W hat exactly is “hyper”? Why not energetic, active, puppyish? We tend to use the word “hyper” because we are annoyed by the behavior exhibited. The behavior appears destructive, annoying, disobedient and overwhelming. But regardless of the words you use to describe your dog’s behavior, it is up to you to correct it. And with a little detective work, some consistency and some patience, your dog will be a great companion.

Identify the problem and its cause. Hyper doesn’t accurately define the problem. Search for clues that will help you narrow down the cause of the undesirable behavior. Ask yourself these standard questions:
1. How much people interaction did my dog have today and what did you do during that time?
2. How much exercise did my dog have today and what kind of exercise was it?
3. Is my dog spayed/neutered?
4. Is it in my dog’s nature to perform certain jobs (What breed is she and what was that breed meant to do)?
5. Could there be a medical issue at play here?

Destructive Behavior
You’ve identified the problem as destructive - digging, chewing, behaving like a tornado. Now find the cause.
You answered the questions above and this is what you found: Your dog goes bonkers every evening when you get home from work. You spent about ½ hour outside with her while you did yard work. She kept dragging of your garden tools while you chased after her. You did not play fetch or anything specific that would have tired out the dog. She is spayed. She’s part border collie and part lab. She has a clean bill of health as of two weeks ago when you took her to the vet for an annual check up.
Perhaps you are dealing with a very intelligent, but bored dog. Based on the above description, it is evident that your dog really needs a job to do. Here are some suggestions:
1. Enroll in obedience classes
2. Teach your dog something new every day (see positive reinforcement). Start with basic commands like sit, down, stay, come, and heal. Then move on to advanced and complicated tasks.
3. Take up a sport – Frisbee, fly ball, agility, tracking, etc
Annoying Behavior
What was once cute as a 15lb puppy isn’t so cute one year and 45lbs later. Jumping, mouth play, running away, pulling the leash, climbing all over you – these are all annoying behaviors. But don’t despair. These challenges can be addressed whether your dog is young or old. The best thing you can do to remedy these behaviors is to enroll in obedience classes. The training will stimulate your dog, and you will have some control. At the very least try introducing some basic commands. Use positive reinforcement to accomplish your goals.
Obsessive Behavior
Whether your dog is spinning in circles, barking at shadows, licking his own feet or otherwise behaving obsessively, you may be faced with a medical issue. If stimulating the dog with learning and tiring him with exercise do not seem to alleviate the problem, consult your veterinarian about medication, acupuncture, massage or other therapies.

A tired dog is a happy dog Many “hyper” behaviors result from the simple fact that you dog has too much energy to burn. A good game of fetch or a trip to the dog park is a great way to burn off some of that energy.