Dog training terms, explained

A dog's level of physical and mental activation, from calm and relaxed through to highly excited or stressed.

Small body language cues dogs use to defuse tension in themselves or others, such as lip licking, yawning, or turning the head away.

Rewarding a behaviour the dog already does naturally, at the exact moment it happens, without luring or guiding.

Linking several individually trained behaviours together into one longer sequence, cued by a single command.

Changing a dog's emotional response to a trigger by consistently pairing it with something the dog already likes.

Gradually exposing a dog to something they find difficult, at a low enough intensity that they stay calm, then slowly increasing that intensity over time.

An action that seems out of context for the situation, often appearing when a dog is experiencing internal conflict or mild stress.

A temporary increase in a behaviour right after it stops being reinforced, before it begins to genuinely fade.

The ability to perform a trained behaviour in a range of different situations, not just the one it was originally taught in.

A dog's ability to pause before acting on a strong urge, such as grabbing food or chasing something moving.

A much larger reward than usual, given for an exceptional piece of behaviour to mark a standout moment.

Using a treat or toy to guide a dog into a position or movement, then fading the food out so the dog responds to a cue instead.

Using a specific sound or word to pinpoint the exact moment a dog does something worth rewarding, bridging the gap before the treat arrives.

Removing something the dog wants immediately after a behaviour, making that behaviour less likely to happen again.

Removing something unpleasant the moment a dog performs a behaviour, which makes that behaviour more likely to happen again.

Adding something unpleasant immediately after a behaviour to make that behaviour less likely to happen again.

Adding something the dog wants immediately after a behaviour, making that behaviour more likely to happen again.

Testing and strengthening a trained behaviour under increasingly difficult conditions — duration, distance, and distraction.

An intense, often disproportionate response to a specific trigger such as other dogs, people, or vehicles.

Giving a dog something appropriate to do instead of an unwanted behaviour, in the moment it's happening.

A dog's attempt to protect something they value from being approached or taken away, ranging from mild stiffening through to growling or snapping.

Genuine distress a dog experiences when left alone or separated from a particular person, distinct from simply disliking being alone.

Rewarding small steps towards a final behaviour, gradually raising the criteria until the dog performs the full thing.

The period early in a puppy's life, roughly three to fourteen weeks, when they're most open to new experiences shaping how they view the world long term.

Physical and behavioural signs that a dog is finding a situation difficult to cope with, ranging from subtle tension to clear distress.

Teaching a dog to touch a specific object — usually a hand, stick, or disc — with their nose or paw on cue.

The point at which a dog moves from being able to think and respond calmly, into a reactive or overwhelmed state.

Rewarding a behaviour inconsistently rather than every time, which tends to make that behaviour more resistant to fading.