High-energy dogs are a joy to have around, but they can also be challenging to manage. Breeds like Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, and Jack Russell Terriers are known for their boundless energy, which can sometimes lead to destructive behaviour, anxiety, or excessive barking if not properly channelled. Understanding how to manage hyperactivity in these dogs is crucial to ensuring they lead a balanced, healthy, and happy life.
1. Provide Regular Exercise
One of the most important things you can do for a high-energy dog is to ensure they get plenty of exercise. Without sufficient physical activity, a hyperactive dog will often channel their excess energy into undesirable behaviors like chewing, digging, or incessant barking.
- Daily Walks: Aim for at least one long walk each day, preferably with some off-leash time in a safe, enclosed area. High-energy dogs benefit from both mental and physical stimulation, so allowing them to explore new scents and surroundings can be just as important as the physical activity itself.
- Interactive Play: Engage in activities that allow your dog to burn off energy, such as playing fetch, tug-of-war, or hide-and-seek. Dogs like retrievers and herding breeds thrive on these types of interactive play, which helps them use their brains as well as their bodies.
- Agility Training: If your dog loves to run and jump, consider setting up an agility course in your backyard or enrolling them in an agility class. The combination of physical exercise and problem-solving makes agility an excellent outlet for high-energy dogs.
2. Provide Mental Stimulation
While physical exercise is essential for managing hyperactivity, mental stimulation is just as important. Many high-energy dogs are also highly intelligent and need challenges that engage their brains.
- Puzzle Toys: Interactive puzzle toys are a great way to keep your dog’s mind occupied. These toys require your dog to think critically in order to access treats or solve problems, keeping them engaged and mentally stimulated.
- Scent Work: Many dogs love to use their noses, so incorporating scent-based games into their routine can help tire them out mentally. You can hide treats around the house or yard and let your dog sniff them out, or even consider nose work training classes to really challenge their scenting abilities.
- Training Sessions: Consistent training helps keep a hyperactive dog mentally sharp and provides an outlet for their energy. Try teaching your dog new tricks, reinforcing basic obedience commands, or even diving into more advanced training like agility or scent detection.
3. Create a Calm Environment
Sometimes, hyperactivity can be exacerbated by a stressful or chaotic environment. It’s important to create a calm and structured atmosphere that helps your dog feel secure and focused.
- Set a Routine: High-energy dogs thrive on routine. Having consistent feeding times, walk schedules, and playtimes can help them feel more secure and reduce anxiety-driven hyperactivity.
- Designated Rest Areas: Make sure your dog has a comfortable and quiet space where they can relax and unwind. Create a designated area in your home with their bed, some favorite toys, and minimal distractions, where they can retreat when they need a break.
- Calming Aids: Consider using calming products like pheromone diffusers, anxiety wraps (like the Thundershirt), or calming music to help settle your dog during stressful times, such as thunderstorms or when left alone. These can be helpful in managing excess energy that comes from anxiety.
4. Engage in Mental and Physical “Tiredness” Techniques
While regular exercise and mental stimulation are important, you also want to aim for a deeper level of tiredness in your dog. High-energy dogs often need a balance between both their physical and mental states.
- Fetch and Run Sessions: If you have access to a dog-friendly park or a large backyard, engage in long fetch or running sessions. These activities will help tire out your dog physically, but they also provide the mental focus of chasing after a ball.
- Obstacle Courses: Setting up a homemade obstacle course or using agility equipment forces your dog to focus, jump, and weave. This combination of mental focus and physical movement can be a great way to burn off excess energy.
5. Ensure Proper Diet and Nutrition
A balanced diet can play a significant role in your dog’s behavior. Make sure your high-energy dog is getting the appropriate nutrition for their breed, age, and activity level. A lack of essential nutrients can sometimes contribute to restlessness or irritability.
- High-Quality Protein: Dogs with high energy levels need a diet rich in high-quality protein to support their muscles and overall activity. Ensure that your dog’s food includes lean meats like chicken, turkey, or fish.
- Healthy Fats and Fiber: Healthy fats and fiber can help keep your dog satisfied and prevent overeating, which can lead to weight gain or sluggishness. Omega-3 fatty acids, in particular, can help with overall energy levels and cognitive function.
- Consult Your Vet: If you’re unsure whether your dog’s diet is right for their energy level, consult your vet. They can help you select the best food or provide supplements that could help manage their energy.
6. Recognize and Manage Anxiety
Sometimes, what seems like hyperactivity is actually anxiety. High-energy dogs may exhibit hyperactive behaviors when they are stressed, fearful, or uncertain. Identifying the underlying cause of hyperactivity is important for addressing it properly.
- Identify Triggers: Pay attention to situations or events that trigger your dog’s hyperactivity. Are they excited or anxious during certain moments of the day (like when guests arrive, during thunderstorms, or when they’re left alone)? Recognizing these triggers will help you manage their anxiety and address the root cause of their behavior.
- Desensitization Techniques: If your dog has specific fears or anxieties (like being left alone), desensitization exercises can help them learn to cope. Gradually expose your dog to the trigger in small doses, rewarding calm behavior with praise and treats.
7. Use Positive Reinforcement Training
High-energy dogs often need guidance in learning self-control and appropriate behaviors. Positive reinforcement training is the best way to teach them how to channel their energy in more appropriate ways.
- Reward Calm Behavior: Reward your dog for calm and relaxed behaviors with treats and praise. Positive reinforcement encourages them to repeat these calm behaviors and helps them learn to settle.
- Teach “Calm” Commands: Commands like “settle” or “calm” can be helpful in teaching your dog to relax on cue. Practice these commands regularly, and reward your dog when they successfully respond by calming down.
Conclusion
Managing hyperactivity in high-energy dogs takes time, patience, and consistency. By providing regular exercise, mental stimulation, and a calm, structured environment, you can help your high-energy dog learn to manage their enthusiasm in healthy ways. Additionally, being proactive in recognizing anxiety or behavioural triggers and rewarding calm behaviour will help foster a positive relationship and reduce hyperactivity over time. With the right approach, you can ensure your dog stays happy, healthy, and well-behaved—whether they’re bouncing off the walls or resting peacefully by your side.
