Over the Threshold: Understanding Your Dog’s Emotional State

Does it feel like your dog goes from 0 to 100 on walks, leaving you frustrated and unsure of what to do next? You’re not alone. Many dogs struggle with emotional regulation, and much of it comes down to something we can’t see—their emotional bucket being full before the walk even starts.

The Window of Tolerance: What It Means for Your Dog

In 1999, clinical professor of psychiatry Dan Siegel introduced the window of tolerance—a concept that explains how humans function best when they’re emotionally regulated. Dogs, too, have their own window of tolerance, which helps us understand when they are feeling safe, balanced, or overwhelmed.

When dogs are outside their window of tolerance, they can tip into:

• Hyperarousal (too much excitement, stress, or frustration)

• Hypoarousal (shutting down, withdrawing, or appearing disconnected)

Many common “problem behaviors”—like barking, pacing, lead grabbing, or even appearing overly sleepy—are actually a dog’s way of trying to cope with emotions like fear, stress, or overstimulation.

How Can We Help?

Instead of focusing on stopping unwanted behaviors, we can work on preventing emotional overload. Meeting our dogs’ needs for mental stimulation, rest, and emotional balance helps them stay within their window of tolerance.

Think of stress like filling up a bucket. Each stressful or exciting experience adds to that bucket, and if it overflows, your dog may struggle to regulate their emotions, leading to hyperarousal (excessive excitement, barking, or reactivity) or hypoarousal (shutting down, avoiding interactions, or seeming lethargic).

Why 72 Hours?

Studies in stress recovery suggest that cortisol (the stress hormone) can remain elevated for up to three days after a stressful event. By allowing a full 72 hours of rest and recovery, we give our dogs the chance to regulate their emotions, get quality sleep, and reset their nervous system.

What Does Rest and Recovery Look Like?

During this period, walks and high-energy activities should be replaced with:

✅ Calm mental stimulation – puzzle feeders, scent games, or gentle training sessions.

✅ Relaxation time – cosy spaces, uninterrupted naps, and quiet bonding moments.

✅ Predictable routines – keeping their environment stable to prevent further stress.

Why It Matters

Giving your dog the time to recover ensures that stress doesn’t build up and spill over into unwanted behaviors. It allows them to regain emotional balance, making future walks and outings more positive experiences.

If your dog has had a difficult day, stepping back and allowing time for rest, recovery, and emotional regulation is one of the best things you can do for them.

Rest & Recovery

After a stressful event (like a bad walk or an overwhelming encounter), allow your dog 72 hours to recover. During this time, focus on calm activities like sniffing in the garden, gentle training, puzzle feeders, or simply sitting with your dog. This helps regulate emotions and prevents stress from stacking up.

Recognizing Signs of Overstimulation

Hyperarousal can look like:

• Barking at the window or at noises

• Digging, chewing, or lead grabbing

• Fence fighting or reacting to other dogs on walks

Hypoarousal can look like:

• Avoiding interactions or staying in one place

• Sleeping excessively but still seeming exhausted

• Appearing “shut down” or reluctant to engage

Creating a Calm & Predictable Environment

At home, small changes can make a huge difference.

✅ Quiet spaces—Set up a cosy area away from high-traffic zones

✅ Soothing activities—Use LickiMats, scent games, or gentle training

✅ Predictability—Stick to a routine so your dog feels safe

✅ Reduce triggers—Use window film to prevent barking at passersby

On walks, starting in a calm state is key. If your dog is already over excited when the harness comes out, try calming activities beforehand, put the harness on half an hour or an hour before the walk, give enrichment  and resume what you were doing. You can help your dog to learn to slow down and regulate. Pattern games can also help dogs communicate when they’re feeling overwhelmed.

Respecting Your Dog’s Individual Needs

Not all dogs love busy environments, just like not all people enjoy crowded places. If your dog is more of a “homebody,” that’s okay! Choose activities that suit their personality—whether that’s quiet sniffy walks or structured games at home.

When to Seek Help

If your dog’s behavior changes suddenly, a vet check is always a good idea. Pain, illness, or underlying medical conditions can contribute to both hyperarousal and hypoarousal. Dogs over 7 years old should have a health check every six months, as subtle pain can often be missed in routine vet visits.

Understanding & Supporting Your Dog

Dogs don’t misbehave to be difficult—they’re trying to communicate how they feel. By creating an environment where they feel safe, supported, and understood, we can help them thrive.

References 

1. Panksepp J. Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions. Oxford University Press; New York, NY, USA: 1998. 

Smiling man in a blue jumper sitting indoors with a golden cocker spaniel on his lap, highlighting the bond between guardians and dogs supported by Mutts & Mischief’s holistic, force-free approach.