Do you have a hyper dog? Here are 3 proven and easy-to-implement steps to help them find their calm.

Having a dog is wonderful, but when your pup is all over the place it may not feel that way. As a guardian of a former hyper dog, I know that feeling all too well. But, it’s a problem that can be solved! I will give you my top tips to help your dog finally settle.

In this blog, you are going to learn all about why the behavior is occurring, the basic needs of dogs as a species, coping styles, and how to tackle hyperactivity when it does occur.

After learning about these topics, you will know how to address the root cause of this behavior to turn your hyper dog into a relaxed pup. This post is all about helping your yper dog to find their calm.

How to calm your hyper dog

Step 1. Identify the root cause of hyperactivity

Different things cause your dog to act like this. Remember, it’s always just as hard for the dog as it is for you! That said, we should think about helping them instead of just “fixing the behavior”. There are 2 types of overaroussal: positive (being way too excited) and negative (being scared/frustrated/overstimulated). Both are not inherently bad, as long as they can regulate themselves eventually. Because you clicked on this blog post, I figure that’s not the case for you. We need to remember this quote:

He does not get the proper amount of rest/sleep

A possible cause for hyper behavior is simply not sleeping enough. The average adult dog needs about 14 hours of sleep a day. Puppies and seniors need even more, about 18 to 20 hours. If your dog is hyper, try to monitor how much he sleeps for a couple of days. If it is a lot less than the average for their age, this may be the cause of their hyperactivity. The simple solution is giving them more time to rest. If your dog does not rest by themselves, we need to teach them how to settle. For the majority of the dogs I met, not getting the proper amount of sleep throughout the day was the main issue. But, it does go hand in hand with another sometimes.

The dog is not able to cope with the situation he is in

Sometimes, being hyperactive is just a way for them to handle a stressful situation. This situation may not seem stressful to you (having a guest over for example), but we need to look at it from their perspective. Dogs have at least four main ways to cope with this stress. Fight, flight, freeze, and ‘fooling around’. Just like an overstimulated toddler, they have no idea how to handle themselves with all that cortisol and adrenaline pumping through their body. This results in a dog that’s not able to settle. An example of this is the zoomies. Zoomies can be positive, but in all cases, it’s a sign of overarousal.

Some dogs are anxious by nature. Genetics plays a big role in this, as well as socialization. Their hypervigilance may cause a lack of quality sleep and rest. If that’s the case, the body may not be able to go back to rest & digest. This will become a vicious cycle if we do not intervene and help our dogs to settle. If you know your dog is an anxious pup, this post will give you a good headstart. However, asking a qualified behaviorist is recommended!

He was slimply never taught how to behave instead

Sometimes it’s just a learned behavior. If it only happens in certain situations, when you come from work for example, it’s likely to be. In that case, we have to teach them what we do want them to do instead. Oh, but just to remind you: if your dog is THAT happy to see you again, it’s a great compliment If you figure this one is your dogs root cause, it’s best to hire a qualified reward based dog trainer to help you out.

He is overstimulated, or even understimulated

You’ve probably heard of an overstimulated dog before, but understimulation will have the same detrimental effect. Dogs need exercise. But a common thought process of owners with a hyper dog is giving them even more exercise to tire them out. While this may work in some cases, it will most likely only better your dogs stamina. Which will lead to needing even more exercise to have the desired effect.

Overstimulation could also be the result of doing too many stressful things in a short period. For example, going to the vet, taking them with you to the city (lots of impressions), and having guests over on the same day. While some dogs can handle this, most can not. And for some, just going on an outing three times a day is already a stressor. Try to identify the things your dog finds stressful and do only one of those per day. At maximum.

If you think your dog is understimulated, just read on! This is the easiest scenario to fix.

Step 2. Create a Calming Environment

Creating a calming environment for dogs that have trouble settling requires a combination of consistency, patience, and effective management. Consistency is crucial because dogs thrive on routine and predictability. This does not mean a strict schedule, but creating sequences. Predictability is important so your pup knows what’s going to happen next. It should not be strict and timely. Just make sure that the follow-up of actions are the same. This predictability helps reduce anxiety and provides a sense of security for your dog.

Patience is another key element in helping your dog to find their calm. Understand that it may take time for your dog to adjust and learn new behaviors. Avoid reacting with frustration or anger if your dog is struggling to settle. Instead, provide gentle guidance and positive reinforcement like the SMART x50 method for calm behavior.

Effective management is essential to create a safe and stress-free space for your dog. Remove potential stressors from the environment, such as loud noises or unfamiliar people or animals, and create a designated quiet area where your dog can relax. This space should be comfortable and filled with your dog’s favorite toys or blankets. Also, make sure your dog can lie down comfortably to encourage the behavior. Pick a dog mattress that your dog specifically will love!

In summary, consistency, patience, and management are fundamental when creating a calming environment for dogs. By providing a predictable routine, remaining patient during the adjustment process, and effectively managing the environment, you can help your dog find the peace and relaxation they need to settle comfortably.

To Think About

In addition to these things, it’s also worth looking into the use of Adaptil. It’s not a magic solution but it may take off the edge.

Sometimes, hyperactivity or anxious behavior comes from imbalances in the gut. Therefore it’s also worth asking advice from a holistic veterinarian who looks at the dog as a whole. Some herbs do wonders for dogs.

Step 3: The Importance of Enrichment

Enrichment activities are a must for dogs. All dogs. Not nearly enough owners know about its importance, but even fewer know about the benefits! Licking, chewing, digging, and sniffing are basic needs for a dog. Depriving them of this leads to unwanted behaviors, like hyperactivity. Adding some enrichment to your dog’s daily routine may significantly reduce their hyperness. It doesn’t cost you a lot of money to do so, and time also shouldn’t be a problem.

Some extremely easy DIY enrichment activities to encourage sniffing, chewing, and licking:

 

• • Put treats in a towel and roll it up. Let your dog search for the treats!

• • The biggest, cheapest snuffle mat: grass! Sprinkle some treats in the grass and let your dog find them all.

• • The snuffle box. Everyone has an empty box lying around. Fill it with treats and other things like old papers to ensure they work that nose!

• • Give them a natural chew, like a Yak cheese chew or a bully pizzle. Also really good for their teeth!

• • Serve one of their daily food portions in an enrichment (diy) toy or puzzle.

Implement a minimum of two calming enrichment activities per day, your dog will thank you!

Enrichment is more than just chewing, licking, and sniffing. However, these are the most calming ones. Play, for example, might cause them to be even more dysregulated if they already are!

Sniffy Walks for Hyper Dogs

In the last paragraph, we learned how sniffing is a calming exercise for a dog. Simply letting your dog sniff as much and as long as they wish on walks will help. Remember, it is their walk! If you’re in a hurry or don’t have the patience to wait while your dog is sniffing… go on a walk without your dog. And not only is sniffing calming, but it’s also their form of “social media”. For most dogs, it’s the most exciting part of their day.

Another pro of sniffy walks: it will tire them out MUCH more than just walking for hours on end. And in a good way, too. It’s fulfilling.

Decompression Walks

Decompression walks are different from the standard outings. The idea is to choose an area to walk where there are very few to no triggers for your dog. This may look different for every dog. Some dogs get triggered by other dogs, other people, or a busy environment. Others might not be scared but get overwhelmed easily. Or just a little too excited. Try to avoid as many people and dogs as possible to just let your dog, be your dog.

It may take a little searching to find such a place, but I assure you they exist! For some dogs, including my own, it may even be an empty parking area.

When on a decompression walk, encourage them to explore on their own. If your dog can not be off lead, a long line is fine too. Another tip that actually helps a lot, is to stop walking when your dog stops to sniff. This ensures your dog that they can sniff their heart out and you’re not going anywhere.

The wanted result from decompression walks is a tired but fulfilled pup. Not from exercise, just from exploring on their terms.

Teach your Hyper Dog to settle

After you’ve started with the 3 steps, it could be extra helpfull to start with this. Teaching them to calm down on their own is fairly simple, but needs consistency and patience. Don’t see it as teaching a new trick but as creating a new habit.

The SMART x50 method

This technique is really simple but very effective in the long run. SMART stands for See, Mark, And Reward/Reinforce Training. The idea is to reward every behavior you DO like when the dog does it on their own. This is called “capturing” and is highly effective. Remember, what gets reinforced gets repeated.

Example: Your dog lays down on his own. Mark this with a marker* (sometimes called a bridge) of your choice. I like to use “yes” or “good” for this. Grab a reward and calmly put the treat between their paws. Walk away and continue what you were doing. This technique is also great for increasing independency!

*You do need to pair this marker with food beforehand. Just say the marker and give your dog a treat directly after that. It does not matter what he does. He just needs to learn that the marker means a reward is coming.

The x50 stands for rewarding 50 things you like per day. After some time, your dog will show you a lot more of the behaviors you’ve been rewarding and a lot less of the behaviors you did not like. It also let’s you focus on all the things your dog already can do, instead of focusing on the things he can’t. Which usually is a lot more than you were aware of

Conclusion

By following these three steps—identifying the root cause of their hyperactivity, creating a calm environment, and introducing enrichment activities—you can make a positive difference in your furry friend’s life.

But above all, remember that patience and consistency are the keys to success. Changes take time, and every dog is unique. Be prepared to adapt your approach as needed, and most importantly, celebrate small victories along the way. Your bond with your dog will strengthen as you work together to create a calmer, happier life.

So, I encourage you to embark on this journey with your beloved canine companion. Try these positive reinforcement techniques, invest the time and effort required, and witness the transformation in your hyperactive dog. In the end, the patience and consistency you apply will lead to a more peaceful and harmonious life for both you and your furry friend.

This post was all about the best ways to help your hyper dog find their inner calm