10 Signs and Symptoms Your Dog is Over Tired or Exhausted!

Let’s take a look at our 10 Signs and Symptoms Your Dog is Overtired or Exhausted!

As I usually say: a tired dog is a happy dog. But too tired can be dangerous for your dog and the people around him. So, it’s really important to know the signs and symptoms your dog is not only tired but exhausted.

If your pup is tired and relaxed, that’s great, he’ll be able to sleep and you can enjoy some peace as well.

But you should know when to give your dog a rest when he’s not only tired but exhausted.

No matter how tired they are, most dogs won’t stop themselves. So, it’s particularly important for you to stop your dog. They would follow you until they fall off their legs, that’s just their nature.

If your dog is still a puppy, he might show slightly different overtired signs. This article explains the 10 overtired puppy symptoms and what to do about them. And if your little four-legged friend seems to become a little nipping monster, here are 2 other articles to help you deal with puppy biting:

• How to stop your puppy’s biting habit for good
• Overtired puppy biting – change your little shark into a loving puppy

Why it’s important to force your dog to rest if they are overtired or exhausted

Over excitement

Dogs are in many ways like children. And that’s particularly true for when they’re being exhausted.

Overly tired children often become hyperactive. With dogs, it’s just the same.

Have you ever noticed that your dog gets particularly excited after a long hike or agility training session? It’s highly unlikely that he’s still got some pent-up energy at that point. Instead, he’s likely had a bit too much action.

I don’t know about you but I find it super annoying when Baloo’s overly excited so I try everything to avoid it!

Losing self-control

Another thing that can happen is that your dog will lose his self-control.

You probably know that from your own behavior: if you’re really tired you’re much more irritable.

This might result in you screaming at someone only because he asked you how you’re doing or something similar.

It’s the same for your dog. He might be the best dog for an entire day of a family picnic but bite a child in the evening.

All the noise, activities, and people make dogs tired. At some point, they need to be able to go to a quiet place in order to rest. Otherwise, he’s more likely to lose self-control when people behave in a way he doesn’t like (especially children).

Health issues

Dogs who never learned to calm down will suffer more easily from joint and heart problems. Their body is incapable of relaxing and will hence develop weaknesses.

Exhaustion can also come from mental or emotional stimulation

It’s very important to keep in mind that mental exercise can exhaust your dog just as much as physical exercise. That’s why he might be more tired after an hour of obedience training than after a day-long hike.

Another very important factor to keep in mind is emotional stimulation.

This is often overlooked because your dog doesn’t seem to be doing anything that would be actively tiring. But it’s actually very exhausting for dogs if a lot is going on around them. That’s most common for occasions where a lot of people are around him or where there are many smells or noises.

And there’s one more important thing: if your dog was getting too hot, then he’s suffering from heat exhaustion. This can have serious consequences, so make sure you read about the signs of heat exhaustion in dogs here.

Mental stimulation can also be a wonderful training tool if used correctly. Check out Braintrainingfordogs to learn how to train your dog to be the best dog he can be by using mental stimulation! Or have a look at Dogpackr’s review first to see if it’s a fit for you and your dog!

How much sleep does a dog need?

Dogs sleep a lot!

An average dog should sleep around 18 hours per day (24 hours).

By sleeping, I also mean relaxing, just not actively doing anything. The time where they are actually in deep sleep is about 12 to 14 hours per day.

This may sound like a lot but if you think about it, it means that your dog would be ready to have some sort of activity for 6 hours per day!

For most dog owners it’s impossible to provide this much activity for their dog. So if there is only something interesting going on for, say, 4 hours per day, your dog can relax during the remaining 2 hours where he would be ready to be active.

Sleeping is kind of a default manner for dogs if they don’t have anything to do. If your pup gets at least 4 hours of activity each day and sometimes a bit more, like on the occasional camping or hiking trip, he should be fine.

Activities can be walks, playtime, eating/drinking, sniffing, exploring, chewing his bone, etc. Anything, where he is not just lying around.

The amount of sleep a dog needs also depends on the activity he’s getting during his waking hours. Sniffing, e.g., is much more tiring than just walking. New areas involve new smells and are therefore much more intense than known territory.

Puppies will need even more sleep, 20+ hours are completely normal.

In my article about the question “how many hours a day should a dog sleep” I cover this topic more in-depth.

Keep reading for our list of 10 signs and symptoms your dog is overtired or exhausted.

Funny idea for mental stimulation to make your dog tired

10 Signs and Symptoms Your Dog is Overtired or Exhausted

Alright, now let’s take a look at the 10 most common overtired dog symptoms.

1. Yawning

Most people would probably say, that’s the most obvious. While it can certainly mean that your dog is tired, it mostly means something different, like stress or uneasiness. If your dog had a lot going on that day, it can be a sign that he starts to be overtired.

2. He forgets commands

It’s sometimes difficult to tell if your pup is just trying to be nasty or if he’s actually incapable of executing your commands. If he seems to have forgotten even the simplest commands without any noticeable distraction, it’s very likely that he’s had enough and needs a break.

3. Hyper dog lying down

That’s a very clear sign for me that Baloo is exhausted!

Baloo never lies down in public on his own! He always feels like he has to watch everything that’s going on. So when he’s actually lying down, I know it’s time for a break for him.

Because even if he’s lying, he won’t be able to relax in public, there are just too many stimuli.

4. He’s having the “Zoomies”

When your dog is zooming around, it can mean 2 things: either he’s bored and tries to get rid of his excess energy. Or he’s hyperactive because he’s overtired.

You have to look at this in the context of what’s happened before he started to become hyper. If there has been a lot going on, it’s a good indicator that it’s time for bed for your fur baby.

5. He’s sniffing the ground

This is a particularly obvious sign in training, like Agility.

Your pup is usually super motivated and focused on you. But sometimes he just seems to get distracted by smells every 5 seconds, right? Yep, then he’s done! He’s too tired to focus anymore, and that’s why he gets distracted.

6. Excessive panting and/or lip licking

These are simple signs of uneasiness. When your doggo shows these signs after you’ve been working with him or having a busy day, it can mean that he’s starting to get tired.

7. He’s not acting like himself

Just watch out for any signs telling you that something’s different.

In my case it would be when Baloo’s lying down by himself, that’s a really rare scenario!

Other examples could be that your dog’s ears are usually up and now they’re hanging down. Or he’s being a clown and rolling around. Things like these can indicate that it’s time for his doggy bed.

8. Excessive thirst

Excitement or physical exercise can result in excessive thirst.

The treats he’s eating can also cause this. Chewing bones usually make a dog very thirsty as well.

But have you ever noticed that your dog drinks a whole lot more when you’re having guests around or visiting friends? That’s because the emotional excitement makes him thirsty. This is also a sign that your dog will have to rest at some point.

9. No interest in playing

Is your dog usually really playful and loves anything that’s flying around? But then sometimes he just doesn’t seem interested, right? That’s another sign that it’s time for a nap. Give him some rest and play again in a few hours.

10. Hiding

Dogs that aren’t the social type will usually hide if it’s getting too much for them.

This behavior will particularly be visible with emotional stimuli, such as when you have friends over.

This is a very clear sign and very easy to read.

However, it’s not exactly typical dog behavior. Most dogs will show some of the other signs that aren’t that obvious. If he’s hiding somewhere, leave him there and let him relax until he feels ready for some socializing.

For hyper dogs: consider a crate

Crate training is a super helpful “tool” in dog training. It’s best to start practicing it when your dog’s still a puppy. But he can still learn it later on.

It’s especially useful for hyper dogs that have a hard time calming down by themselves. For them, it’s best to put them in their crate in a calm room. It’s much easier for an excitable dog to relax there than if he’s just going to his bed in the living room where there’s still a lot of activity around him.

Here’s a crate that I really like. Dogs used to live in caves. This is why they love to sleep in places that resemble them. You can recreate this cozy den-feeling with a crate that has a cover. This will help your dog even more to relax and calm down.

For a complete overview, make sure to check out the 6 best crates for dogs to sleep in.

Signs overtired behavior is getting dangerous

If your dog seems tired or lethargic for no particular reason you should watch out for signs indicating that he might have a medical issue.

There might be something wrong with your dog if they have been tired or even lethargic for more than 1 or 2 days. A very obvious sign is when he doesn’t react to the things he usually likes. That could be his favorite toy, his beloved food or you calling him to go for a walk.

Reasons can be a number of infections, pain, arthritis, or even cancer. Vetstreet lists all the possible reasons.

Conclusion

Alright, so what have we learned? Yes, a tired dog is a happy dog! An overtired or exhausted dog isn’t!

Learning to read your dog’s body language helps to stop him when you realize he’s had enough!

Thanks for reading our list of 10 signs and symptoms your dog is overtired or exhausted! We hope this will help you give your dog the best that they deserve.