Many pet parents may say that their dog is hyperactive due to the behavior that they are exhibiting. However, it may not be the case all the time as some dogs are just high-energy and get labeled as hyperactive. It is important to know if your dog is hyper or not so you can manage their behavior the right way. However, what exactly is a hyperactive dog, and what can you do to help them relax. Continue reading to learn more about our tips for calming a hyper dog.
What Classifies a Dog as Hyperactive?
At first, high-energy, and hyperactive dogs may seem the same and you may use these terms interchangeably. While they do exhibit some similar behaviors, the terms are used to describe different kinds of dogs.
What differs between these dogs is that a high energy dog can easily focus on a single task while a hyperactive dog may get distracted. What this means is that with some training, you can have a dog that will run wild at times, but understand when you want it to stop and listen to commands better. This makes high-energy dogs great for dog sports and hunting, but a hyperactive dog? Not so much. Check out this article to learn How to Safely Hunt with a Dog.
When it comes to hyperactive dogs, you can tell if yours falls into this category if they have a short attention span, are impulsive, destructive, emotionally unstable, and cannot handle being restrained such as being on a leash. Now if your dog does show some of these symptoms, or even all of them, do not label them as hyper but instead take them to a vet to get their diagnosis and recommended course of action.
Breeds More Commonly Hyperactive
While you don't want to label your dog as hyper, it still is important to know that some breeds of dogs are more commonly hyper than others. Some breeds of dogs that are more commonly diagnosed as hyperactive are:
- Australian Shepherd
- Siberian Husky
- Border Collie
- Labrador Retriever
- Jack Russel Terrier
- Golden Retriever
- Poodle
- Dalmatian
Tips for Calming a Hyper Dog
Exercise
One way that you can help your hyperactive dog is to make sure they are getting enough exercise each day. You can do this by either taking them for walks each day or hire a dog walker to take care of this task for you while you are at work if you do not have the time to do so when you are home. Other ways you can ensure your little one is getting their exercise is playing with them in the backyard or setting up an obstacle course in your garage. If you don't have much room to work with, you may want to consider just playing fetch with a rubber toy instead.
Kennel
If your dog has destructive behavior that you cannot control, it may be best to put them in a kennel. This is especially true if you are not home to watch them during the day. However, a kennel can be small, so if possible try placing them into a room where they do not feel completely isolated, have access to food and water, and a place to do their business, but cannot destroy anything.
Routine
In addition to ensuring that your pup is getting daily exercise and has a place where they cannot destroy anything, there is still more you can do. In fact, setting a daily routine of when you will, play, let out, and bath your dog can help them with their hyperactivity. This can help because your dog will know what to expect, and after some time, they will become accustomed to it, and may even become calmer as you try to wind them down for bed.
Training
If you have tried everything else and want to control your dog's hyperactivity, you may want to consider getting them properly trained. What this means is enrolling them into obedience school so they can get the best training possible to ensure that they are able to control their hyperactivity.
Calming Supplements
Another thing that you can do is get your dog a calming supplement. Liquid Health K9 & Kitty Calmer is a great example of a supplement that is designed and formulated to help deal with hyperactive dogs and cats. In addition to that, it can come in handy on long trips with your pet. Check out this article to learn about some Tips for Traveling with Pets.
Conclusion
When it comes to calming a hyper dog, there is a lot to know in order to understand what to do. First off, you want to make sure that your dog is indeed a hyper dog as opposed to a high energy dog. Next, you want to try to alter their behavior and use a professional trainer if you have to. Lastly, be sure to give your pup some treats occasionally and to positively reinforce any good behavior.
Sources
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/5-tips-for-a-hyperactive-dog/
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/controlling-hyper-dog/
http://santamonicadog.org/how-to-deal-with-a-hyper-dog/
