Dog Training Glossary
Training jargon, translated. 67 essential terms used by trainers, vets and behaviorists, explained in plain English with links to practical guides.
Last updated October 2026
B
- Basket muzzleGear & methods
- A muzzle that lets a dog pant, drink and take treats. It’s a safety tool for vet visits or behavior work, and should be introduced with treats.
- Bite inhibitionBehavior
- A dog’s learned control over the force of their mouth. Puppies learn it through play, so don’t stop mouthing entirely too early. Puppy biting guide →
- Blowing coatHealth & body language
- Seasonal heavy shedding of the undercoat in double-coated breeds, usually in spring and fall. Reducing shedding →
C
- Calming signalsHealth & body language
- Subtle cues dogs use to avoid conflict or show unease: lip licking, yawning, turning the head away, slow movement.
- CapturingLearning science
- Rewarding a behavior your dog offers naturally, like lying down calmly, so it happens more often.
- Classical conditioningLearning science
- Learning by association, like Pavlov’s dogs. A leash rattle comes to mean “walk!” It shapes emotions, not just actions.
- Clicker trainingLearning science
- Training with a clicker as the marker. The click is distinct and consistent, which helps dogs learn quickly. Clicker training guide →
- CoprophagiaBehavior
- Eating feces. It’s common, especially in puppies, and usually a habit, though sometimes diet- or health-related. How to stop it →
- Counter-conditioningBehavior
- Changing an emotional response by pairing a trigger with something great. For example, the mail carrier appearing means chicken.
- Counter-surfingBehavior
- Jumping up to steal food from counters and tables. Manage by keeping counters clear, and teach “place.”
- Crate trainingGear & methods
- Teaching a dog to see a crate as a safe den. It helps with house training, travel and vet stays when introduced positively. Crate training guide →
- Cuealso: commandCues & commands
- A signal (word, hand signal, whistle or even an object) that tells your dog a specific behavior can earn a reward. Modern trainers say “cue” rather than “command” because the dog is invited, not forced.
D
- DesensitizationBehavior
- Exposing a dog to a trigger at a low enough intensity that they stay relaxed, then very gradually increasing it.
- Displacement behaviorBehavior
- A normal behavior done out of context when stressed, such as sniffing the ground, scratching or yawning during an awkward greeting.
- Dog whistleGear & methods
- A whistle used as a distance cue. “Silent” whistles reach 23–54 kHz; gundog whistles are audible to people. Both work if the cue is trained. Free online dog whistle →
- DownCues & commands
- Lying with chest and elbows on the floor. Easier for long stays than sit, and a building block for settling.
- Drop itCues & commands
- Release what’s in the mouth. Teach it as a trade (drop the toy, get a treat), not a confiscation.
E
- EnrichmentBehavior
- Activities that satisfy natural needs to sniff, chew, forage, dig and solve problems. Puzzle feeders and sniff walks are easy wins.
- Extinction burstLearning science
- When a behavior stops paying off, it often gets worse briefly before it fades. Example: louder demand barking when you stop responding. Stay consistent.
F
- FadingLearning science
- Gradually removing lures, prompts or frequent rewards once a behavior is learned.
- Fear periodHealth & body language
- Developmental stages (often around 8–11 weeks and again in adolescence) when puppies are especially sensitive to scary experiences.
- Force-free trainingalso: fear-free, reward-basedGear & methods
- Training that avoids pain, intimidation and fear, relying on rewards and management instead.
- Front-clip harnessGear & methods
- A harness with the leash ring on the chest. It turns pulling dogs sideways and is a useful tool while you teach loose-leash walking.
G
- GeneralizationLearning science
- Getting a behavior to work everywhere. Dogs don’t generalize well, so a sit learned in the kitchen needs practice in the yard, the park and the vet’s office.
H
- Hacklesalso: piloerectionHealth & body language
- Raised fur along the back. It signals arousal (excitement, fear or alarm), not necessarily aggression.
- Head halteralso: head collarGear & methods
- Fits over the muzzle like a horse halter to steer the head. It needs gradual, positive introduction.
- HeelCues & commands
- Walking right beside the handler (traditionally on the left) with attention on them. More formal than loose-leash walking.
- High-value rewardLearning science
- A reward your dog really loves (chicken, cheese, a favorite toy), used for hard tasks like recall around distractions.
I
- Impulse controlBehavior
- The ability to pause instead of acting on every urge: waiting at doors, not grabbing food, settling. It’s trained through games like “wait.”
J
- JackpotLearning science
- An extra-large or extra-special reward for a breakthrough effort.
L
- Learned helplessnessBehavior
- A shut-down state where a dog stops trying because nothing they do avoids unpleasant outcomes. It’s a risk of harsh, inconsistent training.
- Leave itCues & commands
- Ignore or move away from something, such as food on the floor, poop or a dropped pill. One of the most useful everyday safety cues. Using “leave it” to stop poop eating →
- Lick matGear & methods
- A textured mat spread with soft food. Licking is calming, which makes it handy for grooming, baths and alone time.
- Long lineGear & methods
- A 15–50 ft (5–15 m) leash for practicing recall safely in open spaces.
- Loose-leash walkingCues & commands
- Walking without pulling, so the leash hangs in a relaxed “J” shape. The dog can sniff and move around within the leash length. Leash training guide →
- LureLearning science
- Guiding a dog into position with a treat held near the nose. Fade the lure quickly so it becomes a hand signal, not a bribe.
M
- ManagementGear & methods
- Arranging the environment so the dog can’t practice a problem behavior, using gates, closed doors, leashes or clear counters, while you train an alternative.
- Markeralso: bridgeLearning science
- A precise signal (a click or a word like “yes”) that says “that exact moment earned a reward.” It makes training much faster.
- MouthingBehavior
- Gentle use of the mouth in play, normal in puppies. Redirect it to toys.
N
- Negative punishmentLearning science
- Removing something the dog wants to reduce a behavior. Example: turning away when a dog jumps up, so jumping no longer earns attention.
- Negative reinforcementLearning science
- Removing something unpleasant when the dog does the behavior, such as releasing leash pressure when a dog stops pulling. It works but involves discomfort first.
O
- Operant conditioningLearning science
- Learning through consequences: behaviors that pay off increase, and behaviors that don’t pay off fade. It’s the basis of most training.
P
- Placealso: go to bedCues & commands
- Go to a mat or bed and stay there relaxed. Great for doorbells, mealtimes and stopping counter-surfing.
- Play bowHealth & body language
- Front end down, rear end up: an invitation to play, and a signal that rough-looking play is meant as fun.
- Positive punishmentLearning science
- Adding something unpleasant to reduce a behavior, like a leash jerk or a spray. Research links it to more stress and fear, and most modern trainers avoid it.
- Positive reinforcementLearning science
- Adding something the dog likes (food, play, praise) after a behavior so it happens more often. It’s the method recommended by leading veterinary behavior organizations. Positive reinforcement guide →
- ProofingLearning science
- Strengthening a learned behavior against distractions, distance and duration until it’s reliable in real life.
Q
- Quick (of the nail)Health & body language
- The blood vessel and nerve inside a dog’s nail. Cutting it causes pain and bleeding. How to stop nail bleeding →
- QuietCues & commands
- A cue to stop barking, taught by rewarding silence. It works best after you’ve addressed the reason for the barking. Barking guide →
R
- ReactivityBehavior
- Overreacting (barking, lunging) to specific triggers, often from fear or frustration. It’s not the same as aggression, but can overlap.
- RecallCues & commands
- Coming when called, and the most important safety behavior. Practice with high-value rewards and never call your dog to something unpleasant. Try whistle recall training →
- ReinforcerLearning science
- Anything that makes a behavior more likely. Your dog decides what counts: some prefer cheese, others a tug game.
- Release cueCues & commands
- A word like “free” or “okay” that tells your dog a behavior is finished. Without it, dogs decide for themselves when a stay ends.
- Resource guardingBehavior
- Protecting food, toys, spaces or people by freezing, growling or biting. Trade-based training helps, and taking items by force makes it worse. Analyze your dog’s behavior →
S
- Separation anxietyBehavior
- Panic when left alone, shown by destruction at exits, howling, drooling or house soiling. It needs gradual alone-time training, and often veterinary help. Separation anxiety guide →
- ShapingLearning science
- Building a behavior in small steps by rewarding closer and closer attempts, for example rewarding a glance at the bed, then a step toward it, then paws on it.
- SitCues & commands
- Usually the first behavior taught: rear on the floor, front legs straight. It’s a useful “default” polite behavior for greetings, doors and meals.
- Snuffle matGear & methods
- A fabric mat to hide kibble in so dogs forage with their nose. It provides mental exercise and slows down fast eaters.
- StayCues & commands
- Holding a position until released. Build it with the “three Ds”: duration, distance and distraction, one at a time.
T
- ThresholdBehavior
- The point where a dog becomes too stressed or aroused to think or learn. Training works best “under threshold.”
- Touchalso: hand targetCues & commands
- Bumping the nose into your palm. It’s a simple way to move your dog around and a building block for recall.
- TriggerBehavior
- Anything that sets off a reaction, such as other dogs, bikes, the doorbell or being left alone.
V
- Variable reinforcementLearning science
- Rewarding some correct responses, not all, once a behavior is fluent. This keeps it resistant to fading.
W
Z
- Zoomiesalso: FRAPsBehavior
- Frenetic Random Activity Periods: sudden bursts of running in circles. Normal and harmless, as long as the space is safe.
Test yourself
How well do you speak “dog trainer”?
10 quick questions: read the definition and pick the right term.
Using this glossary
Every term has its own link: tap Copy link next to a term to share it with a trainer, family member or dog-walker. Then test yourself with the quiz above. Want to put the terms into practice? Start with our crate training and potty training guides, or use the behavior analysis tool to troubleshoot a specific problem.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement?
Both make a behavior more likely. Positive reinforcement adds something good (a treat after a sit). Negative reinforcement removes something unpleasant (leash pressure released when the dog stops pulling). “Positive” and “negative” mean adding or removing, not good or bad.
What is the difference between a cue and a command?
They mean the same signal. Many modern trainers prefer “cue” because it describes a signal that a reward is available, rather than an order backed by force.
What does “under threshold” mean in dog training?
It means your dog notices a trigger but is still calm enough to eat treats and respond to you. Behavior change happens under threshold. Once a dog is barking and lunging, they’re over threshold and can’t learn effectively.
Tool and guide written with AI assistance. Last updated: October 2026.How we create our content
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