You came back from work, and you realize your Lab has messed up the whole living room, and he has scattered stuff all over the place. You’ve been noticing this kind of behavior from your Lab lately. This question keeps popping up in your mind: why is my Labrador so hyper?
Your Labrador is hyper because of lack of exercise and limited attention. Dogs that lack basic training and suffer from separation anxiety are likely to be hyper. Rewarding this behavior unintentinoally can lead to a hyper dog. Labradors also become hyper when in unfamiliar places.
In this article, we will consider why Labradors become hyperactive and how to calm down a hyper dog. We’ll also give definite answers to series of questions about hyperactive dogs.
Reasons Why Your Lab Is Hyperactive
There are many reasons why a Labrador might become suddenly hyperactive; we will examine five reasons why your Lab might suddenly turn hyper.
Your Lab Is Not Getting The Required Exercise
When Labradors don’t get the required amount of exercise, they tend to become hyperactive.
An average Lab is energetic by nature; when he does not see where and how to channel this energy, he becomes hyperactive. Your job and daily life activities might not permit you to devote the necessary time and attention to your Lab. A study found out that one hour of exercise daily benefits adult Labradors.
Your Lab Is Getting Enough Attention
When you don’t give your Lab the necessary attention it deserves as a pet, there is the likelihood of him becoming hyperactive.
Just the way a young kid would throw tantrums to gain her mother’s attention, a Lab would also do something similar to gain your attention. Is your Labrador hyper? Maybe you are not giving him the required attention.
Your Lab Has Separation Anxiety
If you are fond of leaving your Labrador alone all the time, the Lab will most likely turn hyperactive when he sees you. Separation anxiety takes a toll on the mental health of dogs.
When your Lab discovers you aren’t easy to see, it will develop some unwanted habits. Seeing you after a long period would create a mix of anxiety and excitement in your Lab. Another sign of separation anxiety is that your Lab might have destroyed a few things before you return home.
Your Lab Lacks Training
When your Lab is not well trained or lacks any form of training, he might not know the right way to act in different circumstances. You can’t blame your Lab for this; the blame is with you.
An untrained pup can’t be labeled as badly behaved. The good thing is that lab puppies are very easy to train because they are naturally active. Is your Lab giving you a tough time by being hyperactive? The reason may be that your Lab lacks proper training.
You’ve Been Rewarding Your Lab’s Behavior
When your Lab is hyperactive, he tends to capitalize on this behavior to gain the needed attention from you. You may have been inadvertently rewarding this unwarranted behavior without knowing.
When your Lab gets whatever he wants by being hyper, he’s likely to continue with the same attitude. Do you give more food or treats to your Lab for being hyperactive? You may have been the one encouraging this behavior right from the very start!
When Do Labradors Calm Down
Most Labradors begin to calm down around two years of age. Labradors are well known for being enthusiastic and energetic. They manifest these traits as soon as they get used to their surroundings.
As time goes on, they become more composed and mature. Age is a significant factor that determines how calm a lab would be. Puppies are the most hyperactive, while older adults are more matured. Labradors have no exact age to calm down entirely, but most begin to settle at two and above.
Do Labs Calm Down After Being Neutered
No evidence suggests that Labradors calm down after being neutered. You may be surprised to learn that behavioral problems are more common in neutered dogs than in non neutered dogs.
Granted, neutering has its unique benefits. For example, neutering a female Lab prevents some forms of cancer, and it also guards against pyometra(infection of the uterus).
The risk of neutering a male labrador outweighs the benefits. We recommend looking for other means to calm your Lab instead of taking it for surgical neutering.
Hyperactive Dog Symptoms And Meanings
Understanding hyperactive dog symptoms as a dog owner can go a long in helping you care more for the pup and make him feel more comfortable. We’ll highlight different hyperactive dog symptoms and meanings:
Tachycardia: In simple terms, it means an abnormally fast heart rate. This is one of the symptoms often experienced by a hyperactive labrador.
Impulsiveness: This is extremely common in hyper dogs, a situation in which a dog doesn’t show warning signals before launching an attack. An average dog would growl or display some signs of aggression before biting; a hyperactive dog might attack without showing any warning signs.
Distractible: Any factor that would prevent your dog from listening or obeying you falls under this category. When Labradors are not well trained, they get easily distracted with stuff that is not significant.
How To Calm Down A Hyper Dog
There are proven ways to calm down a hyper dog. Below are some of the practical steps you can take:
Give your dog more exercise: when a dog has excess energy, you must look for where to channel the excess energy to calm the dog down. The best way to channel this energy is to give your pup more exercise, wear her ass off physically! She’ll get tired and calm down.
Stimulate your dog mentally: one of the proven ways to calm your dog is to engage him mentally. Make use of treat-release toys, puzzles, or any favorite outdoor activity you know your pup enjoys.
Give a balanced diet to your pup: an unbalanced diet can contribute significantly to dogs’ hyper nature. You should know how to feed your dog in the right way. If you have no clue about this, you can always seek the professional opinion of your vet.
Enroll your dog in an obedience class: if your dog seems super hyperactive or simply out of control, all hope is not lost. You can enroll her in an obedience class that would help her be obedient and pay more attention.
Don’t reward hyperactivity: In addition to exercising your hyperactive dog, the most important thing you can do is to make sure you are not rewarding your pup for being hyperactive. One practical way you can do this is to make sure you don’t give attention to your hyper dog during a spell of being hyperactive.
Other Considerations
On a general note, there might be more reasons why a Labrador might be hyperactive; he might be suffering from a disorder known as ADHD. In this case, your dog doesn’t know what it means to relax.
There is a thin line between having an energetic dog and a hyperactive one. Having an energetic Labrador is entirely normal; most Labradors have a lot of energy to burn; you should kindly allow your Lab to burn off some steam.
These are the signs that show your Lab is hyperactive:
● Your Lab jumping on people and furniture
● Raiding the waste bin
● Excessive chewing and scratching.
● Barking vigorously and whining.
The above factors indicate your Lab needs to be carefully managed. If you label your Labrador as hyper, there is a great probability your Lab is under-exercised. To turn your Lab from being hyperactive to energetic, give him more exercise.
Manage Hyperactive Labs With Tools
Some people have found a measure of success from using tools to manage a hyper dog. Below are few examples:
Chew toys: We found chew toys to control a Lab’s body and mind effectively. You might decide to stuff the toys with different kinds of special treats to get your dog interested. These toys keep your Lab highly engaged. Instead of destroying furniture and curtains, they concentrate on the toys.
Crate training: Crate training is a great way to establish boundaries for your dog at home. This method also gives your dog space or territory to call his own. If you achieve success with crate training, it would be a lot easier to control your pup.
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