Understanding Arousal States in Performance Dogs

If you want your agility dog to perform at their best, you have to understand arousal. Arousal is your dog’s excitement level — and it directly affects their focus, speed, and ability to listen. Too low, and they might be slow or distracted. Too high, and you get wild, frantic, or disconnected behaviour.

Your job? Learn to read it. Learn to balance it. Learn to work with your dog’s arousal, not against it.

1. The Arousal Curve Matters

Dogs have a sweet spot — an arousal zone where they’re fast, focused, and in control. If they’re under-aroused, they may sniff, disengage, or move sluggishly. If they’re over-aroused, they may zoom, bark, miss obstacles, or ignore you. Great performance lives in the middle of that curve.

2. Know Your Dog’s Tells

Every dog shows arousal differently. Does your dog bark more when over-aroused? Do they drop their nose and sniff when under-aroused? Does their start-line behaviour change? Pay attention. Your dog is always showing you where they are on the curve.

3. Adjust Your Warm-Up

Your warm-up should balance your dog’s arousal. If they’re naturally hyped, use calm focus games and connection work. If they’re flat, build energy with tugging, chase games, or fast tricks. Your goal is to get them into their ideal performance state before you step to the line.

4. Train in Different States

Don’t only train when your dog is calm and focused. Teach them to work through excitement, frustration, and distractions. Build the skills they need to regulate themselves when arousal spikes in competition.

5. Be the Anchor

Your energy matters. Dogs feed off us. If you’re tense, rushed, or stressed, your dog will feel it. Be their calm, confident anchor — especially when they’re riding the edge of over-arousal.

6. Respect Your Dog’s Needs

Some dogs need more arousal to perform. Others need less. The key to success is meeting your individual dog where they are, not forcing them into a box.

When you understand arousal, you can help your dog find their best performance zone — and that’s when your partnership truly shines.