Stress, Performance and Learning Optimization in IGP Dogs

This article explores how stress, arousal, and learning performance interact in IGP working dogs. The paper outlines how optimal stress levels support task reliability, drive clarity, and long-term cognitive performance. Integrating principles from neuro-behavioral science, drive theory, and canine working-dog psychology, it presents a functional model describing how trainers can regulate the dog’s arousal state to improve resilience, performance consistency, and learning retention in high-pressure environments.