Mouthing
Mouthing can be a tell-tale sign, especially in puppies and young dogs, it can also be a sign of over-excitement, but perhaps even more often it’s a sign of over-tiredness. In a tired state, young dogs particularly will struggle to regulate themselves, they may not have the ability to decide to go and sleep, which means their stress and arousal levels are likely to increase as their body isn’t getting the rest it needs.
With increased arousal comes increased challenging behaviours. Mouthing can serve as an outlet for frustration and it can become reinforcing if it triggers a reaction from people. Your dog isn’t capable of learning effectively in these moments so it’s far better to take any excessive mouthing as a sign your dog needs a rest and some time to calm down.
Maintaining regular rest time through the day will help your dog learn to regulate their needs better and enable them to gradually make these choices themselves without you needing to step in. A crate or a quiet room will provide your dog with a safe space where they can rest without being disturbed.
Discover delicious food your dog deserves
Sometimes it’s what your dog is eating rather than the quantity that’s to blame. Most of us pick up a bag of complete dog food assuming that it contains everything to keep our pets happy and healthy, but sadly that’s not always the case. Some commercially produced dog foods contain a disproportionate amount of fillers, like wheat and are too high in fat and too low in protein which can cause your dog to lack energy, just like we would if we ate like that.
If your dog isvomiting and or has diarrhoea as well as seeming fatigued it could well be down to him eating something toxic or a bin raiding expedition. Common toxins for dogs includechocolate, garlic, onions and grapes as well as chemicals of course. If you suspect your dog has ingested something he shouldn’t ring your vet and ask for advice as soon as possible.
Dehydration could also be the culprit, especially in summer. Although in mild cases you might be able to rectify this just by encouraging your dog to drink it can actually be very serious indeed and need urgent medical attention.
A parasite infection is a common reason that you might be asking ‘why is my dog so tired andlethargic’ if your pooch is young or a puppy. Keeping up with your dog’s worming and vaccination program can definitely help to avoid unnecessary health scares so try to remember to keep them up to date.
Dogs can suffer from anxiety anddepression and this can cause them to just want to sleep all day and take no pleasure in life. Never be afraid to approach your vet if you are worried about your pooches’ mental health.
There are some benign causes of why your pooch might seem tired and lethargic, maybe your dog is in heat or perhaps he is in the middle of a course of antibiotics which can make a dog tired. However, there are some more serious conditions it could be too such aspancreatitis, anaemia, liver disease,anal gland problems, cancer, heart conditions, parvovirus, dental issues or infection. The only way to find out for sure what’s causing your dog’s constant tiredness is a trip to the vet, and the sooner you go, the sooner you’ll know.
Some situations seem obvious, once we acknowledge that even the best dog can lose patience if it is tired enough. For example, say a dog has been at a family picnic for three hours. Imagine lots of little children playing, screaming with joy and excitement, uncles who throw the ball five times longer than the dog is used to, lots of petting, requests for tricks, etc. Dinner is over, everyone is talking and enjoying the sunset. . . This is when I want someone to take that dear, patient dog and put her into a back room to sleep, or into the crate in the car, or wherever she will get some quiet time, BEFORE the three-year old crawls under the picnic table and grabs her head in his hands.
One of the reasons I trial is because it forces me to get better at doing something I love, but another reason is because it’s often just so flat out beautiful. Here’s one of the competitors moving sheep back onto the main part of the course. It was a tad chilly, but overall it was a gorgeous fall weekend. Thank you Margaret, Pattie, Gordon and all for putting on another great trial.
Patricia B. McConnell, PhD, CAAB Emeritus is an applied animal behaviorist who has been working with, studying, and writing about dogs for over twenty-five years. She encourages your participation, believing that your voice adds greatly to its value. She enjoys reading every comment, and adds her own responses when she can.
Here’s from the farm this afternoon–look how big the lambs are! That’s Lady Baa Baa on the left, and her two lambs in her right. The handsome lunker in the middle is her ram lamb.
I gave that example because I think there are many situations in which dogs don’t behave up to our expectations because they are over tired–whether physically or mentally. Many examples are obvious once one learns to consider the dog’s energy level, like a dog at a noisy, busy picnic. But others are not so clear, and I suspect that the more we all read about contexts in which a dog’s energy level interfered with being his or her “best self,” the better we’ll be at sympathizing and helping the dog through it, rather than getting angry because the dog was “disobedient.” Or heaven forbid, “being dominant.” Please add in your stories and examples from your own dogs–the more the better. I look forward to hearing from you about your own experiences. (Hey, why limit yourself to dogs? How about times you were over tired and. . . )
7 Signs Of An Overtired Puppy | DogVela
Your puppy is cranky, rebellious, and slightly wild… and you’re wondering if your puppy is overtired.
It really does sound like it could be the case. Too-tired puppies turn from being these cute little balls of fluff into a tiny terror with teeth – and they’re rotten to live with.
The temptation is that a young dog needs a lot of exercise when this happens, as that might be your tactic with an adult dog! But it may not be the best way with your puppy.
Think of kids! I know I used to do it (and you probably did too right?) I would get overtired when it went past bedtime and I’d had a pretty full day. It’s the same with your puppy, they’re beyond the point of being tired. So they’re being loud, obnoxious and in your face – all the while not listening to you for even a split second. I want to help you with this, it’s usually a really easy fix.
I’ve often said that a Tired Dog Is a Good Dog — but that’s not just mean physical exercise! Tiredness is more than just muscles – it’s mental too.
Purely physical exercise will exhaust the muscles, sure, but it doesn’t mean that their brain is tired. In a way? This is a good thing! It means you have a bright little puppy who needs a bit more time!