Behaviour Terms
Trigger
A person, animal, object, sound, movement, place, or event that contributes to a noticeable emotional or behavioural response.
In Review — Pending Editorial ApprovalWhat It Means in Practice
Triggers vary widely — a dog may be triggered by other dogs, bicycles, strangers, loud noises, or specific environments. Identifying triggers is a key step in behaviour support.
What It Does Not Always Mean
A trigger is not the same as a cause. A trigger contributes to a response, but the response also depends on the dog's history, arousal, and context.
Why Context Matters
Triggers can be specific (one type of dog) or general (all moving objects). They can change over time and with experience.
Commonly Confused With
Threshold
A trigger is the stimulus. Threshold is the point where the response becomes too intense.
Distraction
A distraction competes for attention. A trigger causes an emotional or behavioural response.
Examples
- 1A dog is triggered by skateboards — the sound and movement cause barking and lunging.
- 2A dog is triggered by the doorbell — the sound causes rushing and barking.