Does your dog go crazy in the morning? You might want to have a relaxed start to your day, but your dog thinks otherwise.
If you’re looking for ways to deal with this issue, there are lots of great things you can try.
This article has all you need to know on the topic.
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Why is my dog so hyper in the morning?
Dealing with a hyper dog can be challenging no matter what time of day it is. But if you’ve just woken and you’re trying to get yourself ready, dealing with dog zoomies is even less welcome.
If your dog is racing around the house as soon as you get up, you might be wondering why. You might also be wondering what you can do to help him settle down a little.
There are several things that can trigger over excitement in dogs.
Apart from him simply being well-rested, full of energy and ready to get a move on, hyper morning behavior in dogs may also mean that he is impatient to get the day started with you. You might actually be encouraging the behavior by rewarding him with attention. Lastly, he may just need to pee.
Once you understand what triggers your dog, you can work with him to get him to calm down. Before we get into it, here are some related articles to make sure you check out:
Excitement
The biggest reason why your dog might be getting the zoomies in the morning is because he’s just so excited.
There are lots of fun things to do during the day, and your dog is eager to get started.
He’s spent all night waiting patiently for morning to come. And now that it’s here, he’s ready for all the fun things the two of you have planned to do!
Your dog has also probably picked up on your daily routine by now. He knows what’s going to happen, and he wants to get a move on.
While the sentiment might be cute, it’s probably pretty annoying in reality.
Make sure you check out these related articles about over excitement in dogs and puppies:
He’s well-rested and ready for some action
Dogs sleep a lot—maybe more than you think! Most adult dogs sleep around 10 to 14 hours a day. That might seem like a lot, but a dog’s sleep cycle works differently than a human’s.
Dogs sleep lighter than we do, which means they need to rest longer to get all the benefits of sleep.
He probably gets most of his rest with you at night. And now that it’s morning, he’s ready to get moving and have fun!
Dogs that are generally calmer may not experience this issue as much as dogs that are naturally more active.
He needs to pee
When you feel uncomfortable, do you ever get weird bursts of energy? The same thing happens to your dog. He just displays his energy by racing around your house.
While you two were sleeping, your dog didn’t have the chance to relieve himself. Now that it’s morning, he probably really has to go!
A full bladder isn’t a comfortable feeling. But in the morning once you’re up and moving, he knows that he’s going to get to relieve himself soon.
That could make him start acting pretty hyper! After waiting patiently all night long, your dog is ready to go out and do his business.
Impatience
Sometimes things just don’t happen fast enough for your dog. Dogs tend to wake up early in the mornings, and they like to get moving right away.
If you’re not up when your dog wants you to be up, that might be a little frustrating for him. He’s ready to get his day started, but you’re not moving fast enough for him.
Impatience can make your dog hyper and over excited. It’s probably pretty annoying for you, but your dog just wants you to get your day going with him. He knows there are so many fun things to do, he just needs you to get moving!
You hype him up
Many times, our dogs act the way they do because of the ways we respond to them.
One of the best ways to train a dog is through positive reinforcement dog training. This means rewarding dogs when they do things we like, and ignoring behavior we want to stop.
Unfortunately, we might be rewarding our dogs unintentionally for behavior we want to curb.
One of the biggest things that your dog is probably seeking out is your attention. When you give your dog your attention, even to say “no,” you’re still giving him attention. So if you tell your dog “no,” in the morning when he’s being hyper, that could end up reinforcing the behavior.
Your dog also pays a lot of attention to the way you act. He might even mirror your attitude. If you start acting super excited or loud in the morning, your dog is going to do the same thing!
How do I calm my dog down in the morning?
There are lots of reasons why dogs are hyper in the mornings. Knowing why your dog is hyper will help you get him to settle down.
Once you’ve determined why your dog is so hyper, you’ll know specifically what you should do for him so that he can calm himself.
Here are a few tips you should keep in mind.
Set up a morning routine with your dog before work
One of the best things you can do both for your dog and yourself is to set up a morning routine.
So what does the best morning routine with a dog look like?
While there are definitely a few things you should make sure you do with your dog, all routines meet individual needs. Ultimately, it comes down to what works for you and your dog!
Once you’ve set up your routine, you should see a change in your dog’s behavior. Now that he knows what to expect and when, he’ll understand when it’s time to be excited and when it’s time to be calm.
Make sure he gets enough exercise during the day
Your dog needs to get enough daily stimulation to stay happy and healthy. If your dog doesn’t get enough exercise, he’ll have a lot of pent-up energy.
And that energy might come out through hyperactivity!
In cases like this, prevention is the best medicine. Keep your dog from gaining all the pent up energy by making sure he gets enough exercise.
Are you wondering what you can do to help your dog burn some energy? These related articles will give you some inspiration:
- How Many Walks Should a Dog Have a Day?
- How to Tell If Your Dog Is Tired of Walking
- 11 Tips to Tire Out a Dog (Quickly)
You should also make sure to give your dog some mental stimulation. These are 10 brain games for dogs to play at home.
Let him pee last thing at night
You already know that needing to pee is one reason why your dog might be hyper. So how can you help your dog keep his bladder empty and stay calm in the morning?
Think about when you are letting him go pee before you go to bed. Is he peeing a couple of hours before you lie down? You might want to change that up. Try letting him out right before you sleep, as the last thing you do before bed.
If your dog tends to drink a ton of water before sleeping, you may want to do something about that too. Your dog should have access to clean water throughout the day. But if he fills his bladder too much before bedtime, try taking his water away about an hour before you sleep.
Make sure you give it back to him as soon as you can the next morning!
Ignore the hyper behavior
You might be unintentionally hyping your dog up, which is why he’s getting so over excited in the morning.
So what can you do to stop it, especially if saying no and responding to him only makes it worse?
It might be difficult, at least at first, but the most important thing is to ignore him. You don’t want to accidentally encourage bad behavior.
As tough as it is, do your best not to respond to your dog’s hyperactivity. It might take a while for your dog to settle, but he will eventually. When you do this consistently, he’ll also learn this isn’t a good way to get what he wants.
Related topic: For dog training in general I highly recommend you get a program that walks you through step by step, such as Braintrainingfordogs. Certified dog trainer Adrienne Farricelli teaches you to train your dog to be the best dog he can by be using mental stimulation! Check out Dogpackr’s review to see if this is a fit for you!
Stay calm
Dogs are highly intuitive animals. They easily pick up on what the people around them are feeling. They may also reflect what the people around them are acting like.
That means that it’s your job to model good behavior for your dog! If you want your dog to be calm, then you need to show him what that looks like.
Stay calm throughout the morning, and try not to do anything that could hype your dog up.
Reward calm behavior
Ignoring your dog when he gets hyper is one way of getting him to stop acting crazy in the mornings.
But positive reinforcement dog training isn’t just about ignoring bad behavior.
You need to show your dog what good behavior actually looks like!
When your dog makes choices like being calm or lying down patiently while he waits for you, you should reward that. Give him a treat or take a few seconds to pet him to tell him that you like what he’s doing.
Hyper dog in the morning FAQ
Do you still have more questions about dealing with hyper dogs in the morning? Here are a few answers.
My puppy is hyper and biting in the morning, what can I do?
Puppies don’t tend to have a lot of self control. For some puppies, that’s most evident in the mornings!
Your puppy is just so excited to be awake and get his day going. Unfortunately, he’s expressing that it some pretty painful ways.
With time, patience, and consistency, you’ll teach your puppy to have much better manners.
If you’re looking for some more advice on dealing with puppy biting, take a look at these related articles:
- My Puppy Is Going Crazy All of a Sudden, What Can I Do?
- How to Stop Puppy Witching Hour Biting
- What Age Does Puppy Witching Hour Stop?
Hyperactive dog symptoms
Do you suspect you might have a hyperactive dog?
A hyperactive dog is different than an energetic dog. Some dogs tend to like more activity than others. But if your dog is hyperactive, it can be difficult to get your dog under control.
Dealing with a hyperactive dog can be exhausting. Luckily, there are some things you can do to get him to settle down.
Here are 9 hyperactive dog symptoms and how to help your dog calm down.
What can I do with an over excited dog on a walk?
Going on walks it one of the best and easiest ways to get your dog some exercise and mental stimulation. But what if your dog gets a little too excited on his walks?
Dealing with an over excited dog on a walk is a difficult thing. But there are ways you can teach your dog to walk more calmly.
As long as you put in the time and work, you’ll be able to teach your dog to walk with composure.
Here’s how to deal with an over excited dog on a walk.
My dog gets too excited around other dogs, what can I do?
It’s probably pretty exciting for your dog to meet other dogs. He’s probably ready to play and make new friends!
But if your dog gets too excited when meeting other dogs, this can be a big problem.
It’s a good idea to work on introductions with your dog. Start slow, and with one dog at a time. Keep them a good distance away from each other at first, and bring them closer as they start to calm down.
If you’re really struggling to introduce your dog to other dogs, you might want to think about working with a dog trainer.
Conclusion
The last thing you probably want to do first thing in the morning is deal with a super hyper dog. Unfortunately, this is a common challenge many owners face.
But with the right training, you’ll be able to teach your dog to stay calm, allowing you to enjoy a peaceful start to your day.
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