Supplements To Calm My Hyper Dog

I NEED TO CALM MY DOG DOWN

Are you looking for an affordable, all-natural supplement to help your hyper dog relax and calm down a little?

Maybe something like CBD or passionfruit or L-theanine?

Well, I’ve got some good news and some bad news for you: your dog doesn’t need those. The bad news is there’s no quick fix for your hyper dog, but the good news is you can stop throwing away money on supplements that won’t help.

High energy doesn’t need a supplement to suppress it. It’s not a problem. It’s who your dog is.

But I get it. You are not high energy. You wanted a couch potato dog and you maybe got a dog who isn’t the best match energy-wise. So you hope that a little calming treat will change their entire personality to make them fit better into your low-energy lifestyle.

Not only is that unrealistic and unattainable, it’s unfair to your dog. Do you know what your dog really needs?

Training.

Hikes.

Off-leash time in nature.

Play.

FULFILLMENT, NOT SUPPLEMENTS

Many dogs just aren’t getting their needs met. They spend the day cooped up in a crate, and then if they’re lucky they get a short leashed walk around the block every few days. They get little exercise, little fulfillment, little novelty, little chance to use their brains.

So, before you waste money on supplements and herbal remedies your dog doesn’t actually need, try some of these things instead:

• Let them run around a SniffSpot for an hour.

• Go on a hike for a few hours and let them sniff all the smells. Use a long line if you can.

• Do some training.

• Throw the ball.

• Play tug.

• Play with a flirt pole.

• Do some nose work.

• If your dog is dog-friendly, take a trip to the dog park.

Your dog just needs fulfillment. They need to have some fun and do the things they were bred to do. They don’t need supplements. The more frequently you can do these things, the better.

PROVIDE STRUCTURE

Once they’re getting enough fulfillment, then we move on to structure. High energy dogs actually do well with a lot of structure. They do well with quiet time in their crate or tethered. Here’s what I do to help my energetic working-line dogs not be so wild in the house:

• Crate time to help them settle and relax. With too much choice and freedom, they get wild and unruly. Sometimes they get a chew in their crate, sometimes they don’t.

• Leash time inside. Oak does best being leashed rather than crated. When he gets to be a pest, the leash goes on, and he immediately flops down and naps. Oftentimes being overly tired can look like hyperactivity.

• No playing inside. Play is for the yard, not the house. I don’t throw toys inside, and I don’t let them wrestle and chase each other inside. This helps set the expectation that inside is for calm behavior.

• We have a daily routine that includes walks/hikes/off-leash time during the day, and after dinner we do fetch in the yard followed by 15 minutes of nose work, and then quiet time. This helps them get physically and mentally tired so they can just relax. If they’re still having a hard time, I help them with the crate or leash. But having this structured routine helps them understand what’s expected, what’s happening next, and it all leads to the habit of quiet evenings.

NEED HELP?

If you’re struggling with your high-energy dog, I can help. I offer in-person training in the Spokane area and online training to owners worldwide. Let’s create a personalized plan that works for you and your dog.