When Calm Does Not Work: Teaching Dogs to Communicate and Think in High Arousal

Hey guys- I had the opportunity to present this webinar on Arousal Modulation Conference and I received very positive feedback. Q&A was almost hour long and we have finished only because I needed to go to another room for discussion panel :) I decided to share this presentation to you all as a thank you for joining this community.

Any questions let me know in the comments and we will do our live Q&A :)

Description:

Many training approaches focus on keeping dogs calm, relaxed, and below threshold. While these skills are valuable, if alone they often fail to prepare dogs for the moments that matter most.

Whether it is a reactive dog encountering a trigger, a sport dog entering the competition field, or a working dog facing real-world pressure, arousal inevitably rises. Excitement, frustration, anticipation, and fear can all interfere with performance. As arousal increases, communication often breaks down. The dog stops responding, decision-making deteriorates, and both handler and dog become disconnected.

The goal should not be to keep dogs calm all the time. Instead, we should teach them how to stay connected, responsive, and capable of making good decisions even when arousal is high.

In this presentation, Alex Lato explores how arousal affects learning, communication, and performance, and why many traditional approaches to impulse control and calmness fail to transfer into real-life situations. Drawing from experience with reactive dogs, companion dogs, and working dogs, he presents practical strategies for maintaining communication when excitement, frustration, or uncertainty take over.

Topics covered include:

- How arousal influences behaviour, learning, and performance

- Common sources of high arousal, including excitement, frustration, and fear

- Why calmness alone often fails to prepare dogs for real-world challenges

- The difference between suppressing arousal and teaching dogs to function within it

- Using play as a tool for developing communication, emotional regulation, and clear thinking

- Teaching dogs to stay responsive and make better decisions under pressure

- Drive switching and influencing emotional states through training

- Practical exercises and common mistakes in impulse control training

After watching you leave with a deeper understanding of arousal and practical tools to create dogs that remain connected, responsive, and clear-headed when it matters most.

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When Calm Does Not Work: Teaching Dogs to Communicate and Think in High Arousal