Do you come home to a mess from your puppy every day? Does your furry friend act a little bit too high-energy sometimes? If so, don’t fret too much—restlessness is a common behavioral trait in puppies, especially if they belong to certain breeds like the Golden Retriever or German Shepherd. According to GoodRx Health, certain […]
Do you come home to a mess from your puppy every day? Does your furry friend act a little bit too high-energy sometimes? If so, don’t fret too much—restlessness is a common behavioral trait in puppies, especially if they belong to certain breeds like the Golden Retriever or German Shepherd. According to GoodRx Health, certain dog breeds are naturally predisposed to have high energy due to their background as hunting or sporting dogs. Take the Golden Retriever as the perfect example. You may know them as loveable, goofy dogs but back in the early days of the breed, they were famous for their hunting and field-work abilities. They needed lots of energy to be able to chase around rodents and endure long hours of strenuous activity.
As many dog breeds adapted to living in homes, they kept the various characteristics that make their breed type unique—this includes high energy or restlessness. Unfortunately, high energy can occur in puppies and adult dogs so you must use a little creativity to keep your furry friend occupied. Otherwise, they will find something to do, and trust us, your furniture is the perfect toy for a high-energy puppy that’s super bored.
To help you, we put together the best tips to tire out your high-energy puppy before they make a mess of your home. Let’s take a look at each!
Sometimes, daily walks don’t cut it. You know it, and your puppy definitely knows it. What’s usually missing from your average walk is stimulation. Highly active puppies need to interact and run around to use up their pent-up energy. The solution? Dog park. If you bring your furry friend to the dog park every day, you won’t face many issues with their restlessness after you come home. Your puppy will be able to run free, make new friends, and play fun games with them. By the end of the day, your fur-baby will be too tired to find chew toys in your home. Dog parks also help you socialize with your furry friend. The earlier you start, the better!
Did you know that there are dog daycare centers waiting to take in your puppy on a busy day? Dog daycare facilities are fantastic because they allow your puppy to interact with other dogs—some their age, others a little older. Some daycare centers may incorporate different activities that will keep your puppy busy, tiring them out by the time you come to pick them up. It’s also a good way to socialize your puppy with others. Once you keep a consistent schedule of bringing your little buddy to a dog daycare facility, your puppy will catch some z’s at the end of each day.
If there is anything puppies love more than food, it’s playing games. Fetch, puzzle games, scavenger hunts, tug-of-war, there are countless games to play with your furry friend. While we’ve provided a few amazing ideas in the previous blogs, we highly recommend playing games that are physically demanding like fetch, tug-of-war, and chase-the-toy. These games allow your puppy to use up any leftover energy they have by the end of the day. Other games that can help include games that facilitate training like scavenger hunts, obstacle courses, and puzzle toys. These puppy games are also mentally stimulating so your little buddy gets their brain juices flowing the entire time!
As previously mentioned, most high-energy breeds have a long history in rigorous activities like hunting and herding. If you keep them caged up in your apartment or home, they won’t receive enough stimulation to keep them happy. Boredom is the main trigger for restless behavior. As such, you need to provide an activity that physically and mentally stimulates your fur-baby. Going on hikes with your furry friend is a great way to give them the stimulation they need to get really tired at the end of the day. Think about it. On hikes, your puppy is surrounded by vast wildlife—the sound of the wind rustling leaves, the scent of wild animals in the distance, and the sight of different flowers, trees, and vegetation. All of these sights are incredibly stimulating for your puppy’s mind. To learn more about different hiking trails you can go on adventures on, check out the app AllTrails.
Like hiking, the beach gives your puppy the change of scenery they need to be happy. Full of different scents, smells, and sights, the beach is your puppy’s ultimate paradise destination. You can throw a frisbee so that your puppy chases after it. You may also meet other people and their dogs, making new friends along the way! The waves are also a fun way for you and your pup to splash around and play water frisbee. There are so many things to do at the beach that by the time you both get home, you’ll have a happy but exhausted puppy! Just make sure you keep an eye out for your puppy whenever they enter the water.
Although your high-energy puppy may drive you a little crazy at times, they’re still amazing companions! Your puppy is easygoing, intelligent, and most of all, sweet. At Petland, we’re very passionate about dogs of all personality types and breeds. We want you and your high-energy puppy to have the best life together while also supporting your furry friend’s love of different activities, whether it’s chasing frisbees, hiking, running, or swimming. We hope this blog helps you and your little buddy go on lots of fun adventures together!
For more information about active breeds, check out our blog, 5 Best Puppy Breeds for Runners and Active People.
