Is Your Pup a Big Bundle of Energy?
Occasional barking and jumping are normal behaviors, but overexcitability can become a disruptive problem for dog owners. If your hyperactive dog is affecting the mood in your home and annoying the neighbors, it’s time to take decisive action. Fortunately, we’ve put together a guide about how to calm a hyper dog.
Need help understanding your dog? You can chat with us to better care for your pup!
What Causes Hyperactivity in Dogs?
Symptoms such as an inability to relax in any environment, excessive barking, clinginess, or overreacting to everyday stimuli suggest you may not be addressing your dog’s physical and emotional needs. Dogs require regular stimulation, proper behavioral conditioning, and a diet brimming with nutrients to help them be their best lovable selves.
Many dog owners believe hyperactivity is an unchangeable part of their pet’s personality. While it’s true some breeds have more energy than others, hyperactivity isn’t something you have to put up with. Like humans, dogs’ personalities are determined by their upbringing and environment, as well as genetic makeup.
If you’ve adopted a poorly trained dog with behavioral issues, you may need to spend more time addressing their hyperactivity than you would a new puppy. Rest assured, however, that your furry friend is capable of changing with the correct care and attention.
Prevention
Wondering how to get your dog to calm down? Here are our top tips for how to calm an overstimulated dog:
Don’t Encourage Excitability
While it may feel tempting to smother your gorgeous pup with love and affection every hour of the day, rewarding an excited dog with attention will reinforce their poor behavior. If your dog is barking and jumping up and down, try to ignore them. Don’t talk, make eye contact, or touch your dog unless you need to push them down.
We appreciate it can be difficult to ignore an excited dog, particularly if they’re whimpering or putting on their cutest expression! If you’re struggling to handle your emotions, try moving into another room or distracting yourself with music or a podcast. Over time, your dog will learn what types of behavior you’ll accept and which you won’t.
Reward Calmer Behaviors
One of the golden rules of calming a hyper dog is to praise peaceful behaviors with treats and rewards. Feel free to shower your dog with love when they’re resting on the couch or walking calmly through your local park. You may even choose to reward them with some tasty treats to help ease the process.
Be wary of overfeeding your dog with delicious kibble, however. As well as risking your dog’s health, overindulgence may breed a sense of entitlement in your dog and cause angry outbursts when they’re refused treats – thus defeating the point of your rewards! Remember – moderation is the key to success.
Provide an Outlet for Your Dog
Dogs are naturally active and sociable creatures. As such, owners must provide physical and emotional stimulation to keep their dogs happy and healthy. So, how can you get your dog to calm down through safe and accessible outlets? Firstly, we recommend scheduling regular playtimes involving simple games like fetch. If you’re feeling ambitious, you could even create your own obstacle course or hide a treat somewhere in your backyard. Feel free to get inventive and get your friends and family members involved.
At the same time, you must establish behavioral limits when playing with your dog. If they start to get too aggressive or destroy your favorite patch of petunias, you should stop the problem in its tracks. Discourage overly excitable playtimes by ending games when your dog gets too aggressive. You can resume the fun once your dog has calmed down, as this will clearly demonstrate what types of behavior are acceptable.
Release Your Dog’s Excess Energy Through Exercise
If your dog paces around during the day and has trouble sleeping, you may not be providing them with enough opportunities for exercise. You should walk your dog at least once daily unless they have mobility issues. Some larger breeds require longer and more frequent walks, so it’s up to you to do your research and ensure your dog is getting enough time outdoors.
Encouraging your dog to walk briskly and explore your local area will ensure they’re feeling worn out and contented at the end of the day. What better way to spend the evening than curling up on the couch with your sleepy canine friend, a cup of hot cocoa, and a great film? Bliss!
Engage Your Dog’s Sense of Smell
Wondering how to get a dog to calm down quickly and easily? Some pleasant fragrances like vanilla and lavender can instantly encourage your dog to relax, especially if they associate the smell with calm memories.
To make the most of your dog’s excellent sense of smell, why not place a scented air freshener by their bed and bring it out when you want them to calm down? Just make sure your dog isn’t allergic to the scented products you’re using. It’s also a good idea to find a scent you’re happy lingering in your home.
Dogs are Watching You, So Remember to Stay Calm!
Dogs are sociable creatures and react to the people around them. If you spend the day in a stressed or excitable state, your dog will pick up on your mood and start mimicking your behavior.
If you need to vent, do it somewhere away from your dog and try to keep your voice calm and measured in their presence. If you’re struggling to discipline yourself, it’s worth trying some mindfulness techniques such as meditation. Hey, it may work wonders for your own mental health!
Your Hyper Dog is No Match For You
As you can see, there are plenty of simple tips and tricks for helping your dog relax. However, if you’re still wondering, “how can I get my dog to calm down?” after failed training attempts, Mavyn is here to help. We’re on hand to offer expert tips and advice and make the job of owning a dog much easier. Get in touch today to find out more!
For more information, talk to one of our Pet Experts and get customized advice by submitting a request through our Mavyn website.