This is one of the things I get asked endlessly: How do I get my dog to calm down?!There are many things than can lead to hyperactivity in your pup. Did you know that as natural predators, dogs should sleep an average of 20 or so hours a day? We'll discuss some of the things that might be working against your pup as well as simple things you can do to help create a calm canine!
~ Food.
The food you feed your companion can actually be causing them to act out-of-control! Think of hyperactivity as a allergy - certain foods can cause this allergy to flare up. Corn (and all it's by-products) are the #1 culprit here. Corn always causes hyperactivity and can even cause skin irritations as well as other allergies. Dry dog foods high in grains can also cause this. Look for foods that are free of corn, and limit other grains to one wholesome source.
~ Lack of Exercise.
Many of us lead hectic lives. We get up early and race through our day, by the time we get home: we're exhausted and our pup is ready to go! Don't consider your work done until your pup has been exercised. Make sure they get their walk, or a nice long game of fetch. After some physical exercise, try some brain work to ensure you wear them out! (See our post on interactive toys)
~ Constant Chaos.
Many of us don't give our dogs the kind of 'down-time' they need. Take time to give your pup some calm attention, engage in a bonding experience such as meditation, massage or Doga (Yoga with your dog). Breath deeply while you're with your pup, notice how their breathing slows as well. Take this time to just 'be in the moment' with your pup. If your pup is excited at first, simply remain calm and ignore them until they calm down. Once they are calm - try putting this on cue. At our house - we use the cue 'calm'. We've practiced being calm so much, that when I ask my dogs to 'calm', they do just that. Handy for the dog that's easily excitable!
~ Encourage Calm Energy.
Sometimes it's nice to have a holistic remedy to help you on your calm journey. Flower Essences and Aromatherapy products can be extremely useful for this. We offer a couple of remedies that will help your pup replace the anxiety and excitability with calm energy. You can find those at out store:
www.HappyHealthyPup.etsy.com
We hope you find these suggestions useful, we wish for every pup to experience calm energy.
*smooches to the pooches*
Hmm, corn in the dog food, huh? That would explain quite a bit about our dogs. We buy Pedigree, which has quite a bit of corn in it. Can you recommend a dog food?
ReplyDelete