I'm currently working with a few clients whose dogs have lots of energy that can sometimes make them challenging to live with, especially when that energy is channeled into behaviors that are not appreciated by us humans, like stealing household items, garbage raiding, destructive chewing, indoor zoomies, and overly rough play with us.
A few years ago, I wrote an article about exercise and enrichment ideas for dogs, and you will find some helpful tips there.
In today's article, I'd like to share a few additional thoughts. The first is about helping your dog rein in their impulsive behavior and learn to be calmer when anticipating something fun. The second includes ideas for safe, off-leash freedom so your dog can romp with joy and expend some excess energy.
CALMNESS LEADS TO GOOD THINGS
When dogs are easily aroused and unable to control their impulses during exciting situations, they're more likely to display behaviors we find troublesome. To address this, begin by taking a look at a typical day with your dog and jot down the times when they physically get highly animated and thus are likely to display unwanted behavior (like jumping up, unpleasant mouthiness, zooming around like a bull in a china shop, etc.). For example, they might behave in undesired ways when:
You're preparing their meal
You're ready to clip on a leash for a walk, or you're putting on shoes and coat
You're about to open the crate or a door that leads outside
You pick up a toy (or any novel object)
You get up from a sedentary position and are now moving through the room
These can be tough times for an excitable dog, so our job is to teach them that calm, quiet behavior is the best way to 'score' something they find enjoyable. Following the bullet points above, you could teach your dog to:
Remain quietly on a mat while meals are being prepared
Sit calmly for leashing or while a person is putting on clothing
Wait calmly and give eye contact when a door is being opened
Be quiet and keep all four paws on the floor when a person holds a toy (check out this video demonstration which is an excerpt from a training video I produced especially for excitable dogs called Fido Refined.)
Move calmly beside a person as they go from sofa to kitchen or elsewhere in the house
In the examples above, you can see the training doesn't need to be anything fancy. The goal is simply for the dog to learn that reining in their excitement and behaving calmly is what leads to all the stuff they love. And if we break each task down into small steps and consistently reward all positive steps in the right direction, dogs quickly learn a new way to behave (as seen in the video demo linked above).
Here's an example of a quick outline of the training steps to help your dog remain calm while you prepare their meal:
Stand near the site where food is prepared. Reward dog for sitting.
Reach for the food container. Reward dog for remaining seated (and continue to do so for the rest of the steps outlined below).
If the dog makes a mistake at any point, pause your actions and quietly wait for them to resume sitting before you begin the step again.
Jostle the food container.
Scoop up some food.
Drop a few pieces of food in the bowl.
Lift the bowl.
Move the bowl partly toward the floor.
Place the bowl on the floor and invite your dog to eat.
Repeat!
OFF-LEASH OUTLETS
High-energy dogs certainly benefit from off-leash outdoor romps, giving them a chance to zoom around, sniff, and explore. But not everyone has a large fenced yard, many dogs are not candidates for off-leash dog play at parks or day cares, and without training a lot of dogs wouldn't be safe running in unfenced areas. If you don't have a fenced yard, perhaps you can make arrangements to regularly visit a friend or family member's home that does has secure fencing. You can also rent a private 'dog park' of your own, hosted by someone in your area, through Sniffspot. (Not every rental is fenced, so be sure to read details carefully for each location.) The cost is usually quite modest, and access to novel locations can be so enriching for our dogs!
If you're in need of any training or behavior assistance with your high-energy, exuberant dog,
please get in touch. I'd love to help you reach your goals! My email is virginiadare2013@gmail.com.
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