Dog calming for a hyperactive dog, or a frantic or scared dog can be approached in several alternative ways. It's not always an easy dog behaviour problem to deal with as dogs can get hyper for all kinds of reasons and in all sorts of different scenarios, so we've brought together 8 different dog calming strategies that you can try out and see which of them helps you create a relaxed and calm dog.
1. Stay Calm Yourself
Learn how to be relaxed and calm around your dogs as they are extremely attuned to moods and their hyper active behaviour may simply be a reaction to the way that you are feeling. Dogs often look to their owners to know how they react in challenging circumstances, so if you stay calm at times when your dog is showing indications of stress, they may follow the lead from you and be calmer themselves.
2. Become the Pack Leader
Ensure your dog does not see themselves as leader of the pack as this makes them responsible for the security of the other members of the pack (you and other people in your household) and the decision maker. This is a difficult job for a dog living in a world they do not understand and frequently causes them a lot of anxiety. Learn how to show them you're the pack leader as this could reduce anxious behavior considerably and could be a very effective dog calming system.
Being pack leader doesn't mean you have to be domineering with your dog or use dominant strategies like pinning them down, it is more about showing them you're the decision maker and your dog should then be willing to co-operate.
3. Tackle Dog Anxiety with Training
Anxiousness in dogs can cause a lot of manic behavior, and anxious dogs find it difficult to relax and be tranquil, so target your training on strategies that help to reduce anxiety such as desensitization training. This should help them learn new behavior in potentially anxious circumstances and stay calm.
4. Give Your Dog a Lot of Activity
Active and high energy dogs need stimulation and activity, whether that is with a walk or through an energetic play session at home, or perhaps toys that tax their brains. While I don't believe that boredom is the reason for hyperactivity, and know that many dogs are glad to lie around for hours at a time, most dogs also love to engage their minds and tired dogs don't commonly have the energy to be manic!
5. Disregard Your Dog's Manic Behaviour
It's not always straightforward, but ignoring your dog's hyper behaviour, could be an fast and effective dog calming method. Try walking off from them if they start behaving manically. If you move out of the room or garden so they cannot see you, you'll be amazed how often your dog will stop what they are doing to follow you. This is especially effective if your dog is acting up to get your attention.
6. Take Consistent Action
The minute your dog starts getting hyper or acting up, give them a consequence for behaving this way. A little time-out, either in a crate or a limited area where they can't damage themselves or anything else, can be very effective. Put them where they can't see you and wait until they are calm before you let them out. Do this each time it happens and they should learn that they only get attention for being a calm dog.
7. Don't Respond to Your Dog
Make sure you don't reinforce their behaviour by giving them attention for it. Attention might be speaking to them (or even shouting at them in irritation), trying to stroke them or touch them, chasing them or maybe just catching their eye. Attention is like a reward to a dog so they may do it far more frequently. It may also make a dog think that their behaviour is the best way to behave as you gave them attention for it.
8. Use Medicine or Stress Reducing Products
There are herbal products that can be acquired from pet stores or online such a Rescue Remedy which claim to help with dog calming. These are often considered to be more safe compared to drugs, and have less, or no unwanted effects on your dog. Other products like the Thundershirt, Anxiety Wrap or DAP can also help some dogs calm down. Only think about using dog anxiety medication in really extreme scenarios and always take advice from you vet first.
1. Stay Calm Yourself
Learn how to be relaxed and calm around your dogs as they are extremely attuned to moods and their hyper active behaviour may simply be a reaction to the way that you are feeling. Dogs often look to their owners to know how they react in challenging circumstances, so if you stay calm at times when your dog is showing indications of stress, they may follow the lead from you and be calmer themselves.
2. Become the Pack Leader
Ensure your dog does not see themselves as leader of the pack as this makes them responsible for the security of the other members of the pack (you and other people in your household) and the decision maker. This is a difficult job for a dog living in a world they do not understand and frequently causes them a lot of anxiety. Learn how to show them you're the pack leader as this could reduce anxious behavior considerably and could be a very effective dog calming system.
Being pack leader doesn't mean you have to be domineering with your dog or use dominant strategies like pinning them down, it is more about showing them you're the decision maker and your dog should then be willing to co-operate.
3. Tackle Dog Anxiety with Training
Anxiousness in dogs can cause a lot of manic behavior, and anxious dogs find it difficult to relax and be tranquil, so target your training on strategies that help to reduce anxiety such as desensitization training. This should help them learn new behavior in potentially anxious circumstances and stay calm.
4. Give Your Dog a Lot of Activity
Active and high energy dogs need stimulation and activity, whether that is with a walk or through an energetic play session at home, or perhaps toys that tax their brains. While I don't believe that boredom is the reason for hyperactivity, and know that many dogs are glad to lie around for hours at a time, most dogs also love to engage their minds and tired dogs don't commonly have the energy to be manic!
5. Disregard Your Dog's Manic Behaviour
It's not always straightforward, but ignoring your dog's hyper behaviour, could be an fast and effective dog calming method. Try walking off from them if they start behaving manically. If you move out of the room or garden so they cannot see you, you'll be amazed how often your dog will stop what they are doing to follow you. This is especially effective if your dog is acting up to get your attention.
6. Take Consistent Action
The minute your dog starts getting hyper or acting up, give them a consequence for behaving this way. A little time-out, either in a crate or a limited area where they can't damage themselves or anything else, can be very effective. Put them where they can't see you and wait until they are calm before you let them out. Do this each time it happens and they should learn that they only get attention for being a calm dog.
7. Don't Respond to Your Dog
Make sure you don't reinforce their behaviour by giving them attention for it. Attention might be speaking to them (or even shouting at them in irritation), trying to stroke them or touch them, chasing them or maybe just catching their eye. Attention is like a reward to a dog so they may do it far more frequently. It may also make a dog think that their behaviour is the best way to behave as you gave them attention for it.
8. Use Medicine or Stress Reducing Products
There are herbal products that can be acquired from pet stores or online such a Rescue Remedy which claim to help with dog calming. These are often considered to be more safe compared to drugs, and have less, or no unwanted effects on your dog. Other products like the Thundershirt, Anxiety Wrap or DAP can also help some dogs calm down. Only think about using dog anxiety medication in really extreme scenarios and always take advice from you vet first.
About the Author:
Author Venice Marriott is a writer and dog owner and runs a website which provides help and information for dog owners dealing with dog anxiety. Get more information about dog calming methods, when you visit the site.
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