"Why is my dog active all the time?"That's a question the owners keep asking me about their dog. I am sure many of you have already asked yourself this question. Sometimes the activity of some dogs can make you "crazy" if you are not prepared for it. I even hear about hyperactivity!
But what is too active a dog? It is a dog that has great difficulty resting and always seems to be active. He jumps on you and destroys the house. It's the dog you're afraid to take Grandma Huguette with you so he doesn't destroy the house.
Hyperactive dog-hypersensitive
Let me begin by telling you that your dog probably does not have any clinical disorders such as hyperactivity or the so-called HS-HA syndrome.
If it is one of the following symptoms, it is probably hyperactive. In the vast majority of cases, however, your dog's behavior can be traced back to another cause. The dog Hs-Ha is constantly overexcited and since he is small, he has always been so. It is a dog that will be described as "turbulent", "uncontrollable", "tireless".
Constant restlessness, can not land.
Sleeps less than 8 hours in 24 hours, even if he is a puppy. So this dog has significant sleep disturbances.
Very sensitive because it reacts to the slightest stimulus: like a passing fly, the sound of a car or people talking in the distance.
Learning disability
Obsessive about eating or playing can bark nonstop
Does not control his bite, he has a lack of self-control.
It can also have stereotypical behaviors such as turning or swallowing imaginary flies
Currently, HS-HA syndrome is still being discussed in the veterinary community. In fact, this syndrome is said to be rare, but this label will be stuck to many dogs that do not suffer from this pathology. It is a kind of abbreviation, as some people do with the dominant word. A dog can have similar symptoms due to many different factors, without actually being sick. Only a behavioral veterinarian can diagnose HS-HA in dogs. You have a list of recognized behaviorists here on ZOOPSY.
If my dog is not sick, why is he too active?
Genetic Potential
Now let's take a look at what can cause a dog's overload. The reality to remember is that your dog is apt to be active. The dogs were all selected for certain reasons. Their genetics were processed in such a way that the dog performs tasks that are demanded by humans.
I do not suggest that the dog should work and not be a family dog. But when choosing your dog, you need to pay attention to its genetic potential. How many Malinois or Australian shepherds leave each year because they are "too active"? The associations are so saturated that some do not want to take these races because they are too difficult to replace.
Hundreds of years of human selection have produced hunting dog breeds, speed sport, herd, and traction. A strong selection was performed on several genes related to cardiovascular, muscle, and neural functions.
Modern dogs differ among domesticated species by the wide range of phenotypic variations caused by humans. Breeds reflect the development of the dog's place in the human environment with well-defined physical and behavioral attributes.
In short, some dogs were selected and created for their abilities in certain tasks. So it is normal to find dogs that cannot adapt to a "simple" family life. Simply understand an environment that does not allow him to fully express himself in these behaviors.
Boredom
That is the reason number 1 for the "hyperactive" behavior of the dog! Dogs are usually quite relaxed individuals. They sleep or relax up to 16 hours a day, in some dogs even more. But for the remaining hours, you need to be busy.
Free dogs living on the streets spend their time hunting, following, playing, or fighting with other dogs. The worst thing for the dog is a lack of physical and/or mental stimulation. But this is the case with many dogs.
If the only thing you did on your day was to wait for your spouse at 8 o'clock in the morning if you were already asleep at 8 o'clock in the evening, wouldn't that be boring? If the only interesting thing you did on your day was a 30-minute walk, wouldn't you end up bored? Some dogs need more stimulation than others.
Unfortunately, not all dogs get the amount of stimulation they need. And this can cause the dog to remain active and develop disturbing behavior (barking, aggressiveness, permanent arousal, destruction, etc.).
If you are looking for stimulating activities for your dog, you can find ideas for our free online training: 10 activities to stimulate your dog.
Too tired,
In fact, the opposite of boredom can also make your dog too active. While it is good to provide your dog with activities, you can also overdo it.
Too much activity can irritate the dog by its surroundings. He will then react quickly, with the illusion that he is still active. In fact, he would like to land in a quiet place and probably sleep. Fatigue can be physical, mental, or even physiological. Here are some signs that your dog may be tired:
gaping
Difficulty concentrating for things he knows
look to lie down
sniffing the floor
it will be exaggerated in these behaviors
it can even mask
sick / no more eating/temperature drop
There can be a variety of other signs that your dog is too tired. Stay attentive to your dog. If he is a puppy, remember that he can rest for at least 18 hours a day.
Hyperstimulation of the puppy
A big mistake for many homeowners. Some people stimulate their puppy from birth so that he is not bored and learns many things, then will stimulate him.
This is a problem because a puppy should be able to rest for at least 18 hours. if you stimulate your puppy too much, you create an adult dog that is resilient and needs double stimulation to calm down. For example, if you walk your puppy for 1 hour each day, after 12 months, he will need double to be satisfied.
The first lessons are often: sit, admonish, walk on a leash. These are behaviors that teach the activity of the puppy. I'm not saying it's wrong. But that doesn't have to be the only priority.
One of the first things a puppy should learn is rest. Know safely land anywhere. Understand that rest pays off. It is a question of balance.
The age of the question
Obviously, a dog is often active in its youth. This is quite normal, just like people, they long for discovery. Dogs often become less active as they get older. It is simply the cycle of life.
Health problem
The health factor is equally important to control. In fact, a desire to urinate or a simple upset stomach can cause the dog to be active. Consider regular veterinary checks to make sure your dog is doing well.
Uncertainty
Sometimes the dog feels insecure. Whether at home or elsewhere, the dog then remains hypervigilant so that nothing happens to him. It can be observed in dogs that leave shelters, in dogs that have just moved, or even in dogs that are abused.
Then we must be able to free the dog from its situation. You can do this in various ways, such as teaching the dog to move into a "happy zone" that will follow him everywhere. In cases of abuse, there is no choice but to change the family dog and give it time to regain its trust.
A dog must always feel safe at home and with its owner. Punishment is one of the elements that make the dog anxious. The dog, which does not feel safe at home, could develop other, much more boring behaviors, such as aggressiveness, impurity, destruction, and howl.
My dog is too active: 5 tips that could help
Now that you know where your dog's excess energy comes from, here are some tips that can help you.
1. Physical exercise
This is an important factor! Not all dogs need the same amount. You should take your dog every day, even if you have a garden. Moreover, you will find an activity to do for two (obedience, agility, tracking, foaming ball, run, Cani-mountain Biking, frisbee, hoopers, dog athletics, etc.). They are available for every taste, breed, and age!
However, you also need to provide stimulation that suits your dog personally. Some dogs walk 2 hours a day and are not tired, because it is not the activity that suits them best. Everything depends on your dog. Even if some dogs are selected for a "function", this does not mean that this dog should and can perform it. Some huskies do not like to pull the bike and prefer to pick up the ball, for example.
2. Mental exercise
Mentally boosting your dog is just important. It is rarely satisfying to live entirely on physical exercise. Mental exercise can easily be provided with playing with the dog's smell or even his thinking.
If you allow the dog to use his thinking, your relationship will develop and also allow the dog to exercise his intelligence. It also allows the dog to develop its autonomy. So it's a very good thing for dogs that suffer from hyper-attachment.
3. Learning to rest
Once you are sure that your dog is doing enough mental and physical exercise, you can begin to teach him rest. Because, as I have already mentioned, some dogs tend to get excited more easily than others. So it's good to know how to land them.
I can only recommend our online training on this topic, created by Nicolas Bonet, our head of the Centre and trainer of Perpignan: CALM DOG TRAINING.
4. Your behavior
Dogs are sensitive creatures. They are often modeled after our own behavior. Once you are stressed, angry, sad, excited, anything but relaxed, some dogs will be in emotions and stop asking!
Your dog's behavior says a lot about you. You can also see it through this article: What your dog behavior shows about you.
If you want your dog to stay calm, learn to interact with him calmly. From stroking to a treat or a look at your dog, everything should be relaxed. You need to be patient and above all caring to achieve results.
5. Know your dog
That makes sense, but not for everyone. You need to get to know your dog to make the right choice.
Whether breed, age, personality, or career, you must understand him, give him what he needs.
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