Glossary
We use some words a lot. Here's what we actually mean by them. Not textbook definitions. How they apply in our house, with our dog, in real life.
The ability to manage internal state. A regulated puppy can return to calm after excitement or stress. It's the foundation of all learning. You can't teach a dysregulated dog anything meaningful.
When a puppy's nervous system is overwhelmed. They can't think, can't settle, and can't respond to cues. Often mistaken for 'bad behaviour.' Usually caused by overtiredness, overstimulation, or both.
The level of nervous system activation. High arousal isn't always bad (excitement during play is normal), but a puppy who can't come down from high arousal is struggling to regulate. Learning happens in low-to-moderate arousal.
The amount of time a puppy can be awake before needing sleep. For young puppies (8-16 weeks), this is roughly 45 minutes to 1 hour. Going past the window leads to overtiredness and dysregulation.
Marking and rewarding a behaviour that happens naturally, without asking for it. The foundation of settle training. When Marlowe lies down on her own, we quietly place a treat between her paws. No cue. No fanfare.
A state, not a command. A settled dog can exist in a space without needing constant interaction. They're not anxious or bored. They're just okay. It's built through capturing, not through 'down-stay' drills.
The point at which a puppy can no longer cope with a stimulus. Below threshold, they can learn. Above it, they're in survival mode. Good training keeps the dog just below threshold, building tolerance gradually.
Overwhelming a puppy with a stimulus they can't escape. Often confused with 'socialization.' Forcing a scared puppy to stay in a noisy environment isn't building confidence. It's teaching them they can't trust you to keep them safe.
Proactively putting a puppy to sleep before they show overt tired signals. By the time a puppy is visibly exhausted, they're often past the point of easy regulation. We put Marlowe down before she tells us she's tired.
Time and space for a puppy's nervous system to return to baseline after stimulation. A sniff walk, quiet time in the crate, or a lick mat. Not just 'rest' but active nervous system recovery.
A wake/sleep schedule for young puppies. One hour awake, two hours sleeping. Simple framework that prevents overtiredness. We adjust as Marlowe develops, but this was our baseline for the first few months.
Socialization
Purposeful, controlled exposure to new experiences during the critical developmental window (roughly 3-14 weeks). Not about quantity. It's about quality. One calm, positive encounter with a stranger is worth more than ten overwhelming ones.