A dog jumping up and down can be funny and cute. Yet, this is why owners often interpret signs of hyperactivity as happiness and end up encouraging the behavior unknowingly. A restless dog is not a happy one; a calm one is.
However, the behavior might not seem fun anymore with time, especially if he leaves you exhausted each day. You end up getting more annoyed than anything. Here is everything you need to know about hyperactive dogs and how to deal with them.
1. Provide Adequate Daily Exercise
All dogs require adequate exercise. Play different games with your dog or take daily walks to channel their energy elsewhere. You can try engaging in breed-specific sports for super active dog breeds. It is an excellent exercise for your furry friend, and you don’t have to join the workout.
2. Offer Mental Stimulation
Dogs should have at least 20 minutes of mental stimulation each day. Apart from outdoor activities, you can use interactive puzzles that appeal to your dog’s instincts. You can also try using dental chews if you don’t have time to play with your furry friend.
3. Create a Well-Balanced Diet
Some hyperactive dogs need a serious diet change. You should understand your dog’s nutritional requirements and offer a diet that matches his physical activity.
4. Use Positive Reinforcement
Reward your dog for good behavior. This involves relying on positive reinforcement, which is associating a positive behavior with a reward, whether that’s verbal praise or a treat. Do not punish your dog for things they do wrong. Contrary to popular belief, being the “alpha” does not encourage your dog to act a certain way. It just makes them anxious and distrustful.
5. Consult Your Vet
Talk to your vet if you’ve taken all the above measures and your dog is still hyperactive. Your vet will be able to investigate any underlying emotional or physical causes of your dog’s hyperactive behavior and advise accordingly.
Reasons Why Some Dogs Are Hyperactive
Some dogs, like Australian Cattle Dogs, are inherently high-energy breeds. It’s just who they are! Yet, apart from biological factors, there could be more reasons why your dog is hyperactive. These reasons could include:
Your Dog’s Just Being a Puppy
Puppies need to be around other cats, dogs, and animals while growing up. They require the kind of attention and care that intuitively comes from animals of their kind. Love and support from pet parents are not enough for them.
Socialization, positive reinforcement, and proper training are necessary during this period of their earlier development. How you train them when they are young will determine their overall well-being later in their lives.
They Lack a Proper Diet
An improper diet affects your dog’s digestion, energy levels, brain functionality, and sleep cycle. Dogs who consume foods with too much sugar and additives exhibit hyperactive and aggressive behavior. An inappropriate diet also makes training pets challenging since it affects their concentration.
They Lack Stimulation
Too much hyperactivity in dogs can stem from boredom and lack of stimulation. A dog that stays idle the whole day while you are away is likely to exhibit too much excitement in the evening as soon as you arrive. Dogs need a lot of daily exercise and new tricks to work off their mental and physical energy.
Conditioned Behavior; Trained Disobedience
Most dog owners often give up the process of training mid-way, giving their dogs freedom to behave as they wish. Pet owners sometimes even reward their furry friends despite not learning the intended tricks.
Dogs who are trained this way have little or no understanding of the training sessions. They even get anxious when forced to learn something they don’t want to. As a pet owner, you will require a lot of patience and trial to outlast your dog’s hyperactivity in such a situation.
Signs of Hyperactivity in Dogs
You may have a hyperactive dog if they’re:
- Always restless. Active dogs tend to be restless. They bark and whine continuously, spin in circles, jump up and down, and pant excessively. Their sleeping behaviors also change.
- Constantly seeking attention. Hyperactive dogs are clingy and want constant attention. They follow their owners, never leaving their side even for a minute. Some pet owners may find this interesting, but it’s not good behavior. You’ll have to deal with clinginess sooner; otherwise, it will progress to separation anxiety, whereby your dog will become anxious or panic whenever you leave him alone.
- Aggressive. Hyperactive dogs usually cause a lot of damage while working off the excess energy. They may scratch your furniture, damage your shoes, destroy your bedding, or leave your kitchen in a filthy mess. On top of chewing, dogs may even bite strangers and children.
- Barking uncontrollably. It’s normal for dogs to be vocal, especially if they’re a breed prone to excessive barking, like Maltese. However, your dog is likely hyperactive if he barks at nothing for no apparent reason. A dog that constantly barks isn’t happy.
