Quick Ways To Tire Out a High-Energy Puppy

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As all puppy parents know, puppies have a lot of energy. And unfortunately, their rambunctious curiosity doesn’t always pair well with our human schedule.

According to Dr. Nell Ostermeier, veterinary advisor at Figo Pet Insurance, a puppy’s energy comes from their high metabolic rate. The good news is that a little bit of effort goes a long way, since puppies typically need to rest after bursts of activity.

Along with Dr. Ostermeier, we spoke with Michelle Baker, a certified dog behavior specialist and owner of Furkids Dog Daycare & Enrichment Center. With their insight, we’ve put together some quick and easy ways to tire out a puppy when you’re in a pinch. We also share their tips on how to teach rambunctious pups to find their inner zen.

12 Tips On Tiring Out Your High-Energy Puppy

Often, the “10-minute rule,” or engaging your pup in short 10-minute bursts, is all you need to tire them out. Dr. Ostermeier notes, however, that the goal isn’t to wear out your puppy but to give them a chance to expend their energy in a positive way. Here are 12 different ways you can do just that.

1. Short training sessions

One of the best ways to tire out a puppy is to use their brains. Baker notes that puppies can expend a lot of mental energy during short, interactive training sessions.

Depending on your pup’s age and training history, this could look like playing the name game, working on grooming and handling, teaching a new trick, or reinforcing foundational cues like “leave it” and “stay.” Practicing crate training repetitions is also a great way to tire out a puppy before bed while getting them ready to kennel up for the night.

2. Puppy sit-ups and burpees

Once your pup knows how to “sit” and “lie down,” you can teach them to do sit-ups. This sequence looks like a sit, then a down, and then back to a sit. If your puppy knows a “stand” cue, you can add it to the end of the sequence (sit, down, sit, stand) for a puppy burpee.

These movements not only work for tiring a hyper puppy, but they’re also an excellent way to add strengthening and stretching to your pup’s routine.

3. Bubbles

For boisterous pups who love to run and jump, trade in a traditional game of fetch for dog-safe bubbles. Get down to your pup’s level when blowing bubbles for the first time, and show them how exciting it is to chase and pop the sudsy orbs. Because bubbles are so soapy, you’ll want to take this activity outdoors.

4. Puzzle toys

Snuffle mats, lick mats, and food puzzles provide canine enrichment and offer a fantastic way to entertain your puppy indoors. If you don’t have a snuffle mat handy, roll up treats or kibble in a towel or blanket.

You can also make your own food puzzles by putting treats in a muffin tin and covering them up with toys or balls. If your puppy isn’t prone to eating cardboard, you can also hide treats in toilet paper and paper towel rolls for them to shred and scavenge out.

5. Tug-of-war

If your puppy is hyper and biting, tug-of-war is a fun and easy way to redirect tiny shark behavior. Baker adds that you can also use these tug-of-war sessions to incorporate training, such as “drop it,” depending on your puppy’s age.

To help your puppy manage their arousal, you can also incorporate breaks between tug sessions, rewarding a sit, down, or any other calm behavior between play.

6. Frozen enrichment toys

Bitey pups going through their teething stage might also enjoy frozen food puzzles. These toys are stuffed with puppy-safe treats and chilled in the freezer to help soothe sore gums. They work especially well to occupy your pup while you’re busy. Got an important phone call, but your pup is bouncing off the wall? Let them take on the challenge of chewing and licking the puzzle to get the frozen treat inside.

7. Hide-and-seek

There are several ways to play this game with your pup. One way is to hide special treats or toys around the house or backyard for your pup to hunt and find. Another way is to have someone in your household hide and have your puppy track them.

Baker notes this is a great way to engage a puppy’s natural scent and tracking skills while also engaging their mind and body.

8. Monkey in the middle

Ball-obsessed pups will love this activity, but you’ll need to enlist the help of another person. To play, stand a few feet away from each other with your monkey (er, puppy) in the middle. Using a ball or a Frisbee, toss the toy back and forth as your pup tries to intercept it. (Be sure to let your pup get it often to prevent frustration.)

9. Flirt pole

Tired from a long day, but your pup is raring to go? Flirt poles burn a lot of frantic puppy energy while requiring minimal effort from you. Flirt poles also help redirect puppies who are already showing signs of a high prey drive, helping them learn how to self-regulate when their arousal spikes.

10. Obstacle courses

Make-shift obstacle courses are fun, don’t require much prep, and are great for pent-up puppy energy on rainy days. Set up small challenges for your puppy, then go through the course together. An example course might be circling around their bed, jumping through a hoop, going in and out of their crate, and ringing a bell with their nose.

11. Pre-training and training walk

Walking politely on a leash is an ongoing journey for most puppies. As such, Dr. Ostermeier recommends short training walks to burn energy. If your puppy is still getting used to their gear, take time before your walk to build positive associations around their collar, harness, and leash. In the beginning, click and treat for any interaction with the gear. Then, slowly work your way toward putting things over your puppy’s head or clipping them on.

12. Sniffaris

If you (or your pup) don’t have the capacity for a training walk, consider going on a sniffari (also called a decompression walk) instead. All you’ll need is a back-clip harness, a long line, and lots of patience while your puppy sniffs, moves freely, and explores to their heart’s content. A good sniffing session can really tire a puppy out. Gathering and decoding the information around them takes a lot of mental effort!

Teaching Puppies To Be Calm

Puppies need to learn how to have an off switch. In addition to physically and mentally tiring out a puppy, teaching them to settle and rest is important. Here are a few things to consider when learning how to calm a hyper puppy.

Environment

Many puppies naturally want to rest after exercise or an activity. To help your puppy out, create a quiet space for them to reboot. Ensure they have a comfy bed or crate, adjust the temperature so it’s just right, lower the lighting, and keep the noise down.

Naps

Dr. Ostermeier notes that many puppies who have appropriate outlets to play and exercise will naturally tire out and nap afterward. However, if you notice that your puppy doesn’t settle after activities, reevaluate whether or not they need more mental or physical stimulation throughout their day (especially for high-energy breeds).

You may also need to enforce nap times until your pup starts falling asleep on their own.

Relaxation techniques

Relaxation protocols can help your dog settle in a variety of situations. Specialized techniques, such as the “Dr. Karen Overall” technique, can also help desensitize your puppy to triggers.

It doesn’t have to be fancy or overcomplicated. For instance, you can teach your puppy how to relax on a mat by rewarding them with tasty treats for any interaction with it (paws on, standing, sitting, etc.). Eventually, you’ll build up to where they’re lying down. From there, you’ll reinforce any calming signals, like a yawn, deep breath, hip shift, etc. Over time, your pup will equate the mat with relaxation time!

How Much Does Routine Matter?

Both Ostermeier and Baker note that dogs do better with routines. Puppies in particular need predictable schedules to help with potty training. The idea is that if they eat their meals at the same time, they’ll also need to potty around the same time each day. Additionally, if puppies get their physical and mental exercise at similar times, they’ll likely rest afterward at the same time each day. This predictability can give you a better idea of how to plan your day, too.

Once you have this baseline, you can plan ahead and structure your puppy’s routine so they’re tired and calm when you need them to be. For instance, if you know you’re going to have a busy work day on Monday, you can schedule a play date, long walk, or dog hike over the weekend so your puppy is relaxed and fulfilled as you start your work week.

It’s important to remember Dr. Ostermeier’s advice, however. A “tired dog is a good dog” doesn’t exactly ring true. Instead, an enriched dog should be the appropriate amount of tired so they can learn, rest, and thrive.