How to calm an excited dog?

 One of the behavioural problems often mentioned by dog guardians is related to the animal's ardour, which makes it agitated, nervous or anxious, making it difficult to live together.

The fact that a dog is excited is a common excuse used by unscrupulous people who abandon their pets. It is therefore very important to learn how to calm your dog. In this article in The Pretty Pets, we explain how to calm an excited dog so that we can enjoy a happy coexistence with our best friend.

1-Before adopting

Dogs, like all animals, have their own individual character, so don't think that they are all loving, playful, calm or obedient. It is therefore important, whenever possible, to consult the people responsible for the dog to find out about its characteristics before adopting it, so that it can adapt as well as possible to our living conditions.

If we are wondering how to calm an excited dog, the first step is to make sure his energy matches ours. For example, if we live in an apartment and spend most of the day outside, it is difficult to meet the needs of a dog or puppy whose unspent energy will most likely result in the dog destroying objects when you are not around.

2-How to calm your dog while walking? - The importance of physical exercise

If we want to understand how to calm an excited dog, we must first of all be aware of the importance of physical exercise. Although the intensity of this exercise will depend on the characteristics of the dog, they will all need daily exercise. Walking the dog is fundamental and can be complemented by running, jumping, various games and even swimming.

Three walks per day are generally recommended, two short (about 15 minutes) and one long (about 40-60 minutes), always adapted to the dog's circumstances and taking into account that puppies should not come into contact with unknown dogs or their secretions before completing their vaccination schedule.

Even animals living on large properties will need to be walked, as they will soon become familiar with the terrain and, without going outside, they may become bored and show signs of agitation that will cause them to try to escape or cause damage. A well-trained dog will be more relaxed at home.

3-How to calm an overactive dog? - Training

Let's make one thing very clear: dog training does not mean that we want our dog to respond mechanically to our instructions. We want the basic commands of dog obedience to be understood by the dog to help him stay quiet. These commands are usually those that tell him to sit, lie down, walk beside us or wait quietly. If we have any doubts about the learning process, we can consult professional canine trainers.

The function of this teaching is to calm and guide our dog in situations where he may feel uncomfortable. For example, if we are in an unfamiliar and hostile place, such as the veterinary clinic, or if we receive visitors at home, our dog may become confused and not know how to react, which often manifests itself by barking or climbing on people.

In these times of uncertainty, hearing a familiar word such as "calm" or "sitting" can calm the dog. Therefore, if we want to know how to have a calm dog, we cannot avoid this step. We should always educate in a positive way, i.e. we should not scold and/or punish the animal, but praise appropriate behaviours and always do it when the dog is calm to encourage calm behaviour, like a virtuous circle.

4-How to calm a nervous dog? - The game

Play is another of the fundamental pillars that we must pay attention to if we want to know how to calm an excited dog, especially if you have a playful dog. Knowing him, we will know what his favourite game is, as some prefer running, others chase balls and others like activity circuits where they can also jump and climb.

A good play session, as often as the dog needs it, will help your dog to release energy and thus be calmer and more responsive. However, we must avoid games where the animal is too excited, nervous or obsessed. It is also very practical to encourage play with other dogs, who we are sure are friendly and healthy.

5-The tutor-dog link

We have just seen how to calm an excited dog on the basis of fundamental aspects that cannot be understood without reference to the dog-guardian bond, that is to say the relationship of trust that we must establish with our dog and that will allow him to remain calm by our side.

To encourage him, in addition to sharing walks and games, we can use relaxing massages. In addition, we should always talk to him in a calm, soft voice, because the dog's behaviour will reflect our attitude. In this way, if we shout or make a sudden gesture, we will transmit restlessness to our dog.

6-Why is my puppy excited?

Here we are talking about how to calm an excited puppy, a subject that often raises many questions in inexperienced guardians. The first thing to do is to make sure that the puppies have been separated from their mother at the appropriate age, otherwise anxiety related behaviour may occur and you are not likely to have a calm little dog, quite the contrary! "Why is my dog crying? "Why is my dog angry? "you may ask. Separating the puppy from its mommy too soon may be one of the possible answers to these questions.

7- At what age does a dog calm down?

At what age does a puppy calm down? It is completely normal for a puppy to be active and want to play, walk and chew all the time. This is not an unusual behaviour for a dog. On the contrary, it is a behaviour that, if properly managed, will decrease over the months. In order to channel this great energy, the aspects we have mentioned are valid and, above all, we must be aware that a puppy does not act with malice and must be educated so that he knows how to behave, where to relieve himself, what he can and cannot play with, etc.

Therefore, in order to have a calm dog at this stage, it is necessary to establish clear limits, devote a lot of time to him and offer him adequate activities. If we have difficulties, we should consult a behavioral professional but, above all, we should be aware that taking care of a puppy requires work and time, therefore not everyone will be able to take care of him and it is good to be aware of this before adopting one.

8-Why is my dog angry at night?

As mentioned above, a dog with a very active personality, such as a sporting dog, may have an overflow of energy that he can't spend during the day. This overflow of energy makes the dog nervous and excited, especially at the end of the day. So, if you notice your dog is "pissed off" at night, your dog may need more play and exercise to be calmer. This may be a signal he's sending you.

Also, it is common for dogs to become active right after eating. If you notice a cause and effect between feeding your dog in the evening and increased excitement immediately afterwards, make sure you adapt as best as you can to the situation. You can do this by feeding your dog in the evening a little earlier so that you have time to take him out for a walk right afterwards and help your dog use up the extra energy.