“Over-Aroused”: Misunderstood, Mislabeled, and Not Always a Problem

Why excitement isn’t bad, what arousal really means, and how mantrailing uses it for good.

There’s a buzzword floating around dog training circles lately, and it’s making people twitchy: Over-aroused.

“My dog’s too aroused to trail.”

“Over-arousal ruined our session.”

“I can’t do that; it makes him over-aroused.”

Let’s clear something up.

Yes, over-arousal exists. But excitement? That’s not the same thing. And mantrailing, when done right, doesn’t just tolerate high arousal, it teaches your dog how to handle it.

So, let’s unpack what arousal really means, why it’s not a dirty word, and how trailing can turn chaos into calm.

What Is Arousal, Really?

Arousal is your dog’s emotional and physiological energy level. Think heart rate, readiness for action, stress hormones, and how “switched on” they are.

It’s not good or bad. It’s just... a state.

Imagine it like a dial:

• Low arousal: Sleepy, disengaged, unmotivated

• Medium arousal: Alert, focused, ready to work

• High arousal: Hyped, reactive, possibly over the threshold

  
  

The goal in mantrailing? Get your dog into the Goldilocks zone. Not too flat. Not bouncing off the walls. Just right.

Arousal vs. Drive

This is where some people may get muddled.

• Drive = instinctual motivation to complete a task (e.g., find the trail layer)

• Arousal = emotional fuel behind their behaviour

  
  

Your dog needs both to trail successfully. But without regulation, too much arousal floods the brain. Cue chaos.

We’re not looking to suppress drive, we’re looking to help dogs manage their arousal so they can stay in drive longer and more effectively.

 “Over-Aroused”: What It Actually Looks Like

Please, for the love of dog, let’s stop calling every excited dog “over-aroused.”

Here’s what genuine over-arousal may look like:

• Barking non-stop without engaging

• Ignoring the scent and aimlessly sprinting

• Failing to settle between trails

• Mouthing the lead, the handler, the air…

• Full meltdown - no focus, no engagement

  
  

This isn’t “happy to be here” energy. This is, “I’m emotionally and physically overwhelmed and don’t know how to cope.”

But Here’s the Twist…

Mantrailing Can Help With That

Yep. You read that right.. People often worry that mantrailing will wind their dogs up too much. But when taught with dogs as individuals in mind, it can do the opposite.

Here’s How Mantrailing Builds Regulation:

Predictable Structure - Dogs thrive on routine. In trailing, we use consistent equipment, cues, and rituals to create a sense of safety and expectation.

Channelled Focus - Scent engages the olfactory brain, activating sniffing centres and calming parts of the nervous system. Horowitz (2017) and Duranton & Horowitz (2019) found sniffing can reduce stress and anxiety levels in dogs.

Task Completion - Following a trail to a successful find is emotionally satisfying. It’s not random madness, it’s goal-driven action. That success helps emotional regulation.

Repetition Builds Emotional Muscle - With each trail, dogs practice delayed gratification, working through frustration, and staying on task even when excited. That’s regulation in action.

What the Science Says..

According to studies on canine scentwork (Duranton & Horowitz, 2019), olfactory enrichment is one of the most effective ways to reduce stress and improve emotional resilience in dogs. Sniffing isn’t just stimulating, it’s soothing.

Neuroscientist Gregory Berns (2013) also found that dogs involved in scent-based working roles show heightened engagement of the brain’s reward and decision-making centres—proof that scentwork builds focus, not chaos.

So yes, your excitable, over-the-top fur monster may come into a session like a shaken can of Coke... But by the end of the trail? They’ve engaged their brain, completed a task, and often walk back to the car calmer than when they arrived.

Suppressing arousal kills motivation. Channeling it creates performance.

A Quick Reality Check: Not Every Excited Dog is Over-Aroused

Let’s be honest; some dogs are just bouncy, loud, and dramatic.

If your dog pulls to the start point barking, lunges into the harness, and then SMASHES the trail? That’s not over-arousal. That’s motivation. That’s drive. That’s why mantrailing works.

Suppressing that to look more “polite” is like trying to whisper through a megaphone. It just doesn't work.

Conclusion: Teach the Skill, Don’t Blame the State

“Over-arousal” is a temporary state. It’s not a personality flaw, and it doesn’t disqualify a dog from mantrailing.

In fact, dogs who struggle with arousal can often benefit the most from mantrailing, because it gives them an outlet, structure, and purpose.

So instead of fearing the excitement, teach them how to use it.

And if anyone tells you your dog is “too much”? Smile and let their trails do the talking.

 “If being excited is wrong, I don’t wanna be right.” – Frank

Happy Mantrailing!

Danielle & Frank

The Frank 'n' Scents Mantrailing Team