How To Calm a Hyper Dog: Fast!

Hyper dogs have an abundance of energy stored up that can come out as destructive behaviors. While it can sometimes be funny to watch your dog going hyper, it can also become a problem. Especially if it never stops! It can be especially problematic at night. Let’s get into why your dog is hyper and what you can do to calm them down.

Why is my dog hyper?

Hyperactivity can be caused by breed, individual personality, lack of exercise, age, routine, and diet. However, hyperactive dogs can also be anxious, so it helps to determine why your dog is hypo to better resolve the issue.

Let’s take a quick look at some of these so you can be better prepared when it comes to solving your hyper dog.

Breed

Some dog breeds are more likely to be hyperactive. However, this doesn’t mean that a dog that is from a breed known to be more docile can’t be hyper, too.

Here is a long list of dog breeds that can be susceptible to overstimulation and hyperactivity:

• Airedale terrier
• Australian shepherd
• Beagle
• Belgian malinois
• Border collie
• Boxer
• Brittany spaniel
• Chihuahua
• Dalmation
• English pointer
• English springer spaniel
• German shepherd
• Golden retriever
• Irish setter
• Jack russell terrier
• Labrador retriever
• Miniature pinscher
• Pembroke welsh corgi
• Poodle
• Shetland sheepdog
• Siberian husky
• Staffordshire bull terrier
• Vizsla
• Weimaraner
• Yorkshire terrier

Some of these breeds are even more likely than others to show hyperactivity.

The breeds with the highest levels of hyperactivity include the following:

• Australian Shepherd
• Border Collie
• Dalmation
• Jack Russell Terrier
• Poodle
• Siberian Husky
• Vizsla
• Weimaraner

So if you have one of these breeds, it’s normal for them to show lots of energy. However, if they aren’t given an outlet for this energy it can become destructive.

This is why it’s important to follow our list below on how to manage a hyper dog.

Age

A puppy has boundless amounts of energy to explore the new world around them. They are full of curiosity! They will run flat-out, chase, bite, jump, and can tear apart whatever they can get their teeth into.

And it’s all normal! They also sleep most of their day, too, to support this fast-paced life and fast growth. Calming down a crazy puppy can be a challenge.

If your puppy isn’t getting their sleep, then they can become unmanageable, like an over-tired toddler. So it’s vital they get their sleep. A crate can help enormously with this.

Ensure the crate is in a quiet part of the house and put them in it often for their daily naps.

A puppy, or even a young dog, will always have more energy than an older dog. So in time, they will calm down and the hyperactivity will subside. In most cases.

Have you seen our post on the best enrichment toys for dogs yet? You can find it here, The 20 Best Dog Enrichment Toys

What to do to calm a hyper dog

Now we have the covered genetic disposition to hyperactivity, let’s get into some of the other ways you can calm a hyper dog…

Routine

A routine for a hyper dog is a requirement. If you can set expectations for your dog, then they can sel-learn to calm down when it is time for rest.

Just like us, they have an internal body clock, which we can use to help control them.

Setting up a good routine for your dog is in effect setting up a routine for yourself. They watch us for their cues.

If you get up at the same time every day and go to bed the same time every night, your dog will expect this.

Putting your dog into their crate at the same time, feeding them at the same time, and giving them their daily exercise or training, at the same time can all help calm a hyper dog.

This is especially true for puppies! Even setting an alarm for the morning can work wonders, as your dog waits for that alarm cue for the world to begin. This can give you a better sleep-in, too!

The most important aspect of the routine, however, is the training and exercise times. If your dog knows when it’s time to go outside and play, or training time, they won’t be expecting it at 10 pm at night.

Diet

Your dog may be eating too many carbohydrates. In essence, they’re eating too much sugar. Just like humans, too much sugar and carbs can cause us to feel irritable. That is if we don’t use that energy we’re consuming.

There’s a reason why Tour De France cyclists eat copious amounts of pasta! Dogs are often given too many carbs in the modern diet.

Most packaged dog foods contain 46% to 74% carbohydrates in the form of corn or grain. This is because it’s cheap to produce and is profitable. And it ticks the box for dog food.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t much better choices out there for your dog that won’t give them spikes in sugar throughout their day.

We recommend a delivered dog food service and here is our post on PetPlateh here: PetPlate: Should You Use It?

Long Walks

It’s true that hyperactivity in dogs can be linked to their personality – just like some humans! Basically, your dog has an excitable personality and can’t stand or sit still for long periods.

One of the best ways to calm a hyper dog down is to take them on long walks. Hyper dogs love long walks because it gives them a chance to exercise all that stored energy.

Depending on your dog type, you might want to consider hill walks as well. And if you can, letting them off-leash is also a great way for them to run off some energy.    

Obedience Training

If your dog isn’t behaving themselves, or you have a new dog that needs initial training, you have to decide whether you want to train them weekly or daily.

In the case of a hyperactive dog, it might be better to train them daily using some kibble and a click trainer. It’s also vital that in their puppy age that they have classroom training to allow them to socialize, too.

You might like to read our post, PetSmart VS Petco: Puppy School and Training Comparison

Or this one, Puppy School vs Obedience Training: (Which One?)

Kibble is one of the best and easiest ways to train your dog – what dog isn’t responsive to a tasty bite! But ensure you train them shortly before their meals, so they are more responsive to the teaching.

Off-Leash Time

Basically, hyperactive dogs have tons of stored energy that needs to be burned off one way or another. If you want all your cushions and your sofa chewed up, then don’t walk your dog and leave them home alone for hours. Alternatively, give them plenty of off-leash time to play. 

The good news is you don’t have to go on a long walk for your dog to benefit from off-leash time; all you have to do is let them out in the garden one or two times a day to run a round off the leash and burn off their energy.

Off-leash time is a good antidote for hyperactive canines.    

Positive Reinforcement

Dogs are intelligent animals, and they can learn the best practices even when they have a lot of stored-up energy. With positive reinforcement techniques, you can train your dog to learn impulse control and calmness strategies. Over time they become more responsive and easier.

In short, positive reinforcement means rewarding positive behavior and discouraging the behavior you don’t want. Calmness training for hyperactive dogs is essential and positive reinforcement is the best way forward. Try to use these PR strategies or doggy daycare. 

Body Language

Sometimes hyper dogs are anxious dogs, and if you know the signs, you can intervene at the right times and settle them down.

Dogs with this personality type are likely to drool, pant, put their tail between their legs and pin down their ears. Watch for these signs in your dog.

To better help calm an anxious dog, you can use some of the following methods:

Burn lavender oil

Lavender has been shown to assist in calming dogs down. You can use this for dogs without anxiety as well. Just keep it light as dog’s can smell it far stronger than we can.

Crate train them

An anxious dog can benefit from having a crate. This allows them to have a place to feel safe and protected.

Music therapy

Dogs can respond well to music. Classical music is often played in dog shelters to soothe them and keep them calm.

Supplements

Dog calming treats and supplements can assist in calming down a hyper dog. We recommend Pet Parents dog calming treats.

In Conclusion

A hyper dog isn’t unusual and there are methods to help calm them down. Usually, hyperactivity is caused by having too much energy and nowhere to release it. So exercise is likely going to be your best course of action. However, it’s important that this is supported by a quality diet, and ensuring they have adequate sleep time.

A hyper dog that never sleeps will actually keep being hyper until they crash. So in this case a good routine will help.

It’s also normal to get angry with your dog if they’re continually being hyper, in which case we recommend you read our post, Getting Mad at Your Dog: Everything to know