Dealing with an Overly Excitable Dog Using Dog Psychology — Not Just Obedience
Excitability is one of the most common issues I help dog owners with across Dumfries and Galloway. Whether it’s jumping up, barking when guests arrive, spinning on the lead, or not being able to settle in the house, excitable dogs can leave their owners feeling frustrated, embarrassed — and exhausted.
But here’s the thing:
Excitability isn’t a behaviour problem — it’s an emotional state.
And that’s why the solution isn’t just obedience commands or more exercise — it’s understanding and using dog psychology.
🧠 What Is Dog Psychology?
Dog psychology is about understanding how dogs naturally think, communicate, and interact — not just how they respond to treats or commands.
It asks:
- What’s driving this energy?
- What’s the dog feeling in this moment?
- Is the dog calm and clear-headed — or overstimulated and confused?
When a dog is jumping, barking, pulling, or zooming around, they’re not trying to be “naughty” — they’re usually in a state of over-arousal, often because they haven’t been taught how to calm down.
❌ Why Obedience Alone Isn’t Enough
Many owners try to deal with excitable dogs by using more training cues:
- “Sit!”
- “Down!”
- “Wait!”
But here’s the problem: if the dog is over-aroused, they often can’t hear you properly. Their brain is in a fast, frantic state — and trying to “train” in that moment is like trying to teach someone maths while they’re panicking.
Obedience is useful, but it doesn’t address the emotional state behind the behaviour.
✅ What Dog Psychology Teaches Instead
When I work with excitable dogs, the goal isn’t just control — it’s to shift their state of mind.
That means:
- Teaching the dog how to calm down on their own
- Creating structure and predictability in their daily routine
- Using calm, non-verbal communication (like leash pressure and body language)
- Giving clear boundaries without shouting, nagging, or over-relying on food
It’s not about squashing their personality — it’s about helping them feel secure and focused, rather than wired and chaotic.
🐾 Common Mistakes That Feed Excitability
- Too much affection at the wrong times
Rewarding a dog’s excitement with attention or cuddles only reinforces it. - Unstructured walks
Letting a dog pull, zig-zag, or make all the decisions on walks can increase their stimulation. - Over-exercising without balance
Physical activity is important — but if it’s always high-energy (ball throwing, zoomies), it can build a more excitable dog, not a calmer one. - Lack of calm leadership
Dogs mirror our energy. If we’re constantly hyping them up or unclear in our expectations, they stay in that high gear.
🧘 The Power of Calm Energy and Leadership
The biggest breakthrough for excitable dogs usually comes when their owner shifts from managing symptoms to leading with calm, confident energy.
I teach owners how to:
- Set calm tones from the moment a dog leaves the crate or comes out of the car
- Use lead communication to slow the dog down, rather than wrestle with them
- Stay emotionally grounded, so the dog begins to mirror you
This is what dog psychology looks like in real life — and the results can be transformative.
Ready to Help Your Dog Find Their Off-Switch?
If your dog is constantly “on,” struggles to settle, or reacts to every little thing — don’t wait for it to get worse. Training that only focuses on commands won’t get to the root of it.
📍 I’m based in Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway, and I specialise in using calm, balanced training rooted in dog psychology to help excitable dogs and their owners find peace again.
📩 Ready for calmer walks and a more relaxed home? Get in touch today.
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