- Lack of Attention Can Lead to Excited Behavior. …
- Try Detox Training to Prevent Overexcitement on a Leash. …
- Use Exercise to Calm an Overexcited Dog. …
- Mental Stimulation Regulates Impulse Control. …
- Learn Your Dog’s Body Language. …
- Use Positive Reinforcement for Good Behavior.
The young ones want to play with her, but she becomes so enthused that she won’t stop biting!
As a trainer, I frequently hear remarks of this nature from owners of adult and adolescent dogs alike, as well as puppy owners. Understanding the causes of the dog’s behavior is necessary before learning how to calm an overexcited dog.
First, there are the “zoomies. We used to refer to those sudden bursts of energy as the “couch races” with my previous dogs because they would suddenly start racing in loops around the couch in the living room. Similar behaviors include your dog running around in circles in your yard as if he’s chasing an invisible bunny. Believe it or not, that behavior is completely normal and is even ingrained in your dog’s DNA. Dogs and wolves are very closely related genetically. Considering that wolves are crepuscular, their peak activity hours are dawn and dusk. Because they would be out hunting during those times, your dog typically experiences zoomies at dawn and dusk. Let your dog run wild if he gets the zoomies; throw a ball for him to chase, or just encourage him to do so. He can burn off some energy in this completely safe manner, and he’ll be much calmer as a result.
Speaking of playing with your dog, is that when he usually gets overly excited? As he races around, his body is being flooded with adrenalin and other stress hormones. His excessive enthusiasm might result in jumping, nipping, or, if you have young children, even knocking them over if he lacks self-control. You can solve this by teaching your dog to play the “Freeze!” game. I’m going to assume here that your dog knows Sit. Start by folding your arms, then immediately ask your dog to sit to cause them to “freeze.” Repeat several times, and if you have young children, invite them to join you in doing so. Your dog will quickly learn that if his arms are folded, he should sit. It’s time to play the game once your dog instantly sits when your arms are folded even if you don’t say “sit.”
Let’s say you have two kids. Once everyone has access to treats, start slowly moving apart from one another. Without a doubt, your dog will begin to follow you around and try to join in the fun. Everyone should immediately stop moving, fold their arms, and stop when you see your dog approaching one of the children and yell, “Freeze!” The person closest to the dog should approach it and request a Sit. Once he does, the game should continue and a treat should be given. If your dog is healthy, the action should increase in excitement as you go, starting with rounds of faster and faster walking and eventually transitioning to running, yelling, waving arms, or whatever your kids want to do.
His excessive enthusiasm might result in jumping, nipping, or, if you have young children, even knocking them over if he lacks self-control.
Your dog will eventually learn that when someone stops and folds their arms, he should immediately stop what he’s doing and sit. Now, if your dog gets overly excited while your children are playing and starts chasing, jumping, and nipping them, anyone can yell, “Freeze!” and everyone will stop and fold their arms. Your dog will also sit on cue. This activity is great for giving kids confidence, teaching your dog self-control, and breaking up the action so it doesn’t keep getting worse unchecked. It is also useful when your dog jumps on your children because you can get your dog to stop and sit by folding your arms.
Believe it or not, simple petting can also cause a dog to become overly excited. The trick is in how you pet him; I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone say, “He loves it when I pet him, but then he starts nipping.” Your dog should unwind if you stroke him with long, calm, firm strokes while remaining gentle. Your dog will become excited in response if you repeatedly pat him, scratch him wildly, or otherwise pet him in a less-than-calm manner. He may even believe you are asking for play. He does not have opposable thumbs, so he will respond with his mouth. This happens especially when dogs are patted over the head. If you notice that your dog gets excited when being petted, try to temper your own excitement during the interaction.
Last but not least, make sure your dog is getting enough exercise if he appears to be hyperactive all the time rather than just in certain circumstances. He might need anywhere from a ten-minute stroll to a minimum mile-long hike to satisfy his physical needs and behave more submissively at home, depending on his age, breed, and physical condition. (Most teenage dogs get nowhere close to enough exercise. ).
Puzzles that require him to move objects to reach treats (always supervise)
Training sessions, particularly clicker training, which teaches dogs to make decisions on their own and exhibit behaviors
How to Calm an Overexcited Dog
Some dogs are naturally calmer than others, but you can teach easily excited dogs to control their excitement and understand that experiencing different emotions is healthy. This can be achieved by observing when your dog becomes agitated and taking proactive steps to reduce or eliminate the stimulation.
Dogs, for example, can become overly excited when you come home and greet them; therefore, calm, matter-of-fact greetings, or even no greetings at all, may help them relax. Changing the time you serve meals will help dogs manage their excitement because they get very excited around mealtimes. And when dogs believe a walk is in the cards, they can become extremely aroused. Picking up the leash and putting it back down, doing the same with the keys, or waiting until the dog settles before moving on are all examples of how to teach your dog that you won’t move on until the energy is right.
You can also stop your dog from playing frequently by calling them to you, having them sit, and then allowing them to resume playing. Make sure they unwind after their play session before you begin a new activity. A dog is probably ready for more action if you let them out right after they’ve played with enthusiasm.
Training exercises like sit, come, down, stay, and polite walking are always beneficial, especially if you practice them every day at first in calm areas and then in situations where your dog might normally get excited. Another great way to improve focus and reduce irritability in dogs is to teach them to use their nose. The simplest solution is tossing some kibble into the yard and letting the dog go in search of it. Your dog will initially run around the yard erratically, but as their instincts are refined, they’ll be able to display more focus. Since your dog’s nose is their main sense, you should use it. Related article.
This simple dog training skill could save your dogâs life.
Dogs can also be taught to unwind and enjoy it by you. Letting your dog lie down and then giving them a gentle pet will reinforce relaxation. Having them observe others while remaining still can be very beneficial as well. Letting Strider, a German Shepherd with leash reactivity, lie down on his rug close to individuals participating in dog sports like fly-ball and agility, both of which have a tendency to be extremely active and noisy, was one of the most effective methods used with him. At first, he received reinforcement every few seconds in the form of a treat that was hidden on the ground. After he learned to unwind, we stopped using the food reinforcement because simply lying on his rug started to be enjoyable.
Don’t Encourage Excited Behavior
Paying attention to a dog that is overly excited is the worst thing you can do. He’ll just connect being excited with being rewarded. Instead, you should ignore him when he starts acting up. This prohibits talking, touching, and making eye contact. Push your dog away and turn your back on him if he tries to jump up on you.
Can Dogs Get Too Excited?
Yes, dogs can get too excited. Often, excess energy is due to a lack of exercise. A lack of socialization, excessive stimulation, stress, or conditioned behavior are additional causes, though.
If a dog acts “wild,” that is a general indication that it is overexcited. This indicates that the dog is out of control, disobeying your commands, or forgetting its training.
Behaviors associated with wild excitement include:
It can be challenging to distinguish the differences between a happy and an overexcited dog at first. This is due to the fact that signs of a happy dog include symptoms like jumping and running around. In order to recognize when your dog is acting abnormally, you must pay close attention to his body language.
FAQ
Why is my dog overly excited?
Lack of exercise is the most common cause of excess energy. The animal is getting energy from its food but isn’t getting any exercise to burn it off, so it builds up until the dog lets out a burst of zoomies to let the energy out. As was previously mentioned, common causes of an overexcited puppy include: Insufficient socialization
How do you calm a hyperactive dog naturally?
- Exercise. Sometimes, your stress becomes your pet’s stress. …
- Mental Stimulation. As Dr. …
- Music. …
- Vet-Recommended Essential Oils (Used With Caution) …
- Supplements. …
- Pheromones. …
- Massage and Acupuncture. …
- Grooming.
How do I teach my dog to calm down and relax on cue?
Training Method: “While you stroke her for a long period of time while she is lying on her side, gently say the cue relax.” Keep the tone of your voice low and calm. When you see her in that position and in a relaxed state throughout the day, say this aloud several times.