When puppies get excited and even start to bite, it is usually due to a lack of routine or lack of exercise. In individual cases, training errors, diet, too many triggers or even ADHD can also be responsible.
Especially when they are young, dogs tend to have so-called “zoomies”. This refers to sudden bursts of energy that appear to be completely without cause.
You can tell when your puppy suddenly jumps around wildly, runs, ignores all commands and can hardly be calmed down. Other symptoms include:
- Constant barking
- Furniture chewing
- Sudden hyperactivity
- restlessness
- Sudden biting
- Constant whining [1]
If this sounds like your four-legged friend, then you've come to the right place. Below you will learn about the 7 most common causes and how you can calm your puppy.
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#1 Lack of routine
Have you ever wondered why babies and toddlers always start crying straight away? It is a natural survival instinct.
This instinct is also present in dogs. He ensures that the puppy's needs are always met as long as he cannot yet take care of himself.
It becomes a problem when your puppy's daily routine is different every day. Because then he never knows if and when his needs will be met
Here, the exaggerated behavior is just a sign that he lacks security. And you can give him exactly this security through a fixed daily routine. [2]
Around 18-20 hours of sleep should be planned per day. Puppies need a lot of energy to grow and therefore need an above-average amount of sleep.
It is also helpful to have fixed bedtimes, your own “territory”, regular petting and play breaks, going for a walk and of course fixed feeding times.
After a few weeks, you will notice that your puppy visibly calms down. By the way, the most difficult age is between the 6th and 12th months.
Because at that time dogs are already physically grown, but are still a puppy at heart. Afterwards, the four-legged friends become increasingly calmer. [3]
When puppies lack a consistent routine, they often overreact. This instinctive protective mechanism is merely a cry for security. With a regular daily routine with fixed walking and feeding times, hyperactive dogs become significantly calmer.
#2 Lack of utilization
The individual need for physical exercise varies depending on breed and age. Shepherd and hunting dogs at a young age need the most.
In addition, dogs also need to be mentally exercised. Otherwise, boredom and frustration will set in. Puppies in particular are often overexcited.
On the one hand, they sleep more than average, but they also have significantly more energy available during the short active phases. Typical signs here are:
- Puppy often jumps at owner
- Constant barking and whining
- Puppy starts biting
- Gnawing on furniture
- Puppy destroys his own toys
- Suddenly running around in the house [4]
These are all signs of excess energy. The solution is therefore to ensure sufficient physical and mental activity. Best practices are here:
- When walking the dog, use a long leash instead of a short leash.
- Let the neighborhood kids run around with your puppy.
- Avoid keeping hunting and sheepdogs in big cities without wide meadows.
- Order such a ball throwing machine for indoors and outdoors.
- Make sure you have plenty of throwing toys, such as balls and Frisbees.
- Organize playdates with dogs from your neighborhood.
- Get a playpen if you don't have a fenced yard.
The more excited your puppy is, the more exercise he needs. Regardless, 30 minutes a day is the minimum. The more you give him, the calmer he will become.
If puppies lack mental or physical exercise, they often become excited and even start to bite. Measures should be included in the daily routine so that he can get rid of his excess energy every day.
#3 Unfavorable diet
For dogs, food is like gas in a car. It serves as fuel and provides energy. The wrong diet can therefore also lead to excess energy:
- Food too high in carbohydrates
- Leftover food from people
- Dyes and chemical additives
- Sugary snacks [5]
Have you ever seen a small child before and after eating a pack of gummy bears? The wrong food has a similar effect on dogs.
Simple carbohydrates and chemical additives in particular are known to lead to hyperactive behavior. The solution?
Take a free food check to find out which food is best for your dog. Because this varies greatly depending on race and age.
Afterwards you will also receive a package with free food samples so that you can test the recommendations yourself.
Alternatively, you can check here which dog food we currently use and which we can recommend to you with a good heart.
When puppies eat food that is very high in carbohydrates or even get leftovers from humans, hyperactivity is often the result. This excessive behavior can usually be greatly reduced by adjusting the feed. Quality food is the be-all and end-all here.
#4 Genetic primal instinct
If your puppy suddenly gets excited in the evening or early morning, it's usually due to his genetics. Because their ancestors, the wolves, are primarily active at dusk.
This also explains why dogs see 5 times brighter in the dark than humans. Because dusk is the best time to go hunting. [6]
This is the most common occurrence among all hunting dog breeds. Basically, almost all dogs have a natural hunting instinct, which can manifest itself through hyperactivity.
The solution? Make sure you have more physical and mental activity in the evening and organize a dog-friendly routine:
- Note what time your puppy is most active
- Schedule a walk right at the beginning of this time
- Turn on a ball throwing machine like this in the hallway in the evening
- Buy 2-3 extra toys that he only gets at this time
- Get a snuffle mat and hide some treats in it
At a young age, puppies often try to test their own limits. Here it is important to establish limits through appropriate feedback. [7]
Incidentally, doing nothing is much more difficult than replacing the behavior. Any ex-smoker can tell you that. So why not teach your pup a few tricks?
Due to their genetics, dogs are mostly active in the evening and need the most activity at this time of day. If this is missing, puppies are often totally overexcited and can hardly be calmed down. Taking a proactive approach and adjusting your daily routine can help here.
#5 Unintentional training errors
Puppies generally avoid any behavior that is punished and always repeat the behavior that is rewarded. This is the basis of every training.
If this rule is ignored, undesirable and excessive behavior is inevitable. Typical training mistakes are:
In the first few weeks, the hyperactive behavior is perceived as cute and is rewarded with attention and caresses. So of course the dog keeps it that way.
Unfortunately, puppies are not born with a manual of human etiquette. You therefore have to show him through feedback what is okay and what is not. [8]
If you always give your puppy everything he wants, he will become the equivalent of many spoiled children of rich parents. You should therefore set clear limits.
The law of conservation of energy proves that energy can never disappear into thin air. So if you overreact, you're just transferring your energy to your dog.
To calm your puppy down, always reward good behavior with treats. A dog clicker like this can also help when introducing commands.
At the push of a button, this device causes a mechanical clicking sound, which triggers curiosity and interest in puppies. So this will give you instant attention.
If puppies are constantly excited or even start to bite, this may be due to unintentional training errors. It is important to always give the right feedback, establish rules and be particularly patient and calm during training.
#6 Too many triggers
Dogs' perception is many times superior to ours. If puppies seem to be excited for no reason, it may be due to their senses.
Maybe your dog hears, sees or smells something that you simply can't detect? Because their sense organs are so good that we can't even imagine:
- Depending on the breed, dogs smell up to 100,000 times better than people. [9]
- Dogs see around four times brighter in the dark and have a wider viewing angle.
- Dogs can also hear ultrasonic frequencies compared to humans. [10]
Dogs are so-called “macrosmatics”. This means their primary sensory perception is the nose and not the eyes. They also have up to 60 times more olfactory receptors.
The solution? Make sure your puppy's sensory organs receive as few visual, olfactory, and auditory triggers as possible. Best practices are here:
- Position the basket where the puppy smells, sees and hears the least.
- Buy opaque curtains or shutters facing the street.
- Organize strong-smelling plants and place them near the basket.
- Play soft, calming music to keep your ears occupied.
- Wash your clothes if you have been in contact with other dogs or animals.
All of these measures not only help against hyperactivity, but are also very helpful for constant barking. Because the same triggers are usually behind it.
Excited behavior in puppies can be due to their superior senses. Because their noses, ears and eyes are far superior to ours. Here it is important to proactively reduce all triggers or even eliminate them completely. This is especially true in densely populated residential areas.
#7 ADHD
Around 9% of all children under the age of 11 are said to suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The number is estimated to be similarly high for dogs. [11]
In most cases it is confused with hyperactivity because the symptoms are almost identical:
- Excessive behavior
- Lack of ability to concentrate
- Sudden biting
- Constant whining for attention
- Wild jumping around
- Unusual stubbornness [12]
Especially border collies, golden retrievers,…