misses the mark. They literally can’t access those skills in that moment.

Common Triggers That Push Dogs Over Threshold

Every dog has a different threshold and trigger list. Common ones include:

• Other dogs or people

• Busy environments

• Loud or sudden noises

• Tight leashes or restraint

• Being approached too closely

• Pain or underlying medical issues

Stress also stacks. A dog who is already tired, overstimulated, or anxious may go over threshold faster than usual.

Early Warning Signs Your Dog Is Approaching Threshold

Before the big reaction, many dogs show subtle signs that they’re struggling:

• Stiffening or slowing movement

• Hard staring or scanning

• Closed mouth or shallow panting

• Turning away or trying to leave

• Lip licking or yawning

These signals are your best opportunity to help your dog before things escalate.

Why Punishment Makes Over-Threshold Behavior Worse

Punishing a dog who is over threshold may suppress behavior temporarily—but it doesn’t reduce the underlying stress.

In fact, punishment:

• Increases fear and anxiety

• Suppresses warning signals like growling

• Can escalate aggression over time

• Damages trust

A dog who is already overwhelmed doesn’t need correction—they need relief.

Management: The First Step to Helping Over-Threshold Dogs

Before training can work, dogs need to feel safe.

Management strategies help keep dogs under threshold, such as:

• Increasing distance from triggers

• Choosing quieter walking times

• Using barriers, gates, or visual blocks

• Avoiding crowded or overwhelming situations

Management isn’t giving up—it’s creating the conditions where learning can actually happen.

Training Works Best Below Threshold

Once a dog can stay under threshold, training becomes effective.

This may include:

• Teaching coping skills at safe distances

• Pairing triggers with positive experiences

• Building calm behaviors gradually

• Adjusting expectations based on environment

Progress isn’t about eliminating reactions overnight—it’s about reducing intensity and improving recovery.

When Medication Can Help

For some dogs, baseline anxiety or chronic stress makes staying under threshold extremely difficult.

In these cases, behavior medication—prescribed and monitored by a veterinarian—can:

• Lower overall stress levels

• Improve emotional regulation

• Make training and learning more accessible

Medication doesn’t replace training or management—it supports them.

What Progress Really Looks Like

Helping an over-threshold dog doesn’t mean perfection.

Real progress looks like:

• Fewer reactions

• Earlier disengagement

• Faster recovery after stress

• Increased ability to cope in challenging environments

Small changes matter.

The Takeaway

If your dog is struggling, they’re not being bad.

They’re overwhelmed.

Understanding threshold shifts the focus from punishment to compassion—and from control to safety. When we meet dogs where they are emotionally, real change becomes possible.

Need help with a dog who goes over threshold easily?
Sits ’n Wiggles Dog Training ‘n Behavior Consulting provides humane, science-based support for reactive, fearful, and stressed dogs.