Most dogs have a zest for life that puts even the most active human in the shade. However, if your dog is an uncontrollable ball of energy, there are three probable reasons - lack of exercise, anxiety and lack of leadership.

All of these have one common denominator. They are all within your control.

Curing Your Dog’s Boredom

A common factor for many over-excitable dogs is that they are simply bored. The dog gets no regular physical or mental stimulation. He lays around all day waiting for your return, and when you arrive he explodes into action.

This is pretty easy to resolve - give your dog some exercise! All dogs need exercise and this is an area where many dog owners, unfortunately, shirk their responsibility.

How much exercise do they need? That depends on breed, age and physical condition. If you have a Bulldog, you’ll probably get away with a leisurely half-hour walk around the block daily, if you own a Husky, be prepared for 2-3 hours of high intensity work (at least!).

Tackling Separation Anxiety

Many dogs that suffer from separation anxiety are prone to over-excitement. This is a condition that afflicts many “home-alone” dogs. It can be a difficult issue to overcome, but there are changes you can make right away to start addressing the problem.

*Stop Rewarding Your Dog - By this I mean stop giving attention, whether positive or negative, while the dog is running around, jumping up and barking. Once the dog has calmed down, give attention and maybe a treat to re-enforce the desired behavior.

*Vary Your Routine - Dogs are very tuned in to routines. Your dog will have noticed the ritual you go through every time you leave home. You probably don’t even know you have a “departure routine”, but your dog has noticed it, and it acts as a trigger for his anxiety. Deliberately varying your routine will break the trigger for his anxiety.

*Restrict him to a small area - A dog that is left alone in a large empty house will always become anxious. Restricting him to a smaller area and providing a secure “den”, like a dog crate, will calm him down.*Give him something to keep him occupied - A dog gets pretty bored hanging around for 10 to 12 hours with nothing to do. Keep him occupied with some chew toys, and a hidden treat or two to find.

Provide Pack Leadership

A dog needs to know his place in the pack, and without this he is anxious and uncertain about how to behave. One of the best ways to help your dog understand his place in the “pecking order” is through obedience training.

Training provides discipline and mental stimulation. It also establishes your leadership. Once your dog accepts this, he’ll naturally calm down.

Applying these 3 principles will have a noticeable effect on your dog’s hyper-active behavior. Keep in mind that not all dogs were created equal. Some dogs (and some breeds) are just by nature more boisterous than others.

Find out more about dog obedience training, dog care, dog walking and other helpful dog advice at www.dogsanddogtraining.com

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