How do you calm an overtired puppy? Simple and Effective Tips

Training alone will help you learn how to manage your puppy’s over-excited states but you also need to provide your puppy positive stimulus to engage their senses, keep their minds focused on something, and help them expel their energy. We’re big fans of introducing training routines into playtime and we also love these ten fun games! As we mentioned earlier in our dos and don’ts section, puzzle toys that make your puppy work for a treat are a great tool for keeping your pup focused.

So what are those over-excited behaviors to keep an eye on? If you notice that your puppy is calm one moment, and suddenly experiences a behavior change such as zoomies (uncontrollably running in circles or back and forth), jumping, mouthing and nipping, barking, spinning in circles, etc. These are all signs that your puppy has become over-excited.

Continue thinking about all the instances your puppy displayed some over-excited behavior. And also think about what was happening during those activities: your puppy gets surprised by seeing other dogs, squirrels, and people during their walk or in your yard. Your puppy has been home for hours waiting for your return when suddenly you walk through the door. You might notice a trend of surprise and anticipation as two of the prevalent factors in these instances, which can contribute to an arousal build-up in your puppy.

One thing is for certain, managing an over-excited puppy can be challenging but it’s very possible with puppy training and remaining consistent. A lapse in your puppy’s training could cause your puppy to backslide into their old behaviors so maintaining a regular training schedule, and providing positive outlets will help ensure their long-term success! But if you are still having issues, reach out to us in the comments below and visit our blog for other puppy training and care resources. Or join us during our “Ask a Puppy Trainer!” show, live on @thepuppyacademy Instagram every Wednesday at 1 pm PT!

Other triggers can happen during an activity, especially playtime. It’s not uncommon for a puppy that was already engaged in something stimulating like a tug game, for example, to be playing nicely one moment, and then escalate, only to growl and nip the next. During these activities, sometimes our hands and feet, which are like fun moving targets for pups, can entice and arouse your puppy.

What Are The Signs Of An Overtired Puppy?

Common overtired puppy symptoms include: A sudden burst of energy and having a lot of energy it results in things like the “Zoomies”, crazy eyes, an increase in biting, and often an inability to listen. It could even lead to a lapse in potty training, short bursts of massive energy.

These things may result in a lot of “unruly” behavior, and sometimes an understanding that your puppy is being a “demon”, “little devil” and in the mind of a new puppy parent can lead to the conclusion that they need another walk – but I promise you it’s really not the case. All of this is being caused by a lack of sleep.

little cavapoo puppy having fun and running around in the garden or yard. Too much play can definitely be a factor in your puppy’s overtiredness..

You need to provide mental stimulation. This is a super easy fix, I promise.

Don’t start today if they’re already on wild dog mode, but tomorrow? Try cutting their walks down to the recommended daily amount and focus on some of the ideas below to try and wear out that little puppy brain!

Remember not to make it too difficult, and remember to keep sessions nice and short so as to not overdo it!

Here’s a few ideas for you;

First, you need to know that young dogs do not have the ability to “Self regulate”, and they have no self control! So the mindset of “Oh, they’ll sleep when they’re tired” is just not true. So creating structured nape times and ensuring that your puppy is getting enough sleep is always step one.

Did you know your puppy needs 18-20 hours of sleep every day?

Well, not only does this mean that you have less time to be around your puppy, with all that wonderful puppy biting, but it means that when they start getting roughly that amount of sleep, then their behavior will improve.

You may want to consider things like crate training, in a quiet place, with a super comfy little dog bed in it in order to facilitate a more structure and obvious zoning so that your puppy begins to associate their bed or crate with down time, nap time and great, deep sleep.

I’d also suggest setting up a routine which allows your puppy sleep, appropriate potty break, training and exercise at the right amount for your puppy’s age (months of age, not years!).

What Does an Overtired Puppy Look Like?

You might be thinking that it will be easy to spot an overtired puppy, but some of the symptoms can actually be very confusing. Your puppy might show only a couple of signs or all of them within just a few minutes.

Nipping or biting: We’ve all more than likely seen a cranky, tired child that resorts to hitting or screaming tantrums. Puppies are no different; even though they can’t really hit, they can nip or bite. If your puppy starts biting or nipping you or others seemingly out of nowhere, it could be because they are getting too tired and don’t have any other way of expressing themselves. A tiny puppy nipping you might not seem like a big deal, but if their behavior and tiredness doesn’t get addressed, they could easily become a nipping and biting adult.

Hyperactivity: Though it might seem counterproductive, some puppies actually become more active when they get overtired. That’s because once a puppy reaches a certain level of tiredness, rather than get sluggish, their second wind of cortisol kicks in and makes them seemingly unstoppable. It can be very difficult to get them to calm down from this level of activity and even more difficult to get them to sleep even though they’re so tired.

Panting: You’re probably familiar with your puppy panting when they get too hot, but excessive panting can also mean that they’re tired. Panting can be in response to stress, such as that that a puppy feels when they’re tired and can’t get any rest.

Excessive drinking: Another stress response that puppies may show when they’re tired is excessive drinking. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they drink a lot; it may just mean that they’re taking repeated water breaks. Along with this, overtired puppies may lick their lips repeatedly as well.

Clinginess: An overtired puppy may turn to you for support. They might expect you to put them to bed or just help them sort out their stressed feelings. If your puppy is normally a follower, it may be hard to differentiate this behavior when he’s overtired.

Sluggish: Some overtired puppies may act as you would expect and become lethargic or sluggish. They may walk slower, choose not to play, or just simply not want to get up.

Stopped listening: Hopefully, you’ve been able to teach your puppy some manners and even tricks, but when they’re overtired, all that learning seems to go out the window. As a result, you may experience some potty accidents as well.

Teach Your Puppy To Relax After Playing

The funny thing about overtired puppies – and overtired toddlers alike – is that the last thing they want to do is sleep! The get so amped up and overstimulated because of the lack of sleep that they aren’t able to settle down by themselves. That’s why they need your help in this situation.

I’m pretty sure my Mini Poodle Baloo was overtired on a regular basis as a puppy. He was so hyper all the time which made me think he needs more stimulation. In reality, he probably just didn’t know how to settle down and was totally overwhelmed by all the action.

So, in this article we’ll first look at what an overtired puppy looks like. And then you’ll get some quick and easy tips to help your pup calm down and get the rest he needs!