Supplements To Calm My Hyper Dog

THIS is what your dog needs, not supplements.

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 disease or a problem. It’s who your dog is.

But I get it. I have two high energy dogs. I know the struggle. 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. (No, a leashed walk just isn’t enough)

Play.

FULFILLMENT, NOT SUPPLEMENTS

How often do you play tug with your dog?

Most 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, and little chance to use their brains so of course they’re bouncing off the walls and driving you nuts!

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 or Flexi leash if you can’t let them off leash. Get rid of that 6’ leash.

• Throw the ball.

• Play tug.

• Play with a flirt pole.

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

Your dog just needs real fulfillment (no, not a food toy or lick mat and not sitting in your backyard). They need to have some fun and do the things they were bred to do. They don’t need supplements and chemical suppression.

Every single client I’ve ever worked with for hyperactivity has been amazed at what getting their dog off leash for hikes can do for their behavior. These energetic breeds aren’t meant to lounge around all day - they’re bred to run and to work. Getting them off-leash trained is the only real way to make them happy and meet their needs. Everyone thinks a walk on a leash is enough, and it just isn’t. It’s better than nothing, but your dog is getting minimal exercise and minimal fulfillment from that.

PROVIDE TRAINING

Once they’re getting enough fulfillment and exercise, then we move on to training. High energy dogs actually do really well with training. They want to know the rules. They want clarity. They want to know when it’s play time and when it’s time to just relax. Here’s what I do to help my energetic working-line dogs not be so wild all the time 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. Most of the time they’re free in the house, including at night, so crate time is pretty minimal.

• Clear play time and clear ‘do nothing’ time. When it’s time to play, I’ll say, “Ready???” and I end the play with “All done!” They know when I say “all done” they need to stop bugging me and go do something by themselves.

• I taught a solid “come” so they can be off leash. That’s truly the only way I’ll be able to tire them out in the way they need. Even on a long line, I can’t meet their needs. They need to be able to run freely, and that requires training.

• We have a daily routine that includes off-leash hikes or fetch during the day, and after dinner we do play in the yard followed by quiet time with a chew. This helps them get physically and mentally tired so they can just relax. Having this structured routine helps them understand what’s expected, what’s happening next, and it all leads to the habit of quiet evenings.

ARE YOU IN SPOKANE…

and want real help instead of trying quick fixes that won’t work? Your hyper dog is just being themselves, but I can help you learn to meet their needs in a way that doesn’t drain you. I offer Private Training and Homeschool to help train your energetic pup.