How to Help an Overexcited Dog Calm Down Naturally
My dog used to get so overexcited — especially when guests came over, or when we were getting ready for a walk. She’d jump, bark, spin in circles, and sometimes even mouth at me. At first, I tried more exercise to wear her out, but that didn’t really help. What finally worked? Adding the right kind of mental stimulation — and giving her better ways to manage her excitement.
In this post, I’ll share how I helped my overexcited dog calm down naturally — without punishment or frustration. If you want the full brain training program that worked for us, here’s my personal link:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out
Table of Contents
Why Some Dogs Get Overexcited
Some dogs are naturally more energetic — and when they don’t know how to manage that energy, it turns into:
- Jumping
- Barking
- Pulling on the leash
- Spinning or pacing
- Mouthy or grabby behavior
- Not listening when over-aroused
What I learned is that it’s not about getting rid of energy — it’s about teaching your dog how to channel it calmly.
How Mental Stimulation Helps
Once I started adding brain games to my dog’s routine, here’s what changed:
- She learned how to focus instead of spin out of control
- Her impulse control improved
- She became calmer in exciting situations
- She listened better, even when excited
- Our bond became stronger
The Games That Helped Us
1. Engagement Games
I taught my dog to focus on me instead of the exciting thing — a key skill for managing arousal.
2. Impulse Control Games
Games like “wait,” “leave it,” and “stay” helped my dog learn to pause instead of react impulsively.
3. Scent Work & Puzzle Feeders
Working her brain gave her a calm, positive outlet for her energy — reducing overexcitement naturally.
Here’s the exact program I followed:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
The Results
After a few weeks of brain training:
- My dog greeted people more calmly
- Walks became easier and more relaxed
- Barking and spinning decreased
- She settled faster after exciting events
- Our home life became so much calmer
Final Thoughts
If your dog struggles with overexcitement, the key is not more exercise — it’s more mental stimulation and teaching impulse control.
For me, this program was a total game-changer:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out
Trust me — your dog can learn to calm down naturally, and life will be so much easier when they do!
Before I started using mental stimulation, I thought my dog’s overexcitement was just “who she was” — that I’d have to live with it. But once I gave her better ways to manage her energy, I realized how much calmer and more focused she could actually be.
What really surprised me is that mental fatigue works so much better than physical exhaustion. Long walks and games of fetch only made my dog fitter — not calmer. But working her mind taught her how to settle and think instead of react.
One of the first big changes I saw was how quickly she could recover from excitement. Before, she would stay amped up for hours after guests left — now, after a short brain game, she settles happily in her bed.
If you’re not sure where to start, this is the exact program that gave me a clear plan:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
Another thing I loved is how these games taught my dog to look to me for guidance — not just go into “zoomie mode” when she got excited. That shift made such a difference in how we handled walks, visitors, and new environments.
I also noticed fewer impulse behaviors — like grabbing things, barking for attention, or dashing through doorways — once her brain had a healthy outlet.
One of my favorite tools became scent games — letting her use her nose really helped her switch from frantic to focused.
Even on busy days, just 10–15 minutes of brain games was enough to help her settle and stay calm for hours afterward.
And because these games are fun and positive, they also built a stronger bond between us — which helped her trust me and stay more focused when things got exciting.
Another bonus? The more we practiced, the easier it became for her to generalize these skills — staying calm in all kinds of situations, not just at home.
If you’ve tried “wearing your dog out” with more and more physical exercise, please try this instead — it works so much better!
This program made such a difference for me and my dog:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out
Now, when we have guests or go to exciting places, my dog handles it so much better — and I no longer dread those moments like I used to.
You don’t need to live with an overexcited dog — the right brain training can help them learn calmness naturally, and you’ll both be happier for it.
Another big shift I saw is how my dog started anticipating calm behavior instead of getting stuck in those overexcited loops. Once we built that habit through brain games, she became much easier to manage in everyday life.
And the beauty of this method is that it’s force-free — no need for harsh corrections or frustration. You’re building your dog’s self-control through positive mental stimulation, which strengthens your relationship too.
If you want a program that shows you exactly how to do it, this is what worked for me:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
Whether your dog is young and excitable or older and reactive, this approach will help them learn how to calm themselves naturally.
Now, life with my dog is so much more peaceful — no more wild outbursts every time the doorbell rings or the leash comes out!
And it’s such a relief to know that my dog has the skills to handle excitement without going over the top — all thanks to the power of mental stimulation.