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As a dog owner, one of the things you look forward to during the day is going home and being greeted by your playful pooch. Your puppy loves you so much that he/she can’t help but jump all over you and kiss your face as much as possible! What do you do, though, when that rambunctiousness lasts all day? We love how playful and happy our dogs are, but at some point, they’ve got to settle down!

Set up a Schedule!

Routines are absolutely necessary to keep dogs feeling happy and secure.   Knowing they will get food and water at certain intervals in the day and will get to go to the bathroom is important to them! Dogs give us unconditional love, the least we can do is give them ease of mind about when they will go outside next!

How do you know when your dog needs to go potty and when he/she just wants to go outside to play? Well, you really never know. Your best bet to keep your pup from badgering you for attention would be to take him/her outside more often. Even if the emergency is to go chase a squirrel, at least you know there won’t be a loss of bladder control all over your newly installed carpet. Keep in mind that if your dog is feeling under the weather, be sure to take him/her out even MORE! This will prevent accidents and builds up the dog’s trust in you even more.

Some of the most important things to a dog are food and exercise. Without either of these, dog will definitely become agitated, ultimately leading to some wild antics. Feed your dog based on a regular schedule, and try your absolute best not to sway from this routine. Your dog expects to be fed at a certain time of the day, and if not, he/she will be upset. The best way to split up meal time is to feed your dog 2 times a day. Exercise cannot be neglected either. Throughout the day, your dog needs to have an energy release to keep from getting wild at home.  So, take your dog to play regularly; this will help to steer away from any rowdy behavior.

Training is incredibly important, but it will be pointless unless reinforced regularly. Training will not only build a solid foundation for your pup, but also strengthens the relationship between the two of you. You will become more established as the leader in your dog’s mind So go ahead, scout some classes and join a good training class for you and your furry friend, you both will be glad you did!

Things You Don’t Like

1)      Jumping on people: Dogs to this for attention and affection. To get your dog to stop this, don’t let anyone pet him/her while on hind legs! Be sure to pet them, though, when they are on all fours.

2)      Going crazy over the leash: Whenever your pup gets boisterous over the leash, PAUSE. Don’t put the leash on until your dog has settled down. A good way to go about this would be to ask for a “sit.” Patience is crucial here.

3)      Constant barking: Barking is an adrenaline rush for dogs. To get this to stop, call for your dog, pet, and praise him/her. Do this each time your dog begins barking. This will reduce the adrenaline rush and lower the overall drive for your dog to bark.

None of this advice will help your situation unless you watch how you behave too! Here are some tips to help you out:

• If your dog becomes overly excited, STOP MOVING. Movement stimulates responsive movement in our dogs.
• Slow your movements when you are around a high-strung dog. This goes hand-in-hand with the previously mentioned tip.
• Don’t chase your dog! This teaches them to run from humans which is incredibly inconvenient when you really need to catch them. Plus, many dogs are struck by cars while running away from their owners.
• Adjust the volume and pitch of your voice according to certain situations. If you’re playing with your dog, excitement in your voice is great! When you are grooming him/her, however, a calmer voice is necessary to keep your dog composed.

Dogs are like children. If they are hungry or have to use the bathroom, they will do whatever it takes to get your attention. Do yourself a favor; meet your dog’s needs with schedules, training, and the proper care. Helping your dog to become more manageable is essential! Not only will this lead to healthier habits, but ultimately an improved relationship between the two of you!