Helping a hyper or restless dog to calm down

Some dogs are easily overexcited. This is common in working breeds because they were bred to do busy active jobs, but can be the case with any dog. If they don’t get enough exercise or chances to use their brain, they may use their energy by getting hyperactive.  

Some dogs may use hyperactive behaviour if they feel stressed or worried. Many dogs may find it difficult to settle and relax, especially if they weren’t taught to settle in busy or exciting situations.

It’s important to meet your dog’s needs every day to stop them being under-stimulated or getting stressed by inconsistent routines. Meeting your dog’s needs and giving them a predictable routine can help your dog feel satisfied and able to relax.

Your dog’s needs will depend on their age, size, breed and individual interests. You should give them a routine which makes sure they consistently get the right food, exercise, rest and chances to use their brain through enrichment activities.

You can help meet your dog’s needs by:

• Making sure they have a healthy diet. If you’re unsure, check in with your vet.
• Giving them regular exercise that suits their age, health, breed and size, like walks or toy play.
• Giving them enrichment activities like training, food puzzles, safe dog chews, toys or sniffing games to exercise their brain.
• Making sure they have plenty of chances to rest during the day as well as overnight. Most adult dogs need between 12 – 14 hours of sleep a day, and puppies or older dogs need even more. Your dog should have a quiet comfy area to relax with a bed and access to water.
• Introducing puppies to people, dogs and public places at a young age after their vaccinations, so they can learn how to be calm in these situations. If your puppy hasn’t been vaccinated yet, you can let them see these things from the boot of your car or by holding them in your arms.

When dogs are stressed or worried, they often find it hard to relax. These dogs may seem excited or restless because their stress is stopping them from calming down.

Some dogs struggle to calm down after something worrying or stressful, like new visitors or moving house. They may use hyperactive behaviour to help relieve their stress, similar to the way people might feel excited after getting off a rollercoaster.

If your dog is feeling worried or anxious, you can help them by:

• letting them use restless energy safely through toy play, training or off-lead exercise in a safe, secure area like a private dog field or a garden
• giving them calming chewing, licking or sniffing activities to help them relax
• practising for events they find stressful like vet visits or grooming appointments and visiting ahead of time to do nice things like feeding treats or playing with toys.

Age can affect your dog’s energy levels for lots of reasons, including:

• younger dogs having a lot of energy they need to use up
• health problems like arthritis or canine cognitive decline (commonly known as doggy dementia) making dogs feel uncomfortable and unsettled
• older dogs needing to rest more but then having a sudden burst of energy
• changes in eyesight, hearing and movement causing anxiety, frustration or stress.

If you notice a change in your dog’s behaviour, check in with your vet. They can help you work out your dog’s needs according to their age, size, breed and individual situation so you can make a routine that suits them.

Pain or physical discomfort due to illness or injury can make it difficult for dogs to settle. They might appear excited or hyper if they’re not able to physically relax and rest.

Movement and exciting activities can help dogs get stress relief. They may use these types of activities to make themselves feel better if they’re in pain or feeling unwell.  

If you’ve noticed a recent change in your dog’s behaviour, you think your dog might be in pain or you’re worried they aren’t getting enough rest, speak with your vet. They’ll help you find and treat any problems.

Dogs with shorter snouts or flat faces can sometimes suffer from specific medical problems which can affect their breathing and their ability to rest.

Your dog might not settle in the evening if they've not used up all their energy during the day. Making sure they have enough exercise and giving them brain games can help them feel satisfied, so they’re more likely to rest.  

Here are some ideas that your dog might enjoy:

• Most dogs need one or two walks a day. If you’re not sure how many walks your dog needs, please speak to your vet.
• Organised dog activities like agility or scent work if suitable for your dog. It’s a good idea to check in with your vet before starting a new activity to make sure it’ll suit them physically. Look for classes in your local area to see if there’s one your dog might enjoy.
• Toy play, like tuggy games, or chase toys, like flirt poles or balls on a rope, for your dog to run after.
• Off-lead exercise. This can be done in safe public areas if your dog has good recall, or you could do this in a private secure area like a garden or hired dog field.
• Regularly giving them some of their meals or tasty treats in food puzzles.
• Letting them spend time sniffing in the garden or during walks. You can encourage more sniffing by hiding treats or toys for them to find.
• Helping them relax by giving them plenty of safe things to chew or lick.  

Your dog may also struggle to settle if there’s a lot of activity going on around them. You can help your dog settle down to rest by:

• Giving them some comfortable places to lie down or sit. Make sure this is in a quiet peaceful area, away from loud sounds and movement.
• Trying to make sure any interactions with your dog are calm and quiet. Speak to them in a soothing voice and make any fuss slow and gentle.
• Giving your dog something calming to do like a safe long-lasting chew or a lick mat to help them relax.

Dogs may struggle to lie down and relax if they’ve not had enough exercise. Make sure your dog gets enough exercise through walks, toy play or off-lead time. Your dog might also struggle to rest if they’ve had too much exercise and are overtired.  

Boredom can also make it hard for your dog to settle. Giving your dog some fun activities like food puzzles, sniffing games or training before you want them to settle may help them feel satisfied and rest more easily.

Dogs who are in pain or are physically uncomfortable may also struggle to rest. They may pace or regularly move between resting spots. If you’re worried about a health issue, discuss this with your vet.

Some dogs get very excited and find it difficult to calm down after fun activities or going to busy places. You can help them by:

• Encouraging regular breaks during fun activities. A short break every 5 – 10 minutes can help stop them from getting over excited, so they find it easier to rest later.
• Letting them to do lots of sniffing during and at the end of fun activities. This helps them release stress and can help them relax.
• Training your dog to sniff for treats or toys in exciting situations to help them stay calm.
• Giving them safe ways to use excitable behaviour like chasing treats or playing tuggy with toys. After releasing some energy, they might find it easier to settle.
• Giving them chewing or licking activities to help them calm down after exciting or stressful things.

Puppies are naturally curious and want to join in with everything. It’s normal for puppies to run around in a hyper, silly way – often known as zoomies. It’s also common for them to explore the world through their mouths by biting - this is called mouthing.

You cannot stop zoomies or mouthing completely, but puppies may do it more if they’re bored, frustrated or worried. Puppies may also get more hyper if they’re overtired. As well as plenty of sleep overnight, your puppy needs regular naps during the day.  

Although you cannot make your puppy sleep, you can encourage them by:

• Giving them calming activities like safe long-lasting chews or things to lick. Check with your vet what options might be most suitable for your dog.
• Encouraging them to calm down by playing sniffing games before they settle down to rest.
• Keeping their resting area peaceful and quiet. It may help to have a radio on quietly and make the area a little darker.
• Making sure they have a comfortable area to rest in, like a bed, blanket or open crate to create a den. Keep some water nearby in case they get thirsty.
• Walking, playing and training with your puppy before you want them to rest. Give them the chance to go to the toilet so they can relax more easily. Remember your puppy may also struggle to rest if they get too much exercise and are overtired.
• Gradually introducing your puppy to new places and situations over a few sessions using sniffing, chews and licking activities to help them stay calm.

It takes time for a dog or puppy to get familiar with a crate. If they’ve not been in a crate before, the sound, smell and feel of it might make them feel stressed or worried. Young puppies also find it difficult to be separated from their owners, who they rely on to feel safe. If they can’t get out of the crate when they feel frustrated and restless, they may become stressed and frightened.  

It’s important to introduce the crate in a positive and gradual way. Follow our step-by-step instructions to crate train your puppy or dog.

You can also help your dog feel comfortable in their crate by:

• Setting the crate up with a comfy bed, a few toys and long-lasting chews. Make sure they have access to water.
• Making sure the crate is in a peaceful, quiet area where people or other animals won’t need to move past often. It’s also a good idea to make sure your dog has been fed and had a chance to go to the toilet before you want them to settle down.
• Praising and rewarding your dog when they look at or go into the crate. If they go inside, give them something to chew or lick.
• Giving your dog the chance to use up some energy with exercise and brain games before they have to spend time in their crate.
• Considering what type of crate your dog will like best. It should be big enough to let your dog stand up and turn around easily. Some dogs may prefer metal crates they can look out of and see what’s going on. Other dogs may prefer quieter, softer fabric crates.

A sudden change in your dog’s behaviour can be a sign of a health problem. Checking in with your vet will help to find and treat any potential problems so your dog can rest comfortably.

Once you’re sure your dog has no health problems, they may be feeling worried, frustrated or stressed. Think about whether there have been any:

• Changes to your dog’s routine – If their meals, walking or training times have changed, your dog may struggle to settle down at their usual time.
• New sounds or smells – These could make your dog more alert, restless and excitable. Slowly introducing them to new smells or sounds can help them relax.
• Changes to the environment – New things like unfamiliar visitors or changing their sleeping area could make it harder for your dog to settle. Introduce changes one at a time and give your dog a few days to get used to each one.

There are lots of reasons a dog may choose to pace rather than lie down including:

• Feeling physically uncomfortable or painful. Dogs with health problems may move around to make themselves feel better, or because lying down is too uncomfortable.
• Not having enough exercise or mental activities might make them pace to use up some energy or stop boredom.
• Feeling worried and stressed by sounds, smells or movements nearby.
• Not having somewhere they find comfortable to lie down and rest, such as a bed or a sofa.  

You can encourage your dog to stop pacing and get some rest by:

• Making sure any health concerns have been discussed with a vet and treated, so they can rest comfortably.
• Planning a routine so they have enough exercise and fun activities to help them feel tired and ready to settle when you need them to.
• Moving them away from worrying things. Take them to a quiet, peaceful place to relax. Giving them a relaxing activity like a long-lasting chew or a lick mat will help them settle.
• Giving them a comfortable resting area like a dog bed, a crate or a thick blanket.

There are many reasons your dog might struggle to settle at night, including:

• Feeling worried when it gets dark because they link this with frightening sounds like fireworks or worrying things like wildlife coming into the garden.
• Feeling worried about not being able to get to you if they’re kept separate at night.
• Not feeling comfortable in their sleeping area because it is too small, hard or slippery.
• Not being able to settle or sleep due to pain or physical discomfort if they have a health problem.  

You can help your dog settle down to sleep at night by:

• Making sure your dog has a comfortable sleeping area like a dog bed or thick blanket. Your dog might prefer a raised bed or a spot on the sofa.
• Making sure your dog’s sleeping area is in a quiet, peaceful area where they won’t be disturbed by sounds or movement.
• Helping your dog feel safe. For some dogs, this might mean putting them in a crate where they feel secure. For others, it might mean having a bed where they can move around if they need to.
• Letting your dog sleep near you to help them settle more easily. If you don't want your dog in your room, teach them to sleep on their own bed nearby. A baby gate on your bedroom door will let them hear and see you to help them relax.
• Checking in with your vet to treat any health problems.

Your dog may struggle to lie down and settle if:

• They have a health problem that makes lying down painful or uncomfortable. If you have any concerns about your dog’s health, check in with your vet.
• You’re asking them to lie down in an uncomfortable place like a cold floor. Make sure your dog has a comfortable place to settle, like a bed or non-slip mat. If you want them to stay laid down and rest, give them a bed or a crate to relax in.
• They can’t relax because they’re feeling worried or excited. Take your dog to a quiet, peaceful area away from noises, movement and strong smells. Playing some quiet talking radio or classical music may help some dogs relax.
• They’ve not used up enough energy to be calm. Make sure you’ve taken your dog for a walk and given them some fun activities to help them feel tired and ready for a rest when you need them to lie down.
• They need more training. Teach your dog to settle on a mat or lie down when you ask. Slowly introduce this exercise to new places. Some dogs will need to practise a lot before they can do it consistently, especially in busy places like pubs or cafes.

Dogs with shorter snouts or flat faces can sometimes suffer from specific medical problems which can affect their breathing and their ability to rest.

Puppies need to learn how to get comfortable and relax at nighttime. When they were with their mother and siblings, they would have all slept together in a familiar place. Now they’ll need to get comfortable and sleep in your home with a new routine.  

Here are some things that can help:

• Sleeping near your puppy can help them settle and feel safe in their new resting area. If you’d prefer your puppy to sleep in another room, you may need to sleep there with them for a few nights and then slowly introduce them to sleeping alone.
• Your puppy may wake in the night if they need the toilet. Letting your puppy outside for a toilet break, then settling them back down may help them get back to sleep. As they go through toilet training, they may be able to sleep through the night.
• Your puppy will have lots of energy to use up before they’re ready to rest. Exercise your puppy and give them fun activities every day. Remember, they’ll also struggle to sleep at night if they’re overtired, so make sure they also have time for naps.
• Give your puppy a comfy resting area like a dog bed and let them get used to it slowly. If your puppy is allowed on the furniture, make sure they can get on and off it easily. Give them plenty of relaxing activities, like safe long-lasting chews or lick mats.

Overexcitement, frustration and stress can all stop your dog from relaxing. They might be struggling to relax if they’re:

• using excitable behaviour to cope with stressful situations
• feeling anxious and showing it by moving around in a silly or excitable way
• excited because they’ve just seen, heard, smelled or done something really fun.  

Some dogs will have a lot of energy that needs to be used up before they can relax. These dogs may seem overexcited if they’ve not had enough exercise or fun activities to settle and relax.

You can help your dog calm down and settle by:

• giving them relaxing things to do like peaceful walks, or giving them chewing and licking activities
• making sure your dog has had enough exercise and fun activities that suit their size, age, breed and individual preferences
• discussing any health problems or sudden changes in behaviour with your vet to make sure your dog is comfortable enough to rest.

Sometimes you can ignore your dog if they won’t settle, especially if they’re keeping themselves busy in a safe way, like playing with toys or sniffing in the garden.

You should avoid ignoring your dog when they’re being excitable if:

• They’re making a lot of noise which is disturbing you or other people.
• They’re behaving in a way that might frighten or hurt people and other animals, e.g. jumping up, chasing or mouthing.
• They’re behaving in a hyper or restless way because they’re worried or stressed. Ignoring this could make their behaviour worse, and they may struggle in other similar situations.
• Their behaviour is unsafe and might cause a problem like overheating on a hot day or hurting themselves by playing with inappropriate items.  

If your dog’s struggling to settle, you can help them by:

• Making sure they’ve had enough exercise and fun activities to rest.
• Training them to settle on a bed or mat when you ask them to.
• Giving them something relaxing to do in their resting area, like chewing or licking.
• Moving them away from situations they might find stressful, worrying or exciting.
• Making sure they have access to a comfortable resting area like a bed, mat or furniture. They should also have access to water.

It’s normal for dogs to get up and move around in the night. They may change positions or even move to a new resting area.  

Nighttime wandering like walking around the house or pacing back and forth is common in senior dogs but usually connected to health changes. If your dog has recently started night wandering, please discuss this with your vet to ensure any health concerns are found and treated quickly.

Regular restless behaviour suggests your dog may need something extra or a change in their routine. This might include:

• A health check – a change in behaviour is often the first sign of a change in health.
• Exercise for their bodies – the amount of exercise your dog needs will change depending on their breed, size, age, diet and what other activities are in their daily routines.
• Exercise for their mind – most dogs need fun activities to feel satisfied and tired enough to rest. The type of activities your dog likes and needs will depend on their age, size and preferences.
• Diet – your dog may be restless if they’re hungry and thirsty. Make sure they have access to a good quality dog food that meets their individual needs. Your dog should always have access to water unless you’ve been given other advice by a vet.
• Comfy sleeping areas – Make sure your dog has access to a comfortable non-slip bed, thick blanket or furniture to lie on. Their resting area should be large enough for them to stretch out on and be in a quiet, peaceful area.
• Company – dogs often feel worried or stressed when they’re on their own. Your dog might struggle to rest when they’re separated from you if they’ve not been trained to spend time alone, or if they don’t feel safe resting away from you.