If your Dalmatian is bouncing off the walls with energy, this article will run through why, when you can expect him to calm down, and what you can do to speed up the process. Whether you have a puppy or an adult, you’ll find tips you can try today.
Table of Contents
Why Are Dalmatians So Hyper?
Dalmatians are one of the most energetic breeds we know of.
They were originally bred to run alongside horses, coaches, and trains for miles across the country. This explains why they need so much exercise, and for the most part, we as Dalmatian owners already know that.
But what’s less thought about, is the fact that this breed is a working breed, and Dalmatians crave having some sort of task or job to do. And this is a lot more mental than it is physical. So no matter how many walks you go on, this doesn’t really fulfill the desire to “work”.
This is where the problem lays. And the vast majority of Dalmatians, are simply under-stimulated, which leads to pent-up energy and hyperactivity.
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When Do Dalmatians Calm Down?
This kind of question is tailored towards the puppy owners out there.
And if you’ve got a little spotted pup bouncing off the walls, I can imagine you are wondering when the special age where he’ll just calm down is?
⭐ Dalmatian puppies don’t just calm down on their own. If that’s the plan, you’ll have to wait another 10 years or so until he reaches old age.
When your Dalmatian will calm down depends on when you provide him with an adequate amount of mental and physical exercise combined. With more emphasis on mental exercise (stimulation).
But before you grab the leash and harness, it’s crucial not to over-exercise a puppy. Their bones, joints, and ligaments are not developed and too many walks may cause injury and interfere with their growth and development.
So then, how are you supposed to calm down a Dalmatian puppy? All will be explained in the following sections.
How To Calm Down Your Hyper Dalmatian
Let’s get into the meat and potatoes of this article. Here’s how you can calm down your hyper Dalmatian.
1. Focus More On Mental Stimulation
Mental stimulation is often forgotten, but it’s going to be your secret weapon in calming down your Dalmatian.
Even if you take him out for a solid 2 hours or even 3 hours of exercise, after 30 minutes of rest, he’ll be up and ready to go again… This is because he isn’t tired mentally, and his physical body, being such an athletic dog can recover in such a short amount of time.
In order to wear him out, he needs to engage in activities that make him think. Check out the following mental stimulation activities to implement right away:
● Basic command training (sit, stay, down, paw, come) combine with treats and rewards
● Interactive puzzle toys (good options)
● Using slow feeders for his mealtimes
● Nose work games like finding hidden treats
● Playing hide and seek with you
● Socializing with other dogs and people
Each of these are awesome at stimulating his mind and burning mental energy. Which believe it or not, is the single best thing you can do to calm your Dalmatian down.
And don’t just stick to one, try to do ALL of them.
If I had to pick just one of the above, it would be to carry out as much basic command training as you can each day. And it doesn’t have to remain “basic” either. As he improves, make the challenges more interesting and difficult, like increasing the amount of time he needs to “stay” or leave the room before giving him the “come here” command.
Do this every day and not only will he become calmer, but he’ll become more obedient as a bonus.
2. The Right Amount of Physical Exercise
Here we are! How much exercise should your Dalmatian receive?
Dalmatians should receive around 2 hours of intensive exercise per day (minimum). And ideally, this should be split up into 60 minutes in the morning, and another 60 minutes in the evening.
Hopefully, this amount doesn’t come as a shock to you, after all, this is one of the key facts well known about Dalmatians.
If your Dal isn’t receiving this amount of exercise, you should really ramp it up to this level, and if you are too busy, it may be time to call in some help from friends, family, or a hired dog walker.
Although so far I have put more emphasis on mental stimulation, it goes without saying, physical exercise is still vitally important as well.
Treat your Dalmatian as a marathon runner of the dog world, and you’ll have no problem!
3. Provide a Calm Environment
His environment and the people around him will either make him calm or make him more hyper.
Not that there is anything wrong with busy, frantic households with energetic kids and loud noises, but don’t expect to have a calm Dalmatian if that’s the case for you.
If you give off a calm presence around your Dalmatian, he’ll be better capable of coming down to your level too. This goes for everyone in the household.
Understandably, this may be hard to achieve if you have young children as they are naturally energetic and this will stimulate your Dalmatian to be of equal energy.
Any steps you can make towards a calmer, quieter environment for your Dalmatian, will have a positive effect.
Recent studies have shown that dogs can be calmed with certain classical music and specific scents. If you don’t mind the smell of lavender diffusers and are into music like this, you’re on to a winner.
4. Try Visiting Doggy Play Groups
Socializing is one of the most potent forms of mental stimulation.
By regularly going to the dog park, meeting up with friends that have dogs, or going to organized doggy play centers, your Dalmatian will get an instant boost of mental stimulation.
Sniffing each other, barking, interacting, playing, and running around with one another will leave him mentally AND physically exhausted at the same time.
If you were to incorporate this a few times per week, not only will his quality of life improve, but the result will be a calmer Dalmatian at home too.
The importance of socializing also goes way beyond trying to make him calmer. It increases his natural friendliness and improves his ability to meet new people and dogs without getting anxious, scared, or fearful.
Socialization is very important for a wide range of reasons, so try your best to incorporate this into your week.
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Important Advice For Hyper Puppies
As I explained above, when it comes to puppies, it’s crucial not to be over-exercising them.
But when exercise obviously plays a crucial role in burning energy, how on earth are you supposed to calm down a puppy?
First of all, it’s important to understand that puppies are naturally hyper anyway, so it will be harder to calm down a puppy than it is an adult.
But this is where mental stimulation comes in again, and is even more important for puppies!
By starting basic command training early you will set the path to have an extremely obedient Dalmatian in the future, plus you will tire him out mentally. This will almost instantly result in a calmer Dalmatian puppy.
You may also see other benefits from basic command training such as improved overall behavior, and he’ll be less inclined to engage in destructive behavior.
Last Thoughts
Dalmatians are one of the most energetic breeds we know of, and what comes with this is their ability to be very hyper. But in most cases, this hyperactivity can be reduced by increasing his mental stimulation, physical exercise, and ensuring he lives in a calm environment.
I can’t stress the importance of mental stimulation enough, as it’s often completely overlooked and sits in the shadows of physical exercise. Improve this area of your Dalmatians daily routine, and you’ll be rewarded with a calmer dog.
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