 Wondering if you have a Hyperactive Dog?
What exactly is "hyper," is it energetic, active, or overly playful?
If your dog constantly demands your attention, chews on your belongings to “get a rise out of you”, goes from adventure to adventure without stopping, and hasn't the slightest idea what the word “relax” means, then you are definitely dealing with an intelligent, bored dog, with built up energy.
By nature dogs are genetically “wired” for survival mechanism to be anxious and energetic. Some dog breeds such as hunting and herding dogs are bred to have bondless energy in order to perform their intended tasks. Unfortunately many soon-to-be dog owners fall short on researching this aspect of their dog's breed before bringing them home. Sadly enough, one of the top reasons many dogs end up in animal shelters is simply because owners are unable to cope with such overbearing behavior.
True dog hyperactivity or obsessive behavior relates to a fairly uncommon medical condition requiring a veterinary's attention, and hyper doesn't always accurately define the symptoms. If your dog is spinning in circles, barking at shadows, licking his own feet or otherwise behaving obsessively, you may be faced with a medical issue. Symptoms of true hyperactivity include frantic abnormal behavior, pacing endlessly, excessive panting, compulsive habits (tail chasing) and anxious restlessness. You love and you want your dog to be happy, but constantly dealing with an overly active dog can become trying. Luckily, there are several dog calming methods available for highly energetic and active dogs. All dogs need regular daily exercise, but overly energetic dogs need double doses. Try two long walks per day, and plenty of games of fetch to really focus on burning up their energy. Other suggestions include: Signing up for an obedience training class, teach your dog a new command daily, or take up a “Fido Sport” like Frisbee, fly ball, agility, tracking Give dogs plenty of their own chew toys, especially when leaving them alone. For dogs that love to dig, designate their very own digging spot in the backyard by building a doggy sand pit. Dogs, like children need plenty of quality rest time and there is no better way to persuade this than crate training your dog. Once dogs become comfortable with their crates, believe it or not they actually love retreating to this special calm space, and learn “crate” means doggy down time. Many "hyper" behaviors stem from the simple fact that your dog has too much wired energy. Playing a few extra rounds of fetch or a trip to the dog park are great ways to utilize this extra oomph. And if stimulating your dog with learning and wearing him or her out does not solve the problem behavior, you may have a true hyperactive dog that you will want to have your veterinarian examine. A tired dog is a happy dog, and calm dogs make happy owners. |
