Every dog owner needs these training Tips For Getting A Young Dog To Calm Down. The first time you arrive home and are attacked (albeit lovingly!) by a hyper jumping dog, you know how important it is to find those special ways that make your dog settle down and not behave so high strung. With recent questions from readers, we thought we would look more closely at options on how to get a young dog to calm down.
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Training Tips For Getting A Young Dog To Calm Down
Recent reader question that inspired this post:
“Skye is going to be 1 next week, and she is very hyper! She always jumps on everyone and tries to play bite a lot. She got spayed 2 weeks ago. I thought that would calm her down, but it hasn’t. Any advice on what I should to get her to be calmer?”
Right away let’s address one misconception within our reader’s question. To spay or neuter your dog, will not immediately calm them down. It is, however, a great way to settle their raging hormones and help them settle. Only 2 weeks out from surgery that puppy still has some adjusting to do. It can sometimes take several months for the hormone levels in a dog to settle into a normal pace. Much like it would for a human in similar surgical situations, it takes more than just a few weeks to see a noticeable difference in behavior.
Get rid of excess energy. Usually, the reason a dog is hyper is that they are high energy. A few minutes of play when you walk them at night isn’t enough. For a young and hyper dog, it will require a lot of play time. Not just letting them go out in the yard to run, but interactive play. Throwing a ball, Frisbee or playing catch with them and getting them to run a lot is great ways to get rid of their energy. For a young dog, this means you spend 2-3 hours a day working with them to get rid of energy.
Invest in obedience training. There is a lot to be said about an obedience training class to keep dogs in line. Especially young dogs that like to jump on people. Not only will they learn that good behavior is rewarded, but they will also learn when it is appropriate to get excited and play.
Adjust their diet. Just like a kid may need dietary adjustments to help them calm down, so could a dog. Check out what kinds of ingredients are in their dog food and check for more natural, organic, dye free and grain free diets for better nutrition.
Play. Play. Play. This is a repeat of getting rid of excess energy but is worth repeating. For young dogs, it is almost always a problem with not enough play time. Go to dog parks, grab toys and play in your backyard or take them for a jog. You have to spend the time to wear them down.
These are just a few of our best training tips for getting a young dog to calm down. Whether your pet is a few months old, or a few years – these tips are great for keeping the peace in your home with a hyperactive dog.
Do you have any other tips for getting a young dog to calm down? Have you successfully taken your pooch to relax? Share your training tips in the comments!
