Most dogs are active or hyperactive due to their age, breed (or breeds, if your dog is a mixed breed) and the amount of training. Younger dogs are typically more active than older dogs. Breeds that are made to work all day such as those in the Herding Group or working dogs like Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes are naturally full of energy. A dog who is bored and lacks training will be more hyperactive than a dog who has something to do.
If you have a hyper puppy who has never been trained and who comes from a long line of herding dogs, the good news is that with patience, you can help them relax.
Instructions
1. Take the dog for a walk. In many cases, the hyperactive dog is hyperactive because he needs more exercise. Most dogs love going for walks, which means putting him on a leash and taking him for a long walk once or twice a day. The walk will help settle him down and will help him bond to you.
2. Play fetch with tennis balls or throw a flying disc so your dog can catch it. Most active dogs love chasing after things, and tennis balls and flying discs are perfect entertainment. A half hour or so of fetch will have your pup too pooped to pop.
3. Get your pup a playmate. This may not be real training, but often the hyperactive dog just needs someone to keep him busy. Another dog his age and size might be just the pal he needs.
4. Start obedience training with the clicker. Clicker training is a positive reinforcement training technique where you reward desirable behavior and ignore bad behavior. The clicker is a device you click every time the dog does something you want him to do. It is then immediately followed up by a small treat. This is called "click and treat." The dog soon associates the correct action with the reward and looks for the click as a marker of when he has done something right. For example, you can click and treat whenever your dog sits. Then, when he sits, add the command "sit" when clicking and treating.
By giving your dog something to focus on and learn, he exercises his brain and has to concentrate on doing things right to get the reward. He also starts focusing on you and not on whatever he's doing. Because it takes so much energy to learn, simple obedience training such as sit, down, come, stay and walk nicely on leash goes a long way in settling down your dog.
5. Teach your dog the command "settle." While he's lying down behaving himself in a particular spot you want him to stay, click using the clicker and give him a small treat (click and treat). Every time he lies down in that spot, click and treat. Then, pair that behavior with the word "settle." Next, when he's acting obnoxious, tell him to "settle" and watch him go to the spot you taught him. Click and treat for that.
6. Give your dog a job to do. Most dogs like to feel useful. Have your dog carry a backpack and help you with the groceries. Have him fetch the newspaper or train him to find your car keys.
To fetch the newspaper or car keys, show your dog the newspaper or car keys and click and treat him. When he shows enough interest to touch the newspaper or car keys, click and treat. If he mouths the newspaper or car keys, click and treat. When he picks up the newspaper or keys, click and treat. Now lay the paper or keys a few feet from him, when he goes to pick it up, use a command like "paper" or "keys" and click and treat after he picks up the item. (He'll have to drop or give it to you to get the treat.) Practice with the paper or keys in various areas, clicking and treating for each success.
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