If you’re here, you are probably asking yourself, why is my puppy so hyper? If you have a new puppy, you’re probably going through it…zoomies, razor sharp teeth and complete enthusiasm for life.
This all makes sense, by the way – puppies are simply bundles of inquisitive, playful energy ready to explore their world. It’s completely natural for them to behave like a Tasmanian devil at times, but if it never seems to stop or turns into a rather aggressive pattern, then it could be a sign that something needs to change.
So. If you want to find out more about why your puppy is so hyper, look no further. In this article, we’re going to unravel why your puppy might be hyper, if you should be worried about your puppy being hyper and what you can do about it.
While you’re here, you probably want to download the Zigzag Puppy Training App. It’s full of fantastic training advice and tips tailored to your pups breed type and age. We even have our very own calm and definitely not hyper team of puppy coaches available 24/7 in our in-app chat to help you with whatever dilemma your pup may be throwing at you.
Why do pups have so much energy?
Puppies chase, jump, bite and play-fight. Just like human kids. They need loads of energy to keep up. As they age, they enjoy the quiet life and will be calmer and generally more relaxed…unless you have a bouncy Boxer in which case it might go on for longer.
Puppy energy levels by age
We often get asked at Zigzag: when will my puppy calm down? We’re going to be really honest here; there’s not really an answer for that. Think about it like this; besides all breeds being different, dogs are individuals with beautiful but largely unique personalities.
But no need to worry. We can offer you a general guide as to what you could expect:
8 to 20 weeks
Your puppy will spend a large part of their day sleeping, with mega bursts of energy in between rests. You will probably experience life with a furry piranha in the house as they explore the world with their mouths and teeth.
Going out for walks won’t be much of your routine at this point yet, so burning off some of that puppy energy can require some creative thinking and enrichment like puzzle toys and brain games.
5 to 9 months
Your puppy should now be well integrated into the routine of your life and enjoy going for walks. Whilst their energy levels at this stage are still high, there are still many activities that can help deal with their vibrant energy like reward based training sessions, exercise and puzzle toys.
9 to 12 months
Your pup probably isn’t ready for life in the slow lane yet, but there might be some signs that hyper days are beginning to fade. Bursts of zoomies become less frequent and your pup’s growing independence means they are more able to entertain themselves, rather than looking for amusement elsewhere.
12 months +
As we mentioned earlier, all breeds are different so there is no rule as to when their energy might settle down. But generally, most dogs by 1 year old are starting to relax more often and settle into life as an adult dog.
However, this doesn’t mean they won’t have an abundance of energy. they still need plenty of physical and mental activity to avoid them getting into mischief.
Why is my puppy hyper at night?
Have you ever seen your pup run from one room to another full speed, jump on and off furniture and whirl around like a lunatic? If you have, then what you’ve witnessed is probably a typical case of the zoomies.
To your misfortune (or entertainment if you wish to see the glass half full), many puppies and young dogs get the zoomies in the evening. Young puppies who can’t be walked yet often have lots of energy to burn off at the end of the day, so they get the zoomies.
Older puppies and dogs can still experience the zoomies although not as frequently. If they’ve been in a crate or had less exercise than normal, you bet that can trigger the zoomies.
Should I be concerned about my puppy’s energy levels?
Generally, there is no need for concern when your puppy gets hyper. A regular schedule for downtime and rest can help calm your pup. No worries if it seems impossible to do that…we’ve got you covered in our guide on how to calm a puppy down.
For puppies aged under 6 months, hyperactivity can lead to excessive play biting. This can be difficult and worrying for owners to deal with since no one really enjoys being treated like prey. Play biting is actually a normal part of puppy development, but if it’s linked to hyperactivity, it’s important to help your puppy calm down. You can do this by helping them settle with a favourite chew toy or Kong, or guiding them into some downtime in their crate or playpen. The bottom line is essentially that scheduling regular sleep and rest into your pup’s routine will help to keep them calmer.
My puppy is hyper and aggressive: what can I do?
Young puppies are a lot like children. They find it really hard to regulate big emotions, and can be prone to outbursts. With puppies under 6 months old, it’s generally nothing to be concerned about and certainly doesn’t mean your pup is aggressive. They’re just learning to control their feelings.
If your puppy is having a bit of an outburst, here’s what you can do:
1) Prevention
When you get familiar with your puppy’s behaviour, you’ll eventually be able to predict and therefore prevent these outbursts from occurring. Make sure your puppies basic needs are met first! Think about whether they need the toilet, or to be fed and watered.
Sleep – We are always banging on at Zigzag about how important sleep is. Just like with humans, a well rested pup is calmer and more balanced, so don’t underestimate its importance.
Handling – handle your puppy with care and gently. They will often bite when handled roughly or tightly, so be as gentle as you can; no matter how frustrated you are at their energy.
2) Give them something else to do
A bitey puppy needs something in their mouth to mess with, so have lots of toys at the ready. Long toys are great as they put distance between you and the teeth.
Chewing is naturally calming, so having lots of different chews and chew toys can help your dog take things down a notch.
3) Teach them to chew on something else
If your puppy likes to bite on your hands or feet as you walk, teach them to carry a toy instead so they can’t bite at you.
If your pup is biting, you want to engage their brain by creating a short training session. Ask them for a sit, a down or any commands they know well just to get them focussed. Otherwise, a gentle game of fetch should do the trick.
It doesn’t stop there. There are loads of training ideas and games in the Zigzag App to help you if your pup is getting bitey.
How to calm a hyper puppy
In a nutshell, here are three key things you can do to keep a hyper puppy calm in the long run:
Chewing
Chewing is a natural calmer, so settling your pup down with something to chew on will often help them balance and bring down the hyper energy.
Sleep
Lack of sleep can also bring the hyper pup out. If you think this might be the case, putting them in their pen, crate or puppy proof area for a rest is a sure way to calm them down. You might need to ease them into a nap with something to chew on initially – it will help them to go down nicely without there being too much of an abrupt stop to their hyper state of mind. Make sure their rest area is warm, cosy and they won’t be disturbed so their nap time actually works like intended.
Exercise
Some hyper pups simply have an excess of energy to burn, so a short walk or game of fetch can help them get rid of some of it.
If you want more ideas, our article on how to calm a puppy down has many more. Don’t worry, here at Zigzag lack of information is never an issue.
Grooming
Grooming can really help calm your pup. It releases all sorts of feel good chemicals that will help your pup calm and relax, we all love a good pamper after all and it’s great for bonding too.
We hope this has helped you learn more about why your puppy might be hyper and what you can do about it. Just remember there’s no need to match their hyper – quite the contrary actually. Just stay calm and collected, they’ll eventually catch the cool vibe. Being hyper is all part of growing up anyway.
For more tips and unique lesson plans for you and your puppy, download the Zigzag App. If you have further questions or feel like you’re going hyper yourself, you can always message our team of experts. They’re always happy to help.
