Is my dog really hyperactive?

The dog cannot find peace. It jumps, barks, competes with itself, and when you think it has finally settled, it is already up to something again. Owners often call such dogs hyperactive. But is this true, or is it something else?

The question matters more than it seems. Because if we misunderstand a dog, we also help it wrongly.

What hyperactivity actually means

Science is cautious with dogs. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, known as ADHD, is officially a human diagnosis. So researchers prefer to speak of ADHD-like behaviour in dogs.

Such behaviour is described by three features. The first is excessive arousal, when a dog cannot relax even if it was physically tired. The second is impulsivity, that is, sudden, thoughtless reacting. The third is inattention, when a dog simply cannot concentrate and jumps from one thing to another.

A lively dog is not the same as a dog with a disorder

This is the most important difference worth understanding. Some breeds are simply full of energy, and that is perfectly normal. A lively dog is not yet a dog with a disorder.

We speak of a disorder only when the behaviour actually hinders the dog. When it cannot learn, cannot cooperate with its owner and cannot live calmly. Experts call this functional impairment. If a dog, despite its liveliness, lives normally, learns and cooperates, then it is not a disorder.

What is often really behind it

And here comes what surprises many. Very often a dog that seems hyperactive is not at all. It is just overtired, under-rested or under stress.

A puppy needs a huge amount of sleep, up to twenty hours a day. When it does not get this, it becomes irritable and restless, much like a small child who badly needs a nap. But the owner often thinks the dog has too much energy and tires it out even more. This is a vicious circle.

It is the same with chronic stress. A tense dog is restless, hyperactive and destructive. But the solution is not more exercise, but more calm.

Why dogs are interesting to science

Research, including that from the University of Helsinki, shows something interesting. The same parts of the brain and the same neural pathways regulate activity, impulsivity and concentration in both people and dogs. That is precisely why dogs are so valuable for studying ADHD.

It has also been shown that such behaviour in dogs is often linked to other problems, for example repetitive, obsessive patterns. This is very similar to people.

So what to do

First we check the basics. Does the dog sleep enough. Does it have a calm corner where no one disturbs it. Is its day predictable. Does it have enough mental challenges, not just physical exercise.

Then we observe. When the behaviour appears. What follows it. What triggers the dog. Often a pattern shows that we did not see before.

And if the behaviour really hinders the dog from living normally, we consult a veterinarian or behaviour specialist. Not to stick a label on the dog, but to truly help it.

With our breeds

This happens in small breeds too, such as chocolate Terriers, black Terriers and Biewer Terriers. Terriers are lively and bright by nature, which is their beauty, not a fault. But that is precisely why they need enough rest and mental work, otherwise their energy turns into restlessness.

So with our puppies we ensure calm and a predictable rhythm from the first day. A dog that grows up in calm knows how to be calm later too.

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