Hyperactive Dog, Cant Train Him, Could Have Mental Issues?
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
i rescued and adopted a dog 4 months back, first he had seperation anxiety then he got over it, but he is just toooooo hyperactive, never gets tired, he plays with his rubber ball all by himself, takes it tosses in the air then catches it. He will be on the couch playing with the ball and it will fall on the floor 100times and 100times he will pick it up and make it fall the same way.
When i want to take him out for a walk as soon as he sees me taking the leash he gets so excited, so hyperactive he starts making these squeeking noises and just goes crazy. he doesnt listen to me, when he is on a leash he pulls like crazy and keeps going left and right, sometimes he has accidents in the house even though he knows where he has to go.
if i am walking him and he sees a child he goes crazy and starts barking like mad. when i come home from work my other dog greets me normally, wagging her tail and all happy but he, he goes jumping in my mouth, jumping alll over me, trying to knock me over, just jumping like mad.
i want to calm him down, train him but its impossible, cant afford a trainer atm but id like to know what i can do to calm him down (no medications) and why is he acting like this, is it normal or is there some mental issues?my other dog does not act like this at all. he is a very loving dog and i love him to bits but id like to calm him down especially when ppl come over.
btw he is a papillon, about 1.7yrs old
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Papillons are high energy dogs, some more than others. They need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. Make sure you’re walking him enough. With my Min Pin, ‘enough’ is at least an hour and a half a day! Some small dogs need a lot of exercise. Don’t neglect his mental well-being either. Papillons are smart! Puzzle toys like the Buster Cube, Molecube, IQube, etc can be good for them. You can also hide his kibble around the house and make a game of meal-time, and invent games for him to play with you. They also excel at agility. Perhaps there is a local course that you can use? Also, check out a group obedience class for him. They are not usually very expensive, it’s the individual consults that get pricey. You’ll get access to a professional trainer who can give you tips. Ask to observe a class before you commit to a series. You want an instructor that is helpful and willing to address issues outside of the ‘curriculum’. Mine always asks if anyone has had any behavioral issues come up they would like tips on handling. As far as the fear, fear of what? Generalized fear of the unfamiliar? Specific objects?
Have lots of patience! Realize with some fearful dogs, it can take months or years before they are anything resembling ‘normal’, depending on their background and natural temperament. Don’t give up if, after a month or two, your dog is still shy and fearful. Don’t force him to do anything, let him decide when he’s ready. So, if he hides, don’t drag him out, leave him there. When he chooses to come out, give treats and attention. Don’t reward or coddle fear. When the dog is acting confident and/or curious, give treats and attention, otherwise, ignore him. Don’t let him lean against you for confidence and comfort, make him stand on his own, so when he leans into you, step away or push him back upright. You want him to have confidence in himself, not rely on you for it. When he’s willing, take him out and about, in small steps, so first have him comfortable in your home, then the driveway, etc. Progressively add more stressful situations, treat for confident behavior and ignore fearful behavior. This is the advice I’ve received from a trainer and a behaviorist whose help I enlisted to give mine the best possible chance of normality.
If you’re persistent, he’ll come around given time. I adopted a 3 year old dog who had spent her whole life in a kennel in March, she was terrified. She spent much of her first two weeks under my bed. I thought there was no way she would ever come around she was just so scared of everything, but she has! She has slowly and progressively become more confident and has even started to play. It took about 6 months before she made attempts to play at all, now she’s playing with my other dog, playing with toys, and even plays fetch with me now! I’ve also started taking her to the local dog park, where she is now interacting fabulously with the other dogs and owners. She still gets worried in higher stress situations, but it’s getting better. It’s very rewarding to see the transformation in a shy, fearful dog. If the going gets rough, and you feel like you’re stuck, I would suggest having an evaluation and consultation from a trainer or behaviorist, it can be really helpful! A lot of them will discount their services for a rescued dog, so don’t be afraid to ask! With patience, it will get better, so just stick with it is the best advice I can give.
Normal. Papillon = border collies’ energy in a tiny package (small explosive device). He’d probably make a great agility dog. He needs some sort of job though and some more stimulation. Hide and seek would be a good game, either with you or bits of food or a toy.
Your dog needs some training in the worse way. If you can afford to buy cigarettes, you can afford to take your dog for training. What’s more important, cancer sticks, or your dog?
he needs to run…..run…run…run…so put on your jogging shoes and go go go!!!
There’s more than one problem here and it’s not mental issues.
I suggest you start making yourself the pack leader and getting that dog some more exercise. Your female is only a maltipoo, so why not carry her while you walk him?
You also need to begin socializing your dog, too.
If you can’t afford a trainer, buy training videos like Cesar Millan. Those will help you get to the root of your problem and help you correct what is happening for a much cheaper price.
This is going to take some time and patience, but will work out in the end if you stick with it.