Dog training glossary
Threshold
Quick answer
The point at which a dog becomes too aroused, fearful, or reactive to think clearly or respond to known cues.
Written by the TailorPup team, updated September 2026. See our editorial approach.
What it means
Effective training, especially counter-conditioning and desensitization, happens below threshold, where a dog can still notice a trigger, take treats, and engage with training. Once "over threshold," a dog's ability to learn drops sharply, which is why simply exposing a dog to more of what scares it, hoping it will "push through," usually backfires.
A real example
A dog that can calmly watch another dog from 40 feet away but starts barking and lunging at 15 feet has likely crossed its threshold somewhere in between.
Common mistake
Trying to train or correct a dog that's already over threshold, when the priority in that moment should be creating distance and calming down, not teaching.
Related terms
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