How to manage a hyperactive dog

Dogs are adorable and they have their own way of expressing happiness. Some start licking you and making circles around you with their tails wagging like a motor. But, there are some dogs that are hyperactive and they jump around way too much, hurting people around them. There are some breeds whose hearts or lungs can’t take that much excitement either. So how do you work with such dogs and deal with the situation? Here are 4 tips that will help you manage a hyperactive dog.

Your first reaction to an excited dog is to encourage him/her to be happy the way it is. But by doing so, you are encouraging the dog to act the way it does when it is excited. If it jumps a lot of people and unknowingly hurts faces and hands with the nails, it will be you who will get into trouble. If his/her excitement is dealt with affection or increased attention, it will start taking it as a reward. So don’t touch, don’t talk in that baby voice and turn the other way if he/she starts jumping like a maniac.

Leaving your dog in the park so that it can run around and wear itself out is not the right way to go about it. This kind of habit actually makes them more excited and some pup hearts can't take that much. Instead, put a leash on them and take them out for a walk. When the dog walks, they are not just there to do their business, they also channel in their primal instincts by smelling and watching out for what’s there on the road. That divides their excess energy. Make sure some water and food is ready when you both are back as that would be the dog’s reward. The practice here is to put them in a habit of associating calmness with reward.

Provide more outlets to their energy. Play hide and seek, tugging, fetch the stick or ball with them. You can also play those hidden treats or cup games to divide their attention. You are controlling their intensity and helping them stimulate their mind too.

The primary sense of a dog is the nose and capturing that has a calming effect on them. Engage their nose by making them smell some lavender or chamomile, different flowers etc. But before you do that, make sure your dog is not allergic to a scent. Consult your vet too.

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