Get the Zoomies Out of Your Puppy

Is your pup a ball of energy who needs to slow down? Discover fun things you can do to tire a young one out.

Some puppies act like perpetual-motion machines from the moment they wake to late in the evening, when you’re trying to sleep. If your little ball of fur is racing around like a blur, know how to calm him or her down.

Start training. Puppies demand and crave attention. Give yours the positive kind (plus ample rewards) by teaching the basic commands from an early age. Keep sessions short, bracket them with opportunities for the puppy to relieve itself, and show your puppy how proud you are with lots of pets and belly rubs.

Walk. And walk some more. The quickest route to successful housetraining is by helping your puppy to avoid in-house accidents. They want to do their business outdoors, just like grownup dogs! Taking yours for frequent walks stresses what the outdoors is for and will help to tire your new friend out. Choosing a route that is uphill and extending a walk longer not only fatigues the furry; it’s also a good workout for the person at the other end of the leash.

Fetch it. Some puppies naturally take to the idea of running after a ball, a stick or even a Frisbee, so give it a try. If you’ve got a willing arm and a young dog with a touch of retriever in him, you can tire him out by playing fetch for as long as you can (because you’re likely the one to fatigue first!).

Set up puppy play dates. Put together two (or more) puppies in an enclosed environment and stand back. As long as they play together safely and none of them make dangerous or dominant moves, the little tykes will happily tire themselves out on their own accord. Some larger pet-supplies stores offers free, supervised puppy socialization sessions a few times a week, and a dog trainer is usually on hand to answer questions.

Present a puzzle toy. Puppies are naturally curious. Offer yours a puzzle toy with hidden food or treats such as peanut butter. Solving it will keep him occupied while promoting brain activity and improving eye-paw coordination. Similarly, chew toys that stand up to teething and rawhide bones are also calming; just make sure rawhide pieces don’t get so small they become a choking hazard. Note: With their short attention span, puppies do get bored, so have a variety of toys on hand and rotate them often.

Cast a Flirt Pole. If you haven’t seen one of these, it resembles a fishing pole and consists of a lightweight shaft with a fixed-length cord at one end and a soft toy attached to that. On grass, cast it away from your puppy, encourage him to trap it and praise him when he does. Repeat for a 10-minute workout once a day.

Enjoy your dog’s puppyhood. Do take time to appreciate the delights of having a puppy: that sweet face and breath, the inquisitive nature, the scampishness. Because one day, if you’re lucky, you’ll have a good old dog who’s just your speed.