Rush Hour
July 6, 2009
Clear the area. Get out of the way. It happens every night. He’s been good all day but now he turns into a manic. He runs through the house, jumps on the furniture, and doesn’t listen. Nothing can slow him down, its Rover’s rush hour.
Dogs, as I’ve said, can sleep sixteen hours a day. Most of the time, if we’re not interacting with our dogs, they are resting. It’s not uncommon for them to have a couple of times when they are most active. Typically there is a period in the morning but the most common time is in the evening. Rover has been sleeping all day and now that everyone is home he’s ready for action.
It’s probable that dogs would hunt or scavenge during those periods of high energy. Most of our dogs no longer have to provide their own food or perform the jobs that they were originally bred for, such as herding, hunting, or guarding. They are just our companions. They don’t get as much chance to burn all that pent up energy and it does need to be released somehow.
I’m often told that even correcting Rover at this time is ineffective. It only seems to feed his frenzied activities. He’ll steal something and race around, sliding on the floor or banking on the turns. It can be frustrating trying to get him to calm down during his explosive race through the house. Is there anything that we can do to slow Rover down at these times?
The first thing to do is take notice of when his period of explosive energy takes place. For arguments sake let’s pick seven o’clock at night and it’s pretty consistent. At a quarter to seven start working Rover. Walk him around playing follow the leader, with you being the one in front. Change direction often and encourage him to follow you. Practice all the obedience commands he knows. These activities will engage his brain. You can play find the toy or treat. If he can’t focus, work with him on leash.
While these activities might not be physically taxing, they are mental challenges. They make Rover think and making him think WILL tire him out. Have you heard the phrase a tired dog is a good dog? It’s true and you can tire him out with a little mental exercise. Try it and let me know how it goes.
