Sleep is essential for growing puppies. Rest isn’t just downtime – it’s how puppies develop, learn, and stay emotionally balanced. But just like toddlers, puppies can push past tiredness and become overtired, leading to behavior challenges and stress.
In this guide, you’ll learn the signs of an overtired puppy, why overtiredness is a problem, how to calm an overstimulated or exhausted pup, and how Zigzag can support your training journey
Ready to give your puppy the best start? Download the Zigzag app for a complete training program that keeps your puppy engaged without burning them out. Feeling overwhelmed? Our team of expert puppy trainers is available 24/7 and just a text away.
Can a puppy be overtired?
Yes, puppies can easily become overtired, just like little kids. They need plenty of sleep to develop properly. Without enough rest, they go past normal tiredness and you’ll start seeing problem behaviors pretty quickly.
For more, check out our guide on how often puppies sleep.
Why you shouldn’t let your puppy get overtired
Overtired puppies can struggle with stress, vomiting, diarrhea, bloodshot eyes, and even impaired learning. You might notice they’re grumpy or snappy instead of their usual sweet selves. Here’s the thing: being overtired actually makes it harder for puppies to settle down and sleep as they feel wired and out of balance, which creates a vicious cycle.
Tired vs. overtired puppy
What’s the difference? Generally, a tired puppy is mellow and settles easily, and an overtired puppy is restless, noisy, and may nip or act wild.
Here are some key differences comparing a tired vs. an overtired puppy:
| Behavioral Sign | Tired Puppy | Overtired Puppy |
| Settling | Doesn’t struggle to settle down | Struggles to settle – restless and on the edge |
| Vocalization | Not overly noisy | Barking and whining |
| Mouthing and biting | Normal levels of puppy biting | Increased biting, snapping and nipping |
| Focus | Can focus, but may be sleepy | Reduced attention span |
| Energy levels | Lower – they are tired after all! | Agitated and hyperactive – often have zoomies |
| Playfulness | Reduced levels of play | Hyperactive or frantic |
| Body language | Relaxed, sighing, droopy eyes | Scratching, yawning, panting |
9 Signs of an overtired puppy
Overtired puppies are pumped with adrenaline and will often seem to be in a complete frenzy as self-control becomes something very difficult to achieve.
Here are some more overtired puppy symptoms. Are there some you see in your pup?
- Clinginess and appearing needy
- Sluggishness or seeming lethargic
- Stopped listening to you
- Snapping or biting excessively – grabbing at ankles and your legs of your pants
- Barking at you…this can feel quite confrontational
- Panting – when it’s not hot outside
- Increased thirst and drinking fast
- ‘Crazy eyes’ or showing the whites of their eyes
- Hyperactivity- Having the zoomies, no matter how much furniture is around them
How to calm an overtired puppy
If your puppy is overtired, it helps to slow things down and make rest the easy option. Here’s what we find works:
Set up routines and structure
- Stick to a consistent schedule so your puppy knows when to expect play, exercise, meals, and sleep.
- Build a solid nighttime routine and follow our advice to help your puppy sleep through the night.
- Try crate training to give your puppy a safe spot for naps, away from all the action.
Make their space inviting
- Get a cozy dog bed and soft puppy blanket.
- If it’s your puppy’s first week home, a heartbeat toy can help them feel safe as it mimics being back with their littermates and mom.
Choose calming activities
- Opt for sniffy games over high-energy play as scent work lowers arousal and stress. Check out our training games and puzzle toy articles for ideas.
- Use positive reinforcement training and reward calm behavior with treats.
- Feed using interactive toys like Kongs for mental exercise. When dealing with overtiredness, mental exercise beats physical exercise.
- Try grooming too as it’s great for bonding.
- Offer healthy chew options; chewing releases feel-good hormones that help dogs relax.
Model what you want to see
- Your patience, mood, and calmness will rub off on your pup.
- Catch your puppy being calm and reward with food so that it happens more often.
- Sit on the floor with them, offering a gentle massage or cuddle until their heart rate slows down.
Want more tips? See our full guide on how to calm a puppy down.
How can Zigzag help with your pup’s training
Zigzag gives you a complete program for turning your overtired puppy into a relaxed companion. Every lesson uses proven positive reinforcement methods to set you and your puppy up for success. Puppyhood brings so many new challenges, but our experts guide you through all of it: training, behavior, and lifestyle.
Need extra support? Our professional dog trainers are available anytime via our in-app chat. We’re real people who work with puppies every day, and we’re here whenever you need help.
If you’re still not sure what to do with your overtired puppy, you can always contact our team of expert dog trainers. They’re truly nice people and available 24/7 via our in-app chat. Don’t worry, they’ve heard it all, and will give you all the advice you need.
FAQs
- How do you settle an overtired puppy?
Slow everything down, with gentle massage, talking to them softly, or give them a calming toy like a lickimat to help them wind down. Our guide on how to calm a puppy down has more helpful tips.
Our article on how to calm a puppy down has a lot more helpful tips and guidance for this; have you taken a peek yet?
- Is my puppy overtired or overstimulated?
It can be hard to tell as they look pretty similar. Frantic, restless, barky, nippy behavior usually means overtired, but overstimulation causes wild behavior too, especially after they’ve been somewhere busy with lots going on. Try lowering stimulation and moving to a quieter environment when you can.
- Do puppies act crazy when tired?
Yes. Adrenaline kicks in when puppies are overtired, causing zoomies and chaotic behavior even when all they really need is to sleep.
