4 Tips to Help Your Young Dog Chill Out 😅

The first 2 years with a new pup are SO PACKED, aren't they?!

After the first few training lessons are completed (potty training, house training, learning how to "sit" and "shake a paw"), we can tend to settle into a bit of hands-off comfortability that our dog can now exist like an adult without killing themselves on an exposed plugin port if we turn our backs.

The frenzy to "raise 'em right" has subsided, and they're capable of the basics, but why aren't they calm, chill, and acting like an "adult"?

Does "calm" just come with age?

Today we're going to cover a few of our personal favourite tips on how to raise a calm adolescent pup! It is in fact possible 😉 Let's get into it...

1. Less entertainment, more_______

You've probably heard the word "structure" more times than you can count as you've looked into training your pup, and maybe, like all of us at one time or another, roll your eyes and say "yeah, yeah, I know, structureeee...." 

But trust me, this bears looking in to! If you have expectations for any kind of good behaviour with your dog, you're going to need to make structured habits a part of your daily routine.

What actually IS structure though?

Structure refers to practicing consistent rules, boundaries, and limitations. 

That can be any of the following habits: crate/kennel time, learning 'place' training and mastering that command, structured leash walking (aka, not a sniffari where the dog is leading the walk), respecting thresholds, and waiting calmly for mealtime. Those are just a few of the main ones, but every household may have their own variations.

Your dog needs these habits! If they are constantly "outsmarting you" and misbehaving, its usually a sign that there's not enough calm yet firm leadership and boundaries in their day-to-day, and the entertainment and "free time" portion of their day is way too large. Your puppy may look very young and new, but their brain is developing FAST, and they can definitely keep up with the above training :)

2. Take "breaks"

Puppies, like toddlers, are NEVER going to set limits for themselves. So long as the situation is still in front of them, they will continue to engage in it. 

The longer a dog gets lost in something, usually the more hyped/aroused they become, and harder to mentally access. It's very important to take breaks during playtime, playdates, and any activity that excites them, so they don't "let themselves go".

A lot of accidental bites, fights, and general bad behaviour happen in moments of intense and unchecked excitement, not because the puppy has some terrible underlying problem, but because they're just not as in control of themselves when excited, and things can escalate fast. For that reason, it's important to call frequent little breaks where they have to wait and calm down before going back to the activity/playdate. 

Getting too mouthy while playing? Take a break. 

Getting way more vocal and loud? Take a break. 

Starting to tune you out? Take a break. 

Being territorial or fixated on some object, treat, or person? Take a break. 

Energy getting to high during a playdate? You got it -- take a break. 

Your dog understanding a verbal cue from you that means we're pausing this and calming down will benefit you both MASSIVELY and save you potential problems down the road. And bonus, if you've been practicing the 'place' command that we mentioned above, that's a great place to take a break. 

3. Slow it down

Enthusiasm and puppies go hand in hand. It's normal for them to have a lot of vim and vigour. However, it's important early on to teach them how to harness that. This is taught (or not) on a continual basis throughout their day, but it starts the moment they wake up:

When they are about to exit the kennel, don't allow them to push through the door and fly out. Slow everything down. Open the door slowly, if they start trying to push through before you've released them, close the door. Do it again. They usually pick up quite quickly that they're not supposed to exit like a crazy.

Then the same practice for leaving the room. No bolting out in front of you, but waiting till you tell them to follow (again, not just bursting like a race car away from you once you release them).

The same goes for going down staircases, or leaving the house to go potty (if on leash). These are all areas you can train them to slow down, focus, and harness their impulse to be fast, busy, and doing everything on their own. Let me tell you, it pays off! Just be consistent. In our house, we coupled this training with the word "slow". When we say "slow", it essentially means NO BOLTING, running, or flying ahead of us.

4. We can say hello later...

I know a lot of people aren't going to want to hear this, but I don't "greet" my dogs  for a while after I've woken them up or when I've just come home from being away.

Why?

Because it excites them way too much and starts things on the wrong foot.

Here's how the morning routine usually works for us: I take my dogs out of the kennel, take them to the bathroom, feed them, and then do 15-30 minutes of structured rest time while I have my morning coffee before we do any pats/rubs, affection, and hellos. Most dogs are already excited enough that they're coming out of their kennel and being fed without any extra attention at the same time. Remember, your dog isn't human, and their feelings aren't hurt that you haven't clobbered them. When the initial rush of the morning's activities have concluded, then it's a great time for some cuddles and love!

This isn't a "one-size-fits-all" thing -- it can be more or less important depending on each individual dog's strengths and weaknesses and what your expectations are. But for us, we have really seen a difference in not talking and touching right out of the gate as a general rule. 

If your dog gets too excited/escalates during introductions, returns, or hellos, try this. It's also helpful for dogs who may struggle with separation anxiety.

What do you think of these tips?

Have you tried any of these with your puppy, or other's that you found helpful? We'd love to hear about them!

The RLD Team