Why won't my dog settle after a walk?
Cara Breitenberg
2025-07-14 09:16:20
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Perhaps this is just how 2 year-old dogs are. Advice on this forum is not a substitute for advice from a trained and credentailed professional. This subreddit is a great starting point for a lot of information, but you should always verify and expand upon what you've read from reputable sources before putting it to use in your daily life.
Yolanda Hill
2025-07-14 06:39:31
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: 19
Your dog will not be in a good mindset where they are able to think properly, listen or learn effectively and this is when you start to see unwanted behaviours spiraling out of control. The unwanted behaviours can look like jumping, barking, digging, chewing/mouthing, humping, not listening, zooming around the house, not able to settle. Many people see these behaviours as the dog needs MORE exercise, but this is far from the truth. So adding more exercise when your dog is in a state of over arousal is likely to make things worse - not better. Reduce the number of daily walks, reduce the duration of the walk, avoid overstimulating activities, provide mentally stimulating activities on the walk instead. Instead of HUGE runs and ball games, build focus games, play recall games, teach loose lead walking, take enrichment games out with you such as 'find it', allow your dog to sniff, teach tricks, teach your dog to lie down and relax in different areas and environments.
Mozelle Padberg
2025-07-14 06:03:05
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: 11
If your dog's exercise needs are not met, they will quickly become frustrated and restless. Every pup is different but typically a dog needs a minimum of thirty minutes of physical activity a day to keep them fit and content and to mentally stimulate them. If your fur baby is still unsettled after their daily walk, consider taking them outside or to the park for a game of fetch. A tired dog is a happy dog so give your dog as much exercise as possible. If they seem raring to go after their morning walk, consider a second one later on in the day or schedule in some ball play at the park. Giving your dog as much physical activity as possible in most cases will resolve their desire to pace.
Sometimes a dog is restless when they want your attention. Once your pup realizes that their pacing gets them attention, the behavior may become a habit. Let your dog pace for a couple of minutes. If they settle down, then they may have just been goading you for attention. If they continue to pace, ask yourself why they’re trying to catch your attention.
Warren Lebsack
2025-07-14 05:19:19
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: 15
It’s hard for your dog to learn how to settle when there are distractions, so it’s best to begin practicing somewhere quiet. Reward relaxed behaviours. To begin with you may just need to reward your dog for any behaviour that doesn’t involve staring at you, pulling on the lead, or barking. If your dog becomes unsettled or gets up, ignore them and wait until they settle again before rewarding them. If they won’t relax and settle, increase the distance from the distraction or make the distraction less interesting. Try to resist telling your dog what to do during training, the aim is for them to learn for themselves to be calm and to relax. Always make sure your dog is having a good time when settling, whether enjoying their toys, chews, or simply dozing and snoozing.
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