by Scottie Westfall

Created on: July 29, 2008   Last Updated: November 08, 2009

Hyperactivity is a common complaint among dog owners, especially those who own herding and sporting breeds. Dogs that are often accused of being hyperactive are actually dogs that have high energy and not enough outlets for that energy. In some breeds, such as setters, the original function of the dog required a high energy level. The average hunting setter will cover several miles in pursuit of feathered game, and a high energy level was selectively bred into the dog. When this same dog is kept in a suburban or urban environment, it typically has no outlet for that energy, often resulting in behavior that might be called exuberance or bounciness by those who appreciate the activity level or hyperactivity by those who do not. The best way to deal with a dog with high energy is to do as much as possible to find outlets for that energy. It is also a good idea to carefully consider the breed specific temperaments and characteristics of any breed of dog before bringing one into a house hold. Some dogs are too energetic to be happy in the city without extensive exercise.

The first dog I remember that was called hyperactive was a Dalmatian belonging to relatives who kept him in a suburban environment on an invisible fence. Dalmatians are derived from sporting dogs that are really similar to setters and pointers in energy level. This high energy was used in the Dalmatian to make them be able to travel with carriages and coaches during the eighteenth and nineteenth century. A Dalmatian that is not given enough exercise is going to be hyperactive, and this one was no exception. He was so bored with his life that he developed lick granuloma, a condition in which he licked until great sores appeared on his feet. It was clear that he was not happy in the suburbs, so he was sent to the rural farm where I grew up. There, he had room to run off leash and play with another dog, a golden retriever of a similar age and activity level (although he could always wear her out, and she was a very active dog!). He could relax after a long day's run in fields and forests, and he stopped licking sores on his feet.

This dog taught me that very active dogs merely need outlets for their energy in order to be happy. Most urban and suburban dwellers lack access to open fields and forests where a dog can run safely, so the only solution is to come up with ways to release that energy. Long walks on leash can help release that energy, but be aware that many of these dogs can go miles at a time

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>