How to Get Your Hyper Dog to Calm Down: The "Settle the Dog" Method
Getting Your Hyper Dog To Settle Down With The “Settle the Dog Method” | Dog Training
Managing a hyper dog can be a challenge, especially if they don’t understand how to relax on their own. In this post, we’ll cover an easy but highly effective training method you can use to teach your dog to calm down. Plus, you don’t need anything fancy—just a leash, some patience, and a small amount of time. The method we’ll talk about is called "Settle the Dog.” Let's get started.
What Is the "Settle the Dog" Exercise?
"Settle the Dog" is a simple training exercise. The goal is to teach your dog to calm down on their own without distractions or constant activity. This is especially helpful for puppies or dogs that tend to get overly excited.
The basic idea is straightforward: you sit on the leash while providing no attention or interaction with the dog, letting them figure out how to settle down on their own. Over time, this simple exercise strengthens a dog's ability to relax when they need to, even in high-energy situations.
How to Do the "Settle the Dog" Exercise
Here's a quick breakdown of what to do:
Get Set Up: Attach a 6-foot leash to your dog’s collar and sit on the leash so they have limited space to move. Make sure you're in a place where you can stay for a while—grab your laptop, do some reading, or watch some TV.
Don't Engage: Don’t talk to them, don’t give them toys, and don’t pet them. The goal is for them to calm themselves down without relying on you or other distractions. This can be the hardest part—especially if your dog starts to bark or chew on the leash.
Watch Them Settle: Over time, they’ll start to figure out it’s fine to just lay down. Initially, they might protest, bark, or whine. This is normal. The important thing is to remain patient and not give in. Once they lay down in a calm state, the real progress begins.
Wait It Out: Ideally, you want your dog to stay relaxed for at least 5-10 minutes before you release them. Let them reach a state of stillness on their own, and then reward that behavior by calmly releasing them from the exercise.
Tracking Your Progress
You may notice that the amount of time it takes your dog to settle down decreases with each session. For example, during one demonstration, it took a 3-month-old Boxer/Shepherd puppy named Agnes about 5 minutes to settle during the first cycle. She stayed in a calm state for about 12 minutes before being released, followed by some playtime.
In her second cycle, it took her 20 minutes to settle, but after that, she remained calm for 14 minutes. By the third cycle, the process sped up—she settled in just 3 minutes and maintained a restful state for 4 minutes before being released.
What’s key here is repetition. With time and practice, your dog will naturally become better at calming down on their own. Don’t be discouraged if they act frustrated or struggle at first—this is normal.
Why It Works
Teaching your dog to settle on their own is a valuable skill that translates into so many other areas of their life. Here are some benefits:
Builds Self-Control: Your dog learns that the only way to regain freedom or playtime is by calming down. This teaches self-control, which is essential for preventing problem behaviors later on, such as excessive barking or jumping on guests.
Helps with Anxiety: Over time, a dog that knows how to settle will be less anxious. They won’t feel the need to constantly be stimulated and can handle quiet moments better, even when life around them is busy.
Improves Mental Health: Dogs, just like humans, need downtime. Especially for young puppies or hyperactive breeds, constant activity can be exhausting and lead to unhealthy stress levels in the long run. This exercise promotes mental health by teaching them how to find peace and relaxation.
What to Do If Your Dog Resists
It’s common for dogs—especially younger ones—to show some resistance to this exercise at first. Don’t be surprised if they whine, bark, or even bite at the leash. Remember, they are simply expressing their discomfort with not being the center of attention.
If your dog barks during the exercise, give a quick "No" or "That's enough" to signal that barking is not acceptable. Then go back to ignoring them. Stay consistent, and don’t give in before they’ve fully settled.
In one session, Agnes barked several times and bit at the leash. It took her about 20 minutes to completely settle during her second cycle, but eventually she lay down quietly and was able to maintain calmness afterward. The key is patience—each dog will settle down at their own pace, and that’s okay.
How Often Should You Do This?
This exercise can be done as often as needed, but consistency is important, especially in the early stages. Doing it multiple times daily when your dog is high-energy or hyperactive will help them understand the connection between calm behavior and freedom.
You can try fitting it into your evening routine, especially if your dog is rambunctious before bedtime. Over time, your dog will start learning faster, meaning shorter settle times and less frequent need for structured repetitions.
Wrapping It Up
The "Settle the Dog" exercise is both simple and powerful. Even if it seems tedious or uneventful at first, it delivers long-term benefits by teaching your dog the skill of self-calming. Whether you’ve got a young puppy full of energy or an older dog that just never seems to rest, this technique can improve your dog's behavior, their ability to relax, and even their mental health.
Try it out for yourself, and remember: patience is key. With time, your dog will not only become better at calming down but more balanced overall.
If you want to see us putting these things to practice check out the video below.
Find more "How To" Dog Training Videos HERE:
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