If you're the owner of a hyperactive dog, you're already well
aware of how frustrating even the simplest of tasks can be with your
pup. Obedience class?
No way! He's way too hyper and loves to chase the other dogs. How about the dog park? Nope! He won't stop jumping up on other owners. How about having some friends over? Forget it! He'll just jump up on those people too. Oh, and he just might have a run around the house once or twice for good measure.
At the end of the day you still love and adore your furry friend, so you grumble and accept the fact that your dog is nuts. Certifiably insane. Maybe he even suffers from ADD or ADHD.
It's totally possible! Or, maybe he just thinks we don't see him, so he has to ensure we know he's around at all hours of the day/night.
"Hello! I'm here! Look at me! I know how to jump!" At first I really just blamed myself because, after all, your dog's manners are often a reflection of your own behavior. Maybe I'm the one who's nuts?
The truth is, you and I are not nuts. Neither is your dog. He may just be in his puppy or adolescent stage where this kind of behavior is quite common.
Certain breeds are also prone to be more active, so there are a couple of different factors involved. One thing's for sure, it would be really nice to learn how to calm a dog, right? Try these quick fixes to help break Fido's "sugar rush" behavior.
Keep Calm and Be Gentle With Your Commands
Remember, your dog will feed off of your energy, so it's good to remain clam. When it's time to go for a walk and he starts acting like he's just ate a couple bowls full of sugar, it doesn't help to scramble around trying to attach the leash to him. Trust me, I've fallen right on my tuckus a few times trying to do this! Yelling, or scolding him won't help either.
He just sees this as reinforcement for his behavior. While you're thinking, "Fido, sit down and quit being a maniac!" he's thinking, "Oh great! Mom or Dad likes it when I jump around at walk time!"
Instead, try standing still with the leash in hand and calmly ask him to "sit." If he continues to run around, or jump about, ask him again.
Do not give in to his rambunctious behavior and attach his leash while he's fidgeting. Eventually, he'll get the hint that you're just going to stand still until he sits.
Once he's sat down calmly for a few seconds, then attach the leash and be on your way. You may find that when you actually go to hook on the leash, he'll start acting up again. If this happens, stand back up and stay still until he sits calmly again.
My dog got the hang of this during our first session and after a few days he stopped acting up altogether when it was time to go out.
Ignore the Behavior
If you're quietly trying to get a few pages of reading in and your dog suddenly feels the urge to pretend he's a circus dog, your first reaction might be to yell, "Stop it!" Do your best to refrain from this. Instead, try ignoring the behavior.
No yelling, no touching - nothing! Don't even look at him. Stand your ground and he's going to quickly realize that acting this way will get him no attention from you. Once he settles down, give him praise.
Exercise!
Lack of exercise is probably the biggest reason why your dog is so hyperactive. Dogs need daily exercise, just like humans do. Otherwise, they will get bored and with boredom often comes chewing problems, incessant barking, anxiety and a whole slew of other problems.
How would you feel if you drank 10 cups of coffee, but had to stay in one room for the entire day? You might start jumping around yourself just to burn off some of that energy.
They often say a tired dog is a good dog! If they've exhausted all of their pent up energy, they'll feel content and relaxed. Take him out for a vigorous walk, let him run in the yard for awhile, or play a game of fetch and you'll soon find yourself with a calm pup.
Remember, puppies and adolescent dogs tend to have more energy, so they'll need a lot more from their owners during this time. German Shepards, Border Collies and Golden Retrievers are just a few of the breeds that tend to be more energetic.
They will need a lot of exercise throughout all the stages of their lives.
Setting up a routine that includes playtime and exercise will give your dog something to look forward to. He'll soon learn the proper time to let out his energetic behaviors and when to settle down and relax.
Calming a dog down is one of the most important aspects of dog training. Oftentimes dog training tools can help the process move along smoothly, but calming a dog is something that takes time.
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No way! He's way too hyper and loves to chase the other dogs. How about the dog park? Nope! He won't stop jumping up on other owners. How about having some friends over? Forget it! He'll just jump up on those people too. Oh, and he just might have a run around the house once or twice for good measure.
At the end of the day you still love and adore your furry friend, so you grumble and accept the fact that your dog is nuts. Certifiably insane. Maybe he even suffers from ADD or ADHD.
It's totally possible! Or, maybe he just thinks we don't see him, so he has to ensure we know he's around at all hours of the day/night.
"Hello! I'm here! Look at me! I know how to jump!" At first I really just blamed myself because, after all, your dog's manners are often a reflection of your own behavior. Maybe I'm the one who's nuts?
The truth is, you and I are not nuts. Neither is your dog. He may just be in his puppy or adolescent stage where this kind of behavior is quite common.
Certain breeds are also prone to be more active, so there are a couple of different factors involved. One thing's for sure, it would be really nice to learn how to calm a dog, right? Try these quick fixes to help break Fido's "sugar rush" behavior.
Keep Calm and Be Gentle With Your Commands
Remember, your dog will feed off of your energy, so it's good to remain clam. When it's time to go for a walk and he starts acting like he's just ate a couple bowls full of sugar, it doesn't help to scramble around trying to attach the leash to him. Trust me, I've fallen right on my tuckus a few times trying to do this! Yelling, or scolding him won't help either.
He just sees this as reinforcement for his behavior. While you're thinking, "Fido, sit down and quit being a maniac!" he's thinking, "Oh great! Mom or Dad likes it when I jump around at walk time!"
Instead, try standing still with the leash in hand and calmly ask him to "sit." If he continues to run around, or jump about, ask him again.
Do not give in to his rambunctious behavior and attach his leash while he's fidgeting. Eventually, he'll get the hint that you're just going to stand still until he sits.
Once he's sat down calmly for a few seconds, then attach the leash and be on your way. You may find that when you actually go to hook on the leash, he'll start acting up again. If this happens, stand back up and stay still until he sits calmly again.
My dog got the hang of this during our first session and after a few days he stopped acting up altogether when it was time to go out.
Ignore the Behavior
If you're quietly trying to get a few pages of reading in and your dog suddenly feels the urge to pretend he's a circus dog, your first reaction might be to yell, "Stop it!" Do your best to refrain from this. Instead, try ignoring the behavior.
No yelling, no touching - nothing! Don't even look at him. Stand your ground and he's going to quickly realize that acting this way will get him no attention from you. Once he settles down, give him praise.
Exercise!
Lack of exercise is probably the biggest reason why your dog is so hyperactive. Dogs need daily exercise, just like humans do. Otherwise, they will get bored and with boredom often comes chewing problems, incessant barking, anxiety and a whole slew of other problems.
How would you feel if you drank 10 cups of coffee, but had to stay in one room for the entire day? You might start jumping around yourself just to burn off some of that energy.
They often say a tired dog is a good dog! If they've exhausted all of their pent up energy, they'll feel content and relaxed. Take him out for a vigorous walk, let him run in the yard for awhile, or play a game of fetch and you'll soon find yourself with a calm pup.
Remember, puppies and adolescent dogs tend to have more energy, so they'll need a lot more from their owners during this time. German Shepards, Border Collies and Golden Retrievers are just a few of the breeds that tend to be more energetic.
They will need a lot of exercise throughout all the stages of their lives.
Setting up a routine that includes playtime and exercise will give your dog something to look forward to. He'll soon learn the proper time to let out his energetic behaviors and when to settle down and relax.
Calming a dog down is one of the most important aspects of dog training. Oftentimes dog training tools can help the process move along smoothly, but calming a dog is something that takes time.
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