Pups & Overstimulation – The Importance of Sleep and Rest
A common scenario, the owner of a pup or young dog desperately seeks advice online because their canine companion is destroying furniture and items around the house, or is extremely nippy, mouthy and ‘wild’. They will be flooded with advice, which most often is aimed at keeping the dog physically active by more and longer walks, and making sure they are mentally stimulated to prevent boredom through enrichment activities. While in some cases this is what the dog needs and thus is the solution, in other cases the opposite might be what’s required, and the well meant advice leads to an (even more) overstimulated dog.
Overstimulation
When a dog is overstimulated, their brain is so wired that they can’t relax. Overstimulation often happens unintentionally. Pups and young dogs can keep playing for hours if you let them, and one falls easily into the trap of offering continued entertainment, especially if you are unaware of how much rest a pup or young dog needs. When kids are added into the mix, the risk of overstimulation increases as they are often very excited with their new play buddy, and have as much energy as the pup does.
Additionally, we also tend to overload our young dogs’ lives with activities. Puppy classes, visits to the dog park, playing with kids in the neighbourhood, joint daily trips, and various socialisation activities. What often gets forgotten in the daily schedule however, is planning out sufficient amounts of moments for rest and sleep. Did you know that a pup needs about 18 to 20 hours of sleep a day? When they don’t get enough rest and sleep to process all these experiences, this will lead to overstimulation, and when this overstimulation is not addressed, can lead to ongoing issues.
Signs of an overstimulated dog
Just like humans, dogs that don’t get enough rest can get cranky. While being mouthy and nippy to a certain degree is normal, when this is out-of-proportion, might be an indicator your pup is overstimulated. Other signs of overstimulation are :?
What to do when you suspect your pup is overstimulated, and how to prevent it.
When you suspect your pup is overstimulated, you will need to make sure they take enough moments in the day to rest and sleep. This is also the answer to preventing overstimulation. Make sure that your pup or young dog is on a suitable activity schedule for their age. Plan a rest moment after each activity so they can either relax or sleep. For young pups, this will mean they will nap every hour or so, for about 30 minutes to 2 hours. Create a suitable space for them to rest, for example by using puppy pens or a crate. Make sure that staying in this space is learnt in a force free and positive manner, and make the area off limits to kids. A crate or puppy pen should merely be used as a tool, and is not meant to lock them away for for long periods at a time.
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When your pup is already overstimulated, they might have trouble sleeping and relaxing, and need extra help getting back to a calm state. Overstimulated pups will often wake up at every little sound or movement. You can help them by:
Additionally, ensure that your pup has a proper ‘bedtime”. While we can stay up in the evening, if we keep our pup or our young dog active during that time, it can lead to them not getting sufficient sleep at night. While some pups will call it a night themselves, others will need active intervention and will need to be put in their safe space, such as a puppy pen or crate. For most pups a 7 or 8 pm “bedtime” is suitable.
Risks of overstimulation
Sleep and rest is vital for the mental and physical well-being of your dog. It contributes to healthy growth, and to the necessary development of the central nervous system. When overstimulation is not addressed, it can have effects in the long term such as:
Conclusion
While pups and young dogs often can play and run wild for hours, we shouldn’t forget they also need plenty of rest. Don’t assume that every pup will know when they need to sleep, and actively take the rest they need. While a schedule might sound unappealing to some, it’s the easiest way to ensure your pup gets the right balance of rest and activity during the day. Overstimulation is not limited to pups and young dogs, and while older dogs need less sleep than younger ones, they are also at risk of overstimulation if they do not get the rest they require.
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