Hyper Puppy

[Swirl]

We have a 8 month Rott and well she is very hpyer, she has already been spayed. She has had some training and listens to a certain degree, but yet is very active. I have bought a long rope to attach to her collar and have played with her outside, but she is still hyper when she comes inside.

I can get her to sit when I want and I only pet her when she is calm. She has had some training. I can get her to stay in place for quite some time, but if I make a sudden movement she will get all excited.

I am just not sure what to do with her to calm her down.

[harleychik66]

She isn't hyper. She is just being a normal pup with lots of energy.

You say some training. Is she in obedience classes? What do you play when you're outside? Do you go for walks?

What is your normal daily routine with her?

I'm assuming since you leash her you do not have a fenced yard. You can still do fetch,tug and work on commands.

Long walks around the neighborhood are also good. Mix up the routine so she doesn't get bored. It's also a good time to work on distractions, heel, sit, stay ect.

Get her into obedience classes. It's obvious she needs more training.

Don't forget that these dogs need mental as well as physical stimulation. In the house hide treats and work on her finding them.

I guarantee a tired pup is a calm pup, and give her time she is still quite young.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by Swirl

We have a 8 month Rott and well she is very hpyer,...I am just not sure what to do with her to calm her down.

You have to wear her out, mentally and physically.

Mentally, by being in obed classes once/week, then practicing what you learned in class a couple of times/day, 5-10 minutes at a pop. You also might look into teaching her other activities, such as tracking, when the weather warms up.

Take her out for a power walk every morning before work and again when you get home. My dogs are free walked for half an hour every morning before I leave for work and again for about 45-60 minutes when I get home. We have 70+ acres and I'm out in the fields with a flashlight.

Your dog is "very hyper" because you're not providing her with enough channels to burn off her youthful puppy energy.

[Swirl]

She knows most commands, sit, stay, heel, lie down. She just gets overly excited.

She isn't tied up at all, she has the whole backyard to run around in. The problem with letting her loose in the house is that we have a 2 year old and well she isn't very big compared to the dog. The dog is up to 90 lbs. The mother and father were very big rotts, not fat though.

I really don't have time to walk her in the morning. I already get up at 4:30 to get to work, she knows the routine in the morning. Go outside go to the bathroom, come inside play some while I clean up the Kitchen in then into cage while I take a shower and then I am out the door. This seems to work well in the morning.

I do plan on taking her out more once it's warmer (I admit, I don't walk her as much now due to the cold weather).

I plan to take her on evening walks more often now in hopes to tire her out. I forgot how hyper a puppy can be, the thing is most dogs I have had have been calm, so this is new to me.

Thanks for all the help.

[Maxxx]

I 100% agree on the mental stimulation. I have to ban all hard activity on Mondays since Monday night is OB night and I need him energetic for the 1hr class. You could try working on some tricks too. That will get her mind going. I know when we train with the clicker, Max will be tired for hours!

In regards to the sudden movements bringing her out of the stay, you might want to move slower and work up to the sudden movements. She might not know 100% what "stay" means.

Lots of walks, lots of fetch, tug. If she really likes a certain toy, you could have her do something and then reward her with the toy. That might get to listen to you more since the faster she does what you ask, the faster she can play :)

[pazzo]

A tired puppy is a GOOD puppy!....a rule I live by!

[Shelby427]

When you got the dog, you made a commitment. You need to make time for this dog. Rain, sleet or shine I'm out with both my dogs on a walk. I don't walk them in the morning either, but they get a 1 mile walk after work. I bundle up and get outside. Just because you have a large yard for her to run, does not mean she'll exercise herself! So many owners say "well she has a large yard to run all day in but she's still full of energy" if you were left outside in a yard, would you run laps? I doubt it.

Get her into OB classes for the next couple of years. This poor dog is bored out of her mind. And you say she knows most commands - this is not even close to TRAINING. Knowing a few commands is easy, you have to WORK HER MIND.

[Swirl]

Not to dispute what you said,but she actually does run around in the backyard. I just think she has too much energy.

I can take this dog outside for two hours and throw the ball, run around with her and bring her inside and she still wants to play.

I am thinking of getting a doggy backpack and loading it down with some weights of some sort. This was suggested to me from someone else.

I do appreciate what you all are telling me to do.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by Swirl

I really don't have time to walk her in the morning. I already get up at 4:30 to get to work,...

You didn't realize your Rottie would need exercise when you brought her into your home?

Your dog didn't ask to be part of your household. You made her part of your life. Now, step up and do right by her.

You don't have time in the am to walk her?

Then walk her twice as far at night, when you get home from work. Or, get your husband to take her for a long walk, then you take her for a walk,

Your young healthy dog is underexercised.

End of story. Do something about this fact.

[Swirl]

Originally Posted by AngelBunny

You didn't realize your Rottie would need exercise when you brought her into your home?

Your dog didn't ask to be part of your household. You made her part of your life. Now, step up and do right by her.

You don't have time in the am to walk her?

Then walk her twice as far at night, when you get home from work. Or, get your husband to take her for a long walk, then you take her for a walk,

Your young healthy dog is underexercised.

End of story. Do something about this fact.

First things first, I am a guy.

The dog is not under exercised, she gets out a lot more then any dog in our neighborhood minus this one dog. That's the point I am trying to get across, nothing I seem to do gets her energy out. I have played with her for 2 hours straight and she still has the same amount. I have done my research on the dog and I know they are working dogs, Roman soldiers used to use them and that is one reason why she enjoys holding something in her mouth when I walk her (it makes her feel like she is accomplishing a task). I have found that really calms her down when we walk.

I honestly don't have the time in the morning to walk her. I have an 1-1/2 hour commute to work. Not much I can do about this, she gets her walks at night.

Some dogs are more hyper then others. I know some people that have to put their dogs on medicine due to the fact that nothing they did including strenuous workouts for the dog would tire them out. I don't want this for the dog. So I am looking for other ways besides what I am doing to get her energy out in a productive manner.

[Shelby427]

Originally Posted by Swirl

Not to dispute what you said,but she actually does run around in the backyard. I just think she has too much energy.

I can take this dog outside for two hours and throw the ball, run around with her and bring her inside and she still wants to play.

I am thinking of getting a doggy backpack and loading it down with some weights of some sort. This was suggested to me from someone else.

I do appreciate what you all are telling me to do.

FYI - you can't have her carrying any weight until she's at LEAST 18 months old. Then, you'll want to make sure her hips and elbows can carry extra weight and still be OK.

So, you have 10 more months of having to do it yourself. You're right, some dogs have more energy than others, but you have to do something about it. Her running around the backyard is clearly NOT ENOUGH - so get out there and stimulate her body and mind.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by Swirl

First things first, I am a guy.

OK--then get your wife, GF, or whoever it is that you referred to as "we" in your post to help exercise her brain and her body.

Originally Posted by Swirl

...The dog is not under exercised, she gets out a lot more then any dog in our neighborhood minus this one dog. That's the point I am trying to get across, nothing I seem to do gets her energy out....I am looking for other ways besides what I am doing to get her energy out in a productive manner.

The point we're trying to get across is that you need to address her energy level both physically and mentally.

Giving her hard physical exercising is only building up her stamina and getting her in better physical shape.

You need to get her into class and and work with her each day during several short training sessions.

I have an 8 yo bitch who is still an energizer bunny. When Mox was younger, she and I were in class 2-3 times/week because she needed to be. Many times I wished I could take out her batteries because she was nonstop. She's involved in tracking, obed, drafting, and we dabbled in herding and agility.

You need to do the same with your girl.

I understand the rigors of long commutes--for several years I drove 85 miles one way to work.

I also understand the demands of a young, healthy dog.

Your dog didn't ask to join your household so now that you have her, you're going to have to do what it takes to meet her needs. If you can't, for whatever reason(s), think about returning her to her breeder.

[Swirl]

I won't be getting rid of her. An 8 year old rott with energy seems very far fetched to me since rotts don't have a long life span compared to other breeds (I have read in many places and on this forum, that they are considered seniors at 6 years old, unlike other dogs). I do admit they can live a long time my wife had one that lived for 13 years.

I'll see what I can do with her more in the evening time.

[SABELLESMOM]

Originally Posted by Swirl

I just think she has too much energy.

Rottweiler's are intellegent, and athleticaly powerful dogs. She doesn't have too much energy, honest.

My girl was vaulting over my high backed couch...without touching a cushion at 8 months! What she needed was mental challenge. We began agility(clicker training), and it's worked for us.

Rae is very intense and truly enjoys not just the physical activity but the mental stimulation. She works hard and shows real pride when she "get's it!" Once learned never forgotten!

Understandably, agility may not be your interest. There are other venues. Obedience, Fly Ball, Rally-O, Schutzhund, and even Carting when she's fully developed. Find a class! So much to choose from!

Teach her to run beside you, on lead, as you bike in some empty parking lot. Backpacks are good just don't weigh her down. She's too young. But carrying a pack with a bottle of water for each of you would make her feel as tho she has a job. Rottie's like that.

Hike on a long lead around a lake somewhere. Have a snowball fight! Train inside and outside your home. Interrupt her time at home with sprinklings all over of 5 minute "lessons" of something.

Work on a nice long down (or down-stay) while you eat dinner. Toss a durable and safe rubber football with wiffle holes in it. Rave LOVES her football, nubbly ball frisbee, and bungee snake!

She's a Rottie! She's active and powerful. She needs challenge, work, and love. Enjoy the activity! Life will never be dull, again, will it?

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by Swirl

I won't be getting rid of her. An 8 year old rott with energy seems very far fetched to me since rotts don't have a long life span compared to other breeds (I have read in many places and on this forum, that they are considered seniors at 6 years old, unlike other dogs). I do admit they can live a long time my wife had one that lived for 13 years.

There are exceptions to every rule.

Farfetched to you as it may seem, Mox is still highly energetic (Thank heavens!). If I can’t burn off her energy because I’m sick for a few days w/ a migraine & she doesn’t get sufficient exercise, she’s a pest. Barking, bouncing around the house terrorizing her sister and foster brother, getting into things.

We adopted her from rescue precisely because she was what I wanted and I loved what I saw in her. She’s like no other Rottie I’ve owned.