If your dog has suddenly started being hyper, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do about them.
So, why is my dog suddenly hyper? Possible reasons why your dog is hyper are that there was a change in its diet, allergies, fearfulness, or getting less exercise than normal.
Since there are a number of possible causes it would help to consider what would make each of them more likely. Once you have a good idea of the main cause, it should become a lot easier to get your dog to stop doing it.
Why your dog is hyper all of a sudden
Below are a number of possible causes and what would make each of them more likely to be the main reason.
A change in its diet
It could be the case that there is an issue with its diet. It could be the case that it is not getting the right nutrients in its diet, it is eating too much, not enough or that it is eating things that it should not be. An issue with its diet would be more likely if it has started acting hyper since a change in its diet and if it acts hyper when it eats certain foods.
It would help to make sure that you have been feeding it correctly, that no one else has been feeding it and that it does not have access to things it should not be eating.
Boredom
Dogs are normally meant to get exercise on a daily basis. When dogs do not get enough exercise, it can cause them to start being hyper and it might be what has been causing yours to do it. This would be more likely if it has started acting hyper since a change in its diet. It would help to ensure that your dog is able to get the right amount of exercise for its age and breed.
Encouraging the behavior
It might also be the case that it has learned that the behavior gets rewarded. If you tend to give it things such as extra attention, toys or treats, when it is hyper, it will likely do it more in order to get more rewards. Instead, it would help to reward it when it is calm and to avoid rewarding it when it starts being hyper.
Allergies
The cause could also be that it has had a reaction to something that it has interacted with and it is being hyper due to frustration. This would be more likely if your dog has started acting hyper since sniffing things that it shouldn’t have been or interacting with something else that it should not have been. In this case, it would be best to take it to a vet.
It gets extra attention for being hyper
The cause could be that it is trying to get extra attention from you. This would be more likely if it does it more when you have not been giving it much attention and if you tend to give it more attention when it does it.
Stress
The reason why it has been doing it might also be that something has recently caused it to become stressed. This would be more likely if it started acting hyper after an event occurred that might have caused it to get stressed. Such events could include an owner or another pet dying, another pet being added to the family or moving homes.
In this case, it should improve over the course of a few days or weeks. It would help to give it positive attention in the form of training, exercise and by playing with it. If it does not improve, it would help to get help from a vet or dog behaviorist.
Separation anxiety
Another possible cause is that it has separation anxiety. This would be more likely if you have been leaving it alone for long periods lately and if it starts getting anxious when you are leaving. In this case, it would help to try to leave it alone for shorter amounts of time if possible.
Fear
It might also be the case that something has been causing it to become fearful. This would be more likely if it does it more at certain times such as when there are fireworks, sirens or construction works outside.
In this case, it would help to remove the thing that is making it become fearful if possible or to try desensitization training.
Injury
A possible cause is that it has gotten an injury. This would be more likely if it has started doing it suddenly and if it has been showing other signs of being injured or ill such as vomiting or limping. If it seems like it might be ill or injured, the best option would be to take it to a vet.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your dog has been doing it.
What else happened when your dog first started being hyper
It would help to consider what else happened when it first started being hyper since it might be the case that there was an event that caused it to start doing it. For example, if it started being hyper since a change in its diet, it would be likely that the issue is to do with its diet.
What is different when it is calm
If there is a certain time that it has been being hyper, it would also help to consider what is different about the timing. For example, if it behaves that way, when you are leaving home or going to bed, it could be the case that it does it due to separation anxiety.
How to get your dog to stop being hyper
Below are some options you have when getting your dog to stop being hyper.
Positive reinforcement training
To get your dog to stop being hyper you can give it lots of training.
Start by teaching it to do simple things such as to sit in an environment like the home where there are not many external distractions. Once you can get it to do that you can build up to teaching it harder things such as to come to you on command.
Once you’re able to get your dog to listen to you in less distracting environments you should build it up to teaching it to do the same in more challenging environments.
In addition to this, it would also help to use positive reinforcement training to get it to stop being hyper. Positive reinforcement training is where you encourage the behaviors you want to see by rewarding your dog when it shows signs of them and avoid rewarding the behaviors that you do not want to see.
To use it to get it to stop being hyper, you could reward it when it is being calm and stop giving it rewards, such as attention, when it starts being hyper.
You can watch the video below for advice on training hyper dogs.
Give it exercise
As mentioned above, it could be the case that it has not been getting enough exercise. It would help to ensure that your dog is able to get the daily amount of recommended exercise for its age and breed.
Fix its diet
It could be the case that an issue with its diet has been causing the behavior. It would help to ensure that it has been eating the right foods and that it has been eating the correct amount of food. It would also help to ensure that no one else has been feeding it without telling you.
Get help
If you cannot figure out why your dog has been behaving that way, you cannot get it to stop or it has been showing signs of illness or injury, the best option would be to take it to a vet. By doing so, you should be able to get expert help tailored towards your particular dog and to rule out medical causes.