Thresholds: Reactivity Tipping Points

Raising Your Dog’s Emotional Limits

When working through fear, reactivity, or overstimulation, a dog’s threshold is one of the most important concepts to understand. A threshold is the point at which a dog begins to shift from a state of calm to a state of stress, reactivity, or shutdown. Think of it as your dog’s behavioral response sensitivity dial—Lower threshold dogs tend to react easily, often in situations that are not necessarily threatening, as opposed to higher threshold dogs who do not perceive threat or react as easily. learning how to read it is critical to successful behavior change.

What Are Thresholds?

At its core, a threshold is the tipping point where your dog goes from “okay” to “not okay” in response to a stimulus.

• A low-threshold dog reacts quickly to small triggers.

• A high-threshold dog can tolerate much more before reacting.

Types of Thresholds

1. Stress Threshold

This is the level at which your dog begins to show visible signs of stress—panting, pacing, lip licking, yawning, whining, etc. Below this threshold, your dog can function, think, and learn. Above it, the body shifts into survival mode (fight/flight/freeze).

2. Reactivity Threshold

This threshold marks the line between awareness and reaction. A dog might notice a trigger (another dog, skateboard, child) and remain calm—but if the trigger gets too close or intense, they might lunge, bark, or growl.

3. Tolerance Threshold

Also called a “frustration tolerance” or “stimulus tolerance,” this is the edge of what your dog can handle emotionally or physically before shutting down or escalating. It’s especially relevant with phobias, grooming, or vet handling.

4. Training Threshold

This is the sweet spot for learning. If a dog is too far over threshold (due to excitement, stress, fear), they can’t focus or process information. Knowing when your dog is in the right state to learn is key for timing sessions.

Thresholds Fluctuate

Thresholds can raise or lower—moment to moment, day to day, depending on factors like:

• Sleep

• Environment

• Hunger

• Trigger stacking

• Prior success or trauma

• Patterned or

• Habituated behavior patterns

This means thresholds are trainable. By gradually working near (but not over) a dog’s limits, and reinforcing calm responses, we can help the dog build emotional resilience and raise their thresholds over time.

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Training with Thresholds

Addressing any type of fear, reactivity, or aggression—is most successful when done below threshold. A process focused on raising (or lowering depending on training goals) these behavioral shift points.

Threshold training is a systematic process focused on:

• Identifying your dog’s current level

• Working just under it with controlled exposure

• Reinforcing desirable emotional and behavioral responses

• Gradually increasing exposure while maintaining calm relaxed states of mind

Over time, the goal is to shift the threshold upward, meaning the dog can handle and process more, with less stress.

Distance

When doing any type of exposure therapy, distance is one of your most powerful tools. Getting too close to a trigger can push a dog over threshold—from calm (green) into reactive or shutdown (red).

By working at a distance where the dog remains under threshold, we create a safe space for learning & emotional growth.

Gradual, controlled exposure—paired with positive associations—is what builds long-term confidence and resilience.

If we push dogs over threshold:

• Learning shuts down

• Stress chemicals spike

• Reactivity/arousal can become reinforced

• Superstitious associations can happen

Working at or slightly above a dog’s current capacity:

• Learning occurs

• Emotional regulation improves

• Confidence builds

• Reactivity decreases

  Thresholds are the gateway to change. Understanding them gives us framework and roadmap to help our dogs adapt, overcome, and thrive.