Just like kids, puppies can get very over-excited and hyper at times.A hyper puppy is likely to bite, nip, growl, and even draw blood or rip clothing. This is puppy play and exuberance but at times it really doesn’t feel that way. It can feel as though you have a little monster on your hands. And to make matters worse, many pups get especially rough and silly in the evenings, just when you and your family want to relax at the end of a long day. Do all puppies get hyper? The manic biting and not listening, bordering on hysterical, behaviour that many people experience in puppies between 9 and 20 week old is not inevitable. But it is common. It’s less common in homes where the puppy parents are experienced at spotting the signs of over excitement and avoiding the triggers. And it’s an almost universal experience for first time puppy owners. So don’t blame yourself, but do think about how you might be inadvertently contributing to the excitement Over-excitement triggers The trigger for over-excitement is often a combination of physical play and being generally overstimulated. One minute the puppy seems to be having a lot of fun, the next minute they are in melt down. It’s all become just too much. Try to avoid physical play with a puppy that is getting excited. Or at the end of a long day. A lot of people like to roll a puppy on his back - rubbing furiously at his tummy and talking to him in an excited voice. Puppies love this, but it gets them more and more excited until they suddenly lose control. Try a ‘hands off’ approach with a puppy that is getting wound up. Avoid touching the puppy with your hands for a while and try some calm clicker training sessions. Keep your voice low, and move slowly around the puppy. There are some great tips in this kikopup video for reinforcing calm behaviours in puppies (plus a really cute puppy ) How to cope with a melt down If it’s too late and your puppy is in melt down carry him to a safe place - crate or puppy proof room - preferable without noise or bright lights - and leave him there to calm down for ten or fifteen minutes When you let him out again, remember to be calm around him, and to keep future play sessions a little less physical and shorter in duration. Don't worry! Many new owners, including a lot of people on this forum, have been where you are now and survived. So you are in good company. . So do post up and share your woes, and let us know how your are getting on! As the weeks go by the world will seem a little less exciting and he will be more able to process all the amazing new experiences he is having without falling apart. Try not to worry - you'll get there! Add your tips Those of you that have survived the crocopup weeks - do add your survival tips for other new puppy parents. There is no single 'right way' to get through this
Enjoyed reading this, thank you I sometimes take Mason out into the garden as running around the house doing the ‘doddle dash’ isn’t safe. He has room to run and do whatever he feels like. We love watching and taking photos/videos it’s so funny
This is helpful. Thank you, Pippa. I'd welcome any tips from experienced people as we are first time puppy parents and seem to have meltdown every evening!
Thought I would post this in here, it isn’t perfect as I’m holding my phone and the reward marker probably isn’t needed and kind of ruins the calm. But you get the idea. We’ve been teaching this for a few days, and he wasn’t tired so I wasn’t cheating ha ha!
So great to read this! It also helps to remember that these are labs, and being a little rambunctious is OK. I got this dog because it was GOING to be full of energy and joy for life, and it has NOT disappointed. The teething and other stuff will go away, and with proper training you will have a wonderful companion.
This is really good advice! Reggie gets over excited and we are really unsure why. We have been putting him into his crate which seems to calm him now, but sometimes he gets excited again when he sees us! Another problem we are having with him, he has a mad 45mins and in that time he will pee like 4 or 5 times. It has only happen on a couple of occasions but today he legged it to the back door and before we could get to him he was peeing. He was also crying a little when he pee'd (I assume because he doesn't want to pee in the house?). Has anyone else has this problem?
Each puppy is different and to learn how to deal with your own takes observation. When is a melt down most likely to occur and what behavior is being exhibited during that time? If a 45 minute free time in the house results in mad tears (butt tucks) in the house each evening, then spending part of that time outside where butt tucking isn't going to result in overturned lamps is needed. A calm return to the home (leashed on entry if necessary to teach that we walk in doors and not fly through them, skidding onto the carpet, crashing into the corner table and overturning a lamp - yes, we have experienced that !) and then quiet interaction is the best remedy. But throughout the rest of the day, a schedule of crated rest and outside running and playing helps to avoid evening melt-downs. Again, it all really depends upon the home and the puppy. Make a plan, stick to the plan and avoid the over-stimulation is the way to begin....
This is reassuring to hear. Our new pup has had a meltdown the last couple of nights-he’s 9 weeks today. It last about 45 minutes and he does like a rocket. We’ve been taking him into the garden (for fear of furnishing collapse) and letting him run it off but now I’m thinking we need to start trying to calm him down....must look at some of these techniques. I must also call my husband in with him-he’s showing off his football skills with his new best pal!
Update. I called said husband and pup in and we tried 10 minutes in the crate and it did calm him down. We’ll keep practising this and mug up on clicker training.
I have noticed by little boy pies (9 weeks old) Gets over excited when new people are in the house and when he is woken up from a nap! We have now decided no new people after 7.30pm and no one to wake him up from a nap because as said in the post pies gets really bitey and silly when he is over excited and he also forgets about needing a wee and has had a couple of little wees in the house.. But those are the only things that over excite him into crazy mode ahah Teide and pies
The truth is that pet insurance does not cost too much a year and can avoid many problems. It is something to consider considering other factors as well.
I've had my puppy Lucky for 1.5 weeks and I spent the first 5 days /4 nights with her at home during the holiday . Since I've back at work my family has been looking after her . When I get home from work she would greet me at the door when she hears me with her wagging tail being all smiley , friendly and obedient . Then I would start playing with her - running around the garden - and she would get super excited and started barking and biting . Literally jumping off the grass to bite my legs etc . I've been going out of my mind thinking she hates me or something . I will try your calming approach and thanks for the tips !
This really helped , I thought I was the only one! Quinn can be super sweet one minute and then do a 360 and be a maniac the next. What sign should I be looking for? I have another dog, a lab mix and when they play it's rough play. Quinn broke the skin on my other dogs cheek. So i've been trying to avoid them playing to let that area heal. Is that wrong? I got your book the Labrador handbook. Can't wait till it's delivered! I've had labs before but never had these problems! jumping, barking, biting, anxious to excess.
Hi my puppy is 6 months old and I’d like to say is getting slightly better , but saying that he’s just had a bath and came downstairs and had the most amazing zoomies, which is fine but then he started to full on jump up at me biting my arms and anything he can get hold of , which really hurt and he’s quite a big lad and as you know powerful , has anyone got any ideas how to manage the zoomies as there’s just no catching him he’s too fast , I just stood and let him get on with it until he started on me . I would really appreciate it if anyone’s got any tips. Thank you
Hi, did you get any ideas on this? We now are having this same thing with our 5 month Chocolate Lab. It seems to be getting worse and everything we have tried has not worked to calm her down. I’m about ready to try a shock collar, I hate that idea but I also hate getting bit.
