Help! My Dog is Hyper!

If your dog is literally bouncing off the walls and furniture instead of paying attention during training time, you may despair of ever teaching him anything! If he's jumping all over everything and everybody, you may be afraid he'll hurt himself or a family member and your fear is not misplaced. Hyperactivity can segue into aggression very easily. While some dogs are just a little high energy, especially as puppies, there are many things you can do to bring him down to Earth. Chances are your puppy will settle down by the time he's two years old but some breeds are hyper for life.

Exercise
Most dogs do not get enough exercise and many breeds, such as herding dogs and hunting dogs, were bred to be able to withstand long days of vigorous physical activity. If they don't get that exercise through work and play, they may release it through obnoxious behavior instead. Eventually, they may "grow out" of the hyperactivity by gaining a bunch of weight and slowing down just like overweight people do but this isn't good for your dog. Just like people, excess weight is hard on the dog's heart and other organs and joints. To ensure that your dog gets enough exercise, take him for a brisk walk at least once a day and take him to the park for a long game of catch at least once a week. You may also wish to join a Meetup Group that will allow you and your dog to get together with other dogs and their owners for socialization and exercise. No human can exercise a dog as well as another dog can!

If your dog is stuck in the house all day while you're at work, consider leaving him at Camp BowWow or at PetSmart's Doggie DayCamp once or twice a week (or every day!). When you pick him up at the end of the day he'll be tired and happy and frequent trips to fun places like that will help get rid of any car anxiety your dog might have.

On those days that your dog isn't at day camp, provide him with lots of distractions to keep him busy. A Kong, stuffed with wet dogfood, ground meat or another delicious treat will keep him busy for awhile. A Twist and Treat full of kibble or dog biscuits will keep him occupied for a bit as well and the Tug A Jug is also a neat way to keep your dog busy and fed all at once. Don't be afraid to feed him all of his meals out of these toys. Hide them around his play area so he can make a game out of locating his lunch.

Hyper active dogs also tend to chew a lot. Some owners complain that they chew through their bones and toys so fast it hardly seems worth it to buy them. Pressed rawhide lasts a little longer, but it can come off in chunks that can get stuck in your dog's gut causing painful (and deadly!) blockages. (This is rare, but possible) I recommend Bully Sticks. They last awhile, they're completely edible and digestible and uh... they smell horrible. Dogs love them. I also recommend smoked knuckle bones. They don't splinter like long bones do, they last awhile, they also stink and dogs love them. Griffin gets either a Bully Stick or a knuckle bone at bedtime and it helps him relax.

Diet
Just like a child, a dog's behavior can be affected by what he eats. Not all dogs have issues, but some dogs are very sensitive to carbohydrates and sugars in their food and some artificial colorings and flavors have been blamed for causing hyperactivity as well. If you think this may be a problem, try switching your dog to an all natural food like Wellness or Canidae or even a grain free dog food like Raw Instinct, or Core. Some people prefer to prepare their dog's food themselves and this is a great option if you have the time and you do the research to make sure your dog is getting the nutrition he needs. Sodium can also affect your dog's activity level. Make sure you don't give your dog "people food" full of salt, such as potato chips, french fries and packaged food. It's not good for you either!

Training
Many times a dog's hyperactivity issues are cries for attention (just like kids) and giving him something to do will help out a great deal. Basic training is important, and you can get that at www.betterdog.com (If you're in Michigan, ask for Robin!) or you could take classes. Remember though, whether you get lessons at home or in a classroom, you must practice every day if you want your dog to actually learn. Even 15 minutes a day will bring about a huge improvement. Besides obedience, hyper dogs love to learn new tricks. Try 101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog for ideas.

Health
Hyperactivity can be caused by health problems, particularly related to the thyroid. Be sure to check with your vet and have a blood test done on your dog to make sure that there isn't a correctable physical problem causing his issues.