Dogs, like humans, experience heightened states of arousal or excitement. While excitement can be beneficial, excessive arousal can lead to hyperactivity and behavioural challenges. If you're struggling with how to calm an overexcited dog, it's essential to understand the root causes of this behaviour and the techniques that can help bring your dog back to a balanced state of mind. This article will explore various methods to help calm an overexcited dog and improve their overall well-being.

Recognising Anxiety and Over-Excitement in Dogs

Anxiety in dogs often manifests through excessive barking, panting, chewing, or destructive behaviours when left alone. Overexcited dogs, on the other hand, may show hyperactivity, excessive vocalisation, and inability to sit still. Recognising these signs allows you to address the problem early on.

Common Signs of Anxiety:

  • Excessive barking, whining, or crying
  • Panting or drooling excessively
  • Over-grooming or destructive chewing
  • Difficulty settling down
  • Accidents in the house (even when house-trained)

Common Signs of Over-Excitement:

  • Inability to stay still
  • Jumping at people or objects
  • Incessant chewing or mounting
  • Rapid, shallow breathing or racing heart rate
  • Reactivity to external stimuli (e.g., people, dogs, noises)

You may have often heard dog trainers or behaviourists talk about excessive excitement in dogs, the so-called "arousal". But what is it exactly? And what can you do about it? Let's see each other in this article.


What Causes Anxiety and Over-Excitement?

Several factors contribute to a dog’s anxiety or excessive arousal:

  1. Separation Anxiety: Dogs may become distressed when left alone.
  2. Social Behaviour: Some dogs become overstimulated with people or other dogs in social settings.
  3. Fear and PTSD: Traumatic experiences may cause dogs to become hyper-vigilant or excessively excited.
  4. Unfulfilled Needs: A lack of physical or mental stimulation often leads to frustration and hyperactivity.
  5. Physical Conditions: Underlying medical issues can make a dog appear hyperactive or anxious.
  6. Hormones: Hormonal imbalances, including stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, can exacerbate anxiety or over-excitement.

Addressing these underlying causes is the first step to calming your dog.

Techniques to Calm Your Dog

Here are practical methods to help soothe your dog's anxiety and excessive arousal.

1. Calm Yourself First

Dogs are highly empathetic and can pick up on your emotional state. Your dog will likely mirror these emotions if you are stressed or anxious. Take a moment to calm yourself before attempting to soothe your pet. A peaceful walk or engaging in a relaxing activity can help both you and your dog settle down.

2. Tellington Touch Method

The Tellington TTouch method is an effective way to calm over-excited dogs. It works by enhancing their body awareness through gentle movements and touch. This technique reduces stress and improves focus by teaching dogs to engage with their environment more mindfully. The "Path of Confidence" exercise is beneficial, as it encourages dogs to navigate through household objects, enhancing their spatial awareness and promoting inner calm.

How to Set Up a Confidence Course:

  • Use household items like broom handles, tyres, or cushions to create a low obstacle course.
  • Encourage your dog to walk over or around these objects without stepping on them.
  • Stop intermittently to help your dog focus and build confidence.

These exercises calm your dog and stimulate its mind, making it less likely to become over-aroused or anxious in the future.

3. Rub Their Tummy

A simple tummy rub can work wonders for a stressed dog. Dogs often seek physical reassurance from their owners, and this gentle, familiar touch can help calm their nervous energy.

4. Change Their Environment

If your dog becomes anxious in specific environments, such as when confined to the house, take them outside for a change of scenery. A brief walk, a trip to the park, or even a car ride can help to distract your dog from their anxiety and introduce positive stimuli.

5. Proper Diet

Avoid processed foods, as they can contribute to anxiety and hyperactivity in dogs. Opt for natural foods without additives or preservatives, ensuring your dog has the nutrients to remain calm and healthy.

6. Exercise and Playtime

Physical activity is crucial for managing both anxiety and hyperactivity. Regular exercise helps release pent-up energy and promotes relaxation. Take your dog on walks or play interactive games with them, like fetch or tug-of-war, to provide the mental and physical stimulation they need.

7. Routine and Structure

A daily routine can help reduce uncertainty and calm an anxious or over-excited dog. Consistency in feeding times, walks, and playtime gives your dog a sense of stability and reduces stress.

8. Use Calming Signals

You can try gentle eye contact, slow movements, and soft voice tones to reassure your dog when feeling overwhelmed. Avoid sudden loud noises or fast gestures, as these can heighten their anxiety.

9. Grooming and Touch

Proper grooming helps maintain a dog’s health and alleviates discomfort from overgrown nails or matted fur, which can cause irritation. Regular brushing, trimming, and cleaning also offer a bonding opportunity that can help calm your dog.

Key Takeaways

  1. Excessive arousal in dogs can stem from various causes, including social behaviour, fear, physical problems, and hormonal influences.
  2. The Tellington Touch method, notably the Path of Confidence exercise, can effectively calm overexcited dogs.
  3. Creating a confidence course using household objects can help dogs develop better body awareness and calmness.
  4. Consistency and patience are crucial when implementing calming techniques for overexcited dogs.
  5. By consulting with a veterinarian, it's essential to rule out physical issues as a cause of overexcitement.
  6. Calming techniques help reduce overexcitement and strengthen the bond between dog and owner.

How to Start the Course

Have your dog wear a comfortable harness and attach a lead. With the dog on a lead, routes should be constantly introduced. If the dog is agitated with the leash but can follow your hand like a target, you can also introduce free-dog runs. 

The important thing is that the dog concentrates on the proposed activities; the lead can be inserted later when he calms down. You start by strolling through the elements of the confidence trail. One can stop often, for a few seconds, in the middle of a component. 

This could be while walking between tyres, on a curve in a weave or maze, or even when the dog has two front legs on one side of a pole and the hind legs on the other. Don't worry if the dog is fast, clumsy or distracted initially. The important thing is to keep calm and, if necessary, use a small treat as an incentive for a short time, placing the treat on the ground a little distance in front of him with slow hand movements.

Dogs can often be overexcited simply because they lead an unsatisfactory life from a motor and cognitive point of view. Channelling their energy expenditure into activities that help strengthen the relationship and respect would be necessary. The problem leads to inadequate control over your faithful friend because he is too agitated and distracted by everything. The appetitive phase is where everything begins—objective, concentration, fixation. (Compulsive licking is also an excellent indication of severe behavioural problems).

Avoiding Over-Stimulation

Limiting triggers and stimuli that cause dogs to become hyper-aroused is important for dogs prone to overexcitement. If your dog is sensitive to certain environments or social settings, introduce it slowly and in controlled ways, using the Tellington TTouch and Path of Confidence exercises to help it better manage these situations.

Conclusion

Helping to calm an overexcited dog requires patience and consistency. You can guide your dog towards a calmer, more controlled state by recognising the triggers of excessive arousal and using techniques such as confidence-building exercises and sensory training. With time and practice, these methods will not only calm an overexcited dog but also strengthen your bond and improve your dog’s behaviour in everyday situations.

Q&As

Common signs include excessive vocalizations, inability to sit still, throwing themselves at objects or people, incessant chewing, inappropriate mounting, reactivity, inability to calm down, and physiological reactions like accelerated breathing.

The Tellington Touch method works with all sensory levels of the animal, particularly proprioception. It aims to teach dogs new movement skills and modify over-aroused behaviour, bringing them into a state of inner calm.

The Path of Confidence is a course created with various objects and surfaces that encourage the dog to move in new ways. It helps the dog focus on its body positioning and environment, promoting calmness and better awareness.

Initially, 10 to 15 minutes may be sufficient, followed by a break. The duration depends on the dog's ability to maintain concentration.

No, the dog should not be given vocal signals during this exercise. The focus is on the dog's awareness of proprioception, not obedience.


Comparison Table: Traditional Methods vs. Tellington Touch Method

AspectTraditional MethodsTellington Touch Method
FocusOften on obedience and controlBody awareness and sensory experience
ApproachMay use verbal commands and treatsEmphasizes movement and touch
Exercise TypeStandard obedience trainingSpecialized exercises like Path of Confidence
DurationOften longer training sessionsShort, focused sessions (10-15 minutes)
GoalImmediate behavior changeLong-term calmness and self-awareness
ToolsLeash, collar, treatsHarness, varied surfaces, household objects
StimulationMay increase arousal through commandsAims to reduce arousal through movement
ApplicationGeneral obedience situationsSpecific to overarousal and excitement issues
Owner InvolvementDirect control and commandGentle guidance and facilitation
Stress LevelMay increase stress in some dogsAims to reduce stress and promote calmness

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