Dog Tips

7 Tips on How to Calm a Hyperactive Dog

admin • 23 Jun 2023

Is my dog ​​hyperactive?

It's easy to consider the dog hyperactive when he doesn't stop running, constantly asking for attention and play. However, this behavior is often due to inadequate doses of exercise and stimulation.

Most of the popular breeds of companion dogs originate from working breeds. These dogs originally applied their mental and physical capacity to work, be it herding or hunting.

Soon they became breeds apt for large amounts of exercise. When they were brought into modern life in the countryside, they lost access to these draining activities but their needs remained.

When these animals are not exposed to long periods of physical exercise, training or daily interaction they become restless due to accumulated energy.

Unaware of these facts, the dog's normal energy level often exceeds the owner's expectations. This leads to them being mistakenly classified as hyperactive dogs .

What is hyperactivity in dogs?

Hyperactive behavior is pathological and rare in dogs. Hyperactive dogs are overactive and chronically restless even when exposed to adequate levels of exercise and stimulation.

The animal has excessive motor activity and learning difficulties , making it difficult to train due to lack of concentration. The agitated puppy maintains high levels of activity until he is completely worn out .

Other signs are due to the activity of the sympathetic system even at rest, which is reflected in increased heart or respiratory rate and vasodilation . Other causes of overactivity are, for example, hyperthyroidism. Therefore, you should not fail to visit your veterinarian if the animal presents these symptoms.

How to calm hyperactive dog?

The treatment of hyperactivity is based on evaluating the amount of exercise, stimulation and interaction to which the dog is subjected on a daily basis. The amount of exercise can be increased by extending the walks, through games (eg bringing the ball), swimming or playing with other dogs. Even if your dog is not diagnosed as hyperactive, the following tips apply and are beneficial to any animal.

1. Avoid positive reinforcement of hyperactive behaviors
   When your puppy is very agitated and asking for your attention, try to ignore it. If you give attention (eg petting, pampering, praising) to the dog during these periods, the dog will start to demonstrate this behavior as a way to get interaction with the owner, making them more frequent.

2. Increase the daily dose of exercise
   The aim of exercise is to allow the dog to release energy and relax. Therefore, increase the period of daily exercise, for example, establishing a routine of two sessions of 30 minutes a day. Watch your dog and adjust the duration to a period that allows the dog to get tired without overdoing it. The exercise can consist of walking or running (if you want to increase the difficulty you can apply a backpack with weight), fetching the ball, swimming or playing with other dogs.

3. Teach Basic Training and Follow a Routine
   Basic obedience training and following a fixed daily routine allows the dog to feel more confident and less agitated. Obedience training, in addition to exercise, is beneficial as it reinforces the bond with the owner and teaches the dog self-control. It also allows you to command the dog to do a task incompatible with hyperactivity during episodes (eg, lie down), which allows him to relax.

4. Ensure that the dog interacts with people and animals
   Activities with the owner reinforce the connection with the dog and allow him to expend energy at the same time. Likewise, playing with other dogs or people is a good way to exercise and stimulate the mind.

5.  Toys for hyperactive dogs
   Toys for hyperactive dogs should distract the dog for long periods and stimulate his mind. One example is toys that dispense treats, such as Kong. But you can find other alternatives as long as they have the same effect on your dog.

6.  Calming for hyperactive dogs
   In extreme cases, the veterinarian may prescribe tranquilizers for dogs suffering from hyperactivity. Methylphenidate is often used. This is applied in a low dose that can be increased, under medical supervision, in an increasing manner until the desired response is observed without adverse effects.

7. If you don't have availability, seek professional help
   If you don't have time for all these activities but want the best for your dog, you can seek professional help. Currently there are day centers for dogs and petsitters  that will be able to provide adequate stimulation to your dog, exercising and allowing him to play with other dogs.

By following these tips and with a lot of patience you will see your dog improve over the next few weeks. If you still have no response, you should consult your veterinarian or a behavioral specialist who will help you resolve your case. The important thing is to remain calm and confident, the resolution of these problems is prolonged and they only depend on you.