3 Ways to Calm a Hyperactive Dog in Chandler, AZ
Is your hyperactive dog driving you crazy? Do you feel as if no amount of training works? It’s time to take a different approach.
Pets with an excess amount of energy aren’t misbehaving just to spite you. They need your help in order to experience a more fulfilling life.
Read on to learn our top three tips to calm hyperactive dogs for pet owners in Chandler, AZ!
1. Regular Exercise
One of the top ways your dog could be hyperactive is because they’re not getting enough stimulation. Just like people, dogs get bored, and the longer they’re cooped up in the house, the more that boredom bubbles over into hyperactivity and misbehavior.
This is why walking your dog is so important–they need a physical outlet in order to drain some of that excess energy. You can talk to your vet to determine how long you need to walk your dog each day depending on their size, temperament, and breed.
You can also plan to walk them for about five minutes every month of age. You can also take a trip to the park and throw a frisbee or ball and other fun activities.
2. Mental Stimulation
When your dog is with you inside, you’ll want to provide some mental stimulation as well, especially if they want to keep busy. This can be as simple as offering them puzzle feeders with snacks inside or foraging boxes with different scents and sounds.
Obstacle courses are a popular way to stimulate your dog and get them to do a job, but you can also simplify things and focus on doing some basic training exercises each day. For instance, if your dog doesn’t have a strong drive to come when you call, consider training this first.
3. Encourage Calm
Last but not least, make sure that you’re encouraging and praising your dog while they’re calm versus when they’re excited. If they’re jumping around on the couch and putting their paws all over you, many pet owners can’t resist the urge to give them a hug and a belly rub.
However, there are times when you don’t enjoy this behavior. When you tell your dog to stop, they don’t understand you! If this is the case, it’s important to ignore excitable behavior and reward your dog with a pet and affection.
You’ll find that over time, your dog will have a better understanding of what you expect from them.
Tips From Your Chandler, AZ Vet
It’s important to keep in mind that even if you implement all these tips, you’ll need to have consistency, patience, and time.
Don’t expect your dog to change overnight. However, if you remain consistent with exercise, mental stimulation, and encouraging calm behavior, you’ll gradually notice a difference.
If you get discouraged, remember that the time it takes is worth it–you’ll have a stronger bond with your pet throughout their lifetime!
Ready to schedule an appointment with us? Contact us today to get started!