We Have a very hyper silky terrier puppy. What can we do to calm her down? She's about 4 months old.?

Question

She runs around the house like a lunatic, grabs anything that she can get and runs with it or chews it. HELP!

Answer 1

I would get her another dog as a buddy. That way they can play with each other instead of annoying you.

Answer 2

First congratulations on your newest family member. Silky's are beautiful and like all terriers a little tenacious. They have keen senses and will track any movement. Since your puppy is so young she may still be teething, which could cause her to try and chew anything she can get her little paws on. Provide here with safe items to chew on, but not too many. The problem a lot of people run in to is providing too many toys for their dogs to play with. The dog will try to own all of them all of the time which can make her tired and possessive. She can become anxious and not able to calm down. I would suggest leaving only two toys out at a time and rotating them with the others every week or so. If there is a lot of activity in the house from music playing, television watching or children playing she could get over stimulated and anxious. You can try to minimize the amount of stimulating activities in the house and also remind her that you are her back leader. Ask someone to learn simple and harmless techniques to reaffirm your status. Your puppy will be happy to let you take the responsibility of the pack's safety. Also, you need to walk her for at least 30min a day. This walk can not be playtime. You are her pack leader so keep her on a short lead and you determine the pace. You determine where she can stop and go to the bathroom. You determine what she can stop and sniff. When you walk her pretend you have a purpose and are trying to get some where. Be calm. Adjust you pace as needed to keep here at you side, but don't let her tell you what to do. After the walk you can reward her with praise and you can play with her. The idea is to tire her out so that she doesn’t have as much pent up energy. You can't get rid of it all as she is a puppy. You should see results in a week and don't worry she'll calm down a little as she gets older, maybe 10 month old, but as a terrier she will always be a little tenacious.

Answer 3

Sounds like you have a playful pup, but a handful as well!

Terriers are hyper to begin with and the fact that she's young contributes to that hyperness even more.

Terriers need a lot of exercise (more frequent exercise is better - for example; two to three 15-minute walks are better than one, long walk).

Puppies, especially terriers, also like to chew. Make sure that you supply her with plenty of interactive toys that she can't resist (your local pet store can give you some good suggestions) and play with her often.

Make sure that if you haven't already done so that you participate in K-9 Kindergarten classes with your puppy. This is very important to maintain control of your dog, especially at the age your puppy is at; otherwise, she may continue to tear around and learn to not listen to you when she gets older. In the class, one of the first the techniques the instructor will probably teach you is called the "control down" - it will show your dog to be submissive to you and obey when you want her to calm down.

Answer 4

It doesn't sound unusual. At four months, puppies in general and labs in particular are going to be veeeeeeerrry energetic, and a four month old lab is probably teething. The kennel is a good idea, and you should look at it as a useful tool rather than a last ditch solution. I would recommend signing her up for "puppy kindergarten" class at your local humane society; it'll give her a good chance to socialize with other dogs, (which has always calmed my puppies down,) and you may get some good insight from the trainer into what makes her tick. Also, while she may be a little young yet for long walks, you can try taking her for lots of 10 to 15 minute walks every day.

Answer 5

You know, of course, that a puppy will be a puppy? But you got a double whammy going for you. #1. She is just being what she is. #2. She is a Terrier, which is always ready to go, before the thought inters your mind. They are always ready to play. Hyper.

You need to let her grow out of her puppy hood but don't hold back the corrections. You need to install some ground rules and don't give in. You need to be consistent on what ever way you have chosen to correct her.

Sounds like she has a big spirit and a dominant behavior.

One of the best training tools I have found for working with puppies is a spray bottle of water. Adjust it so that it sprays as far away as possible. Just give her a squirt from your arm chair and she is 8 ft. away. It is a nice way of telling her NO without yelling, jumping up out of your chair to go grab something she has but shouldn't. If she starts to pee squirt her, to stop her, then take her outside and when she finishes treat her like she just saved the wold. WOW what a wonderful thing you have done.

A good toy that will wear her out in no time flat, is an old knee high sock with a tennis ball in it and a knot tied at the top. Of course you can use a smaller ball but a ball in a sock has NEVER failed for me.

Answer 6

Play a lot of chase with a ball or other toy, go for a walk or two during the day/night, get toys that stimulate her, etc. Also, you may want to consider doing puppy training classes at Petsmart or the like. Training helps to exercise the brain of the dog as well as their physical energy. These things have helped my super hyper Jack Russell Terrier who is now 11 months old.

Answer 7

Welcome to puppyhood :)

There are a few things you may like to consider to calm puppy down.

1) Diet - supermarket dog food especially canned food is like sugar for kids. Get your dog onto a high quality Kibble such as: Royal Canin, Pro Plan, Iams, Eukunuba.

To calm a dog down I would actually reccomend a raw diet called B.A.R.F, you may like to research this diet further.

2) Puppies are like toddlers in the sense that you must watch them at all times. If the dog grabs something it should, you need to give a firm NO and replace the item with something that the dog is allowed to chew.

DO NOT fall for the dogs game of CHASE, do not chase the dog around to get the item back.

3) Start some Leadership training with your puppy, I reccomend the book 'Dog Listener' from Authour Jan Fennell.

Lastly, puppies are active little buggers but you need to just take the edge off, so think about what I've said above.

It's also good for the dog to pop it outside with a fleshy bone from time to time.

Please note: another poster said to take the puppy for lot's of walks, puppies up to the age of 12 months should have minimal leash walks, puppies need low impact exercise in the first 12 months whilst their growth plates are open.

Please also research Crate Training :)

All the best.

Answer 8

I had the same problem with my JR terrier. Two things: 1-if you have some carpeted stairs, play fetch form the top to the bottom. A few trips running up and down and he'll tire. 2-A guy I was dating made a pull toy on a spring. The spring stands straight up and has a dowel rod out the top. On the end of the rod is permanently attached piece of cord. On the other end of the cord an indestructible dog ball is tied. He has to jump to get a hold of it, and then he must pull harder and harder to get it to 'come to him.' All I have to do is go to it and swing the ball around it a couple of times - he can't help himself!

Answer 9

Get her spayed if you haven't already, it will help to calm her. Also she's obviously trying to tell you she wants to play. Try teaching her how to play fetch with one of her toys or some other form of constructed play. She needs to get all that pent up energy out, better to do it in a semi-controlled fashion rather than have her run amuck and possible tear up something of value.

Answer 10

she's only 4 months old so she's gonna have lots of energy and be hyper just because she's a puppy. you could try just putting her in one room and puppy proofing it as much as possible. puppy proofing such taking out or putting up the loose things.

Answer 11

shes just being what a puppy is. playful. if you want you can grab her tell her no and make her lay down somewhere to stay calm or put her in a room with not a lot of things to chew from but with a couple toys and a bed