This article was co-authored by Ty Brown. Ty Brown is a Dog Behaviorist and Trainer and the Owner of Ty the Dog Guy, a business that provides dog training through digital resources (podcasts, web series, and online courses) along with in-person dog training. Ty has over 17 years of experience in dog training and specializes in both mitigating unruly pet behavior and service dog training. Ty has been awarded the "Best of State Award" for dog training in Utah ten times and his work has been featured in ABC, NBC, CBS, Spike TV, and Entrepreneur Magazine. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 55,258 times.
Puppies may become easily frightened, stressed, or excited. If your puppy is bounding with energy, or if you are in a tense situation, you can help calm them down by reinforcing positive behaviors. To reduce hyperactivity as your puppy grows older, encourage a consistent schedule with plenty of exercise and stimulation. Separation anxiety can also be a problem in young dogs, but you can ease their fears. The good news is that with consistent and loving care, your dog will learn to react to situations calmly.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Relaxing Your Puppy
1 Play calming music. Some dogs respond well to calming, classical music. It can help block out frightening sounds, such as thunder. It may even be able to reduce their stress. Try playing soft, gentle instrumental songs.[1]XResearch source
2 Give the puppy a chew toy. Chewing is relaxing for dogs, and if your puppy is excited, they may try to chew everything in your house. Provide your puppy with a chew toy. This can help soothe them before they go to sleep or distract them from a frightening situation. Advertisement
3 Provide your puppy with a safe place. Your instinct may be to pet, coddle, or attempt to soothe your puppy when they are frightened (such as during a thunderstorm), but this will actually reinforce this behavior and communicates that they are "right" to be frightened. You want to show your puppy that there is nothing to worry about, so be nonchalant about whatever is going on. Put their dog bed or some soft blankets in a corner of the room you are in or somewhere away from whatever is causing the dog to feel tense, or bring in your puppy's crate (if they are crate trained) and leave the door open. Give them a space where they feel they can shelter and be safe, and try to stay nearby.[2]XResearch source
Don't scold or discipline the puppy if they are anxious or "clingy" during a storm. Just act as calm as possible and turn away if they jump on you.
4 Train your puppy to settle. When you begin training your puppy you can teach them the "settle" command. It is important to do this when the puppy is already fairly calm and there is nothing too distracting or scary going on (like a storm). Put a special "inside" leash on your puppy and teach them to lie at your feet when you give the settle command. Use lots of treats and positive reinforcement to reward this calm behavior.
When your puppy needs to calm down, put on the leash and tell them to settle. This is when you can give your dog pets and treats, as you will be rewarding calm behavior.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Decreasing Hyperactivity
1 Play with your puppy. Puppies need interaction and play to keep them from becoming bored. Both physical and mental exercises will direct their energy towards productive activities instead of towards destructive chewing or mouthing.[3]X Expert Source Ty BrownDog TrainerExpert Interview Some good ways to play with a puppy include:[4]XResearch source
Throw a ball or Frisbee that they can fetch
Play tug-of-war
Fill a toy with kibble or peanut butter, and let them lick it out
2 Exercise your puppy regularly.[5]X Expert Source Ty BrownDog TrainerExpert Interview Puppies need plenty of exercise. This means that they should be walked at least twice a day and have plenty of time to socialize with other dogs. A consistent schedule for these activities will teach your puppy when to expect walks and help them remain calm during other periods of the day.
Taking your puppy to a dog park will let them run around and play with other dogs. It will also teach them how to interact and communicate with other dogs.[6]XResearch source
Dogs are most active at dawn and dusk. These are good times to take your puppy out for a walk.[7]XResearch source
3 Train your puppy to answer commands.[8]X Expert Source Ty BrownDog TrainerExpert Interview When your puppy is excited or unruly, it can be difficult to get their attention. Starting obedience training while the puppy is young will improve their obedience. Using a command like “sit” or “settle down” can force them to calm down if they are behaving wildly.[9]XResearch source
When you begin, use treats to reward your puppy for successfully completing a command. This will help associate the word or command (such as "sit") with the desired action.
While it may seem tempting to wait until your puppy is grown before you start training, this causes bad behaviors to become a habit, and they will be harder to get rid of. Start training your puppy as soon as they enter your house, and over time, the puppy will come to understand proper behavior.[10]XResearch source
4 Ignore bad behavior. Puppies will not learn how to properly act on their own. If your puppy is jumping, mouthing, or chewing because of their excitement, you may be tempted to speak or play with them to distract them. Instead, ignore them. Walk away from the puppy, and the puppy will learn that these actions will not get them what they want (your attention).[11]XResearch source
Puppies may whine or cry in new situations, and if you consistently run to their aid, they will learn that crying earns them attention.
5 Avoid leaving your puppy in a crate for long periods of time. If you are crate training a puppy, you should make sure that they are not left in their crates for excessive periods of times. They grow anxious in the crate, and when they come out of the crate, they will have pent up energy. As you are crate training, try leaving them in there for only a few hours at first.[12]XResearch source
If your puppy cries when you leave in the crate, you should ignore them at first. If you go to them immediately, they may learn that their crying gets them attention. Instead, give them twenty minutes to calm down.
Be aware that very young puppies may not sleep through the night. You may have to wake up to walk the puppy in middle of the night. By three or four months old, your puppy should be able to sleep through the night in their crate.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Reducing Separation Anxiety
1 Allow the puppy to spend time alone during the day. Puppies easily grow attached to their humans. If you spend every second of your time home with the puppy, they will learn to crave your attention while you are gone. Instead, while you are home, let the puppy play by themselves for part of the time. This will teach them not to depend on your attention, and they will grow more independent when you are out of the house.[13]XResearch source
2 Give the puppy a piece of clothing with your scent. Your puppy might find your scent comforting. When you leave the house, give the puppy a worn piece of clothing. This clothing will have your scent on it, and it can comfort them if they are feeling lonely.[14]XResearch source
3 Provide food puzzle toys when you leave.[15]X Expert Source Ty BrownDog TrainerExpert Interview It is best not to create a big commotion when you leave the house. To help distract your puppy from your departure, give them a toy with a treat inside. They will concentrate on getting the treat out, and they may not even notice that you have left.[16]X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsLeading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source
4 Ignore the puppy when you return home. When you come home, your puppy may be very excited. They might jump, bark, or demonstrate other excitable behaviors. To teach them to remain calm, you should ignore the puppy for a few minutes after you return home. After this point, you can pet and play with your puppy.[17]XResearch source Advertisement
Expert Q&A
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Question How do you calm down a hyper puppy? Ty Brown Dog Trainer Ty Brown is a Dog Behaviorist and Trainer and the Owner of Ty the Dog Guy, a business that provides dog training through digital resources (podcasts, web series, and online courses) along with in-person dog training. Ty has over 17 years of experience in dog training and specializes in both mitigating unruly pet behavior and service dog training. Ty has been awarded the "Best of State Award" for dog training in Utah ten times and his work has been featured in ABC, NBC, CBS, Spike TV, and Entrepreneur Magazine. Ty Brown Dog Trainer Expert Answer Puppies often become hyper when they have too much pent up energy. Make sure you're going on plenty of walks, playing outside, and giving your puppy toys to tire him out physically. Then, you should also use obedience training to stimulate your puppy mentally and tire him out that way as well. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 9
Question My cockapoo puppy gets overexcited wanting to play when my daughter brings her older dog around, and will not leave the older dog in peace. How can I fix this? Community Answer Keep your puppy in a different room; once he calms down, let him go. If he behaves, reward him with treats. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 22
Question My puppy does not like to be lonely at nights and he sleeps outside. What can I do so he will not cry at night? Community Answer Try a warm full water bottle and soothing white noise. Giving him a nice place to sleep, like a cozy dog house with soft bedding and protection from the elements can also help. A good dog bed retains heat in the winter and lightly cools in the summer. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 5 Helpful 13
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Video
Tips
If your puppy is still demonstrates signs of stress, anxiety, or hyperactivity, you should try taking them to a vet. The vet may recommend behavioral therapy or medication.[18]X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsLeading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
The more consistent your schedule, the more easily your dog will learn how to behave during certain times of the day. Thanks Helpful 12 Not Helpful 0
Be patient. Puppies have a ton of energy, but with training, they will grow calmer as they get older. Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 4
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Warnings
Puppies require quite a bit of supervision, especially when they are young. Try to avoid situations where the puppy is alone for long periods of time. Thanks Helpful 19 Not Helpful 0
Punishing your dog for their hyperactivity or anxiety can make the problem worse.[19]X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsLeading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Co-authored by: Ty Brown Dog Trainer This article was co-authored by Ty Brown. Ty Brown is a Dog Behaviorist and Trainer and the Owner of Ty the Dog Guy, a business that provides dog training through digital resources (podcasts, web series, and online courses) along with in-person dog training. Ty has over 17 years of experience in dog training and specializes in both mitigating unruly pet behavior and service dog training. Ty has been awarded the "Best of State Award" for dog training in Utah ten times and his work has been featured in ABC, NBC, CBS, Spike TV, and Entrepreneur Magazine. This article has been viewed 55,258 times. 24 votes - 90% Co-authors: 16Updated: July 8, 2025 Views: 55,258Article SummaryX
To calm your puppy, play with it by throwing a frisbee or ball so it has something to expend its energy on. Alternatively, you could play tug of war with your puppy using a rope. Additionally, you should walk your puppy daily so it gets enough exercise, which will help it stay calm. If your puppy is over-excited before going to bed, give it a chew toy, since chewing is a relaxing activity for dogs. When your puppy appears frightened, try playing relaxing music to cut out scary sounds, or putting some blankets in a corner for your puppy to shelter in. For tips on how to play with your puppy and how to reduce separation anxiety, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Co-authored by: Ty Brown Dog Trainer This article was co-authored by Ty Brown. Ty Brown is a Dog Behaviorist and Trainer and the Owner of Ty the Dog Guy, a business that provides dog training through digital resources (podcasts, web series, and online courses) along with in-person dog training. Ty has over 17 years of experience in dog training and specializes in both mitigating unruly pet behavior and service dog training. Ty has been awarded the "Best of State Award" for dog training in Utah ten times and his work has been featured in ABC, NBC, CBS, Spike TV, and Entrepreneur Magazine. This article has been viewed 55,258 times. 24 votes - 90% Co-authors: 16 Updated: July 8, 2025 Views: 55,258 Article SummaryX
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1 Play calming music. Some dogs respond well to calming, classical music. It can help block out frightening sounds, such as thunder. It may even be able to reduce their stress. Try playing soft, gentle instrumental songs.[1] 
2 Give the puppy a chew toy. Chewing is relaxing for dogs, and if your puppy is excited, they may try to chew everything in your house. Provide your puppy with a chew toy. This can help soothe them before they go to sleep or distract them from a frightening situation. Advertisement 
3 Provide your puppy with a safe place. Your instinct may be to pet, coddle, or attempt to soothe your puppy when they are frightened (such as during a thunderstorm), but this will actually reinforce this behavior and communicates that they are "right" to be frightened. You want to show your puppy that there is nothing to worry about, so be nonchalant about whatever is going on. Put their dog bed or some soft blankets in a corner of the room you are in or somewhere away from whatever is causing the dog to feel tense, or bring in your puppy's crate (if they are crate trained) and leave the door open. Give them a space where they feel they can shelter and be safe, and try to stay nearby.[2] 
4 Train your puppy to settle. When you begin training your puppy you can teach them the "settle" command. It is important to do this when the puppy is already fairly calm and there is nothing too distracting or scary going on (like a storm). Put a special "inside" leash on your puppy and teach them to lie at your feet when you give the settle command. Use lots of treats and positive reinforcement to reward this calm behavior. 
1 Play with your puppy. Puppies need interaction and play to keep them from becoming bored. Both physical and mental exercises will direct their energy towards productive activities instead of towards destructive chewing or mouthing.[3] Some good ways to play with a puppy include:[4] 
2 Exercise your puppy regularly.[5] Puppies need plenty of exercise. This means that they should be walked at least twice a day and have plenty of time to socialize with other dogs. A consistent schedule for these activities will teach your puppy when to expect walks and help them remain calm during other periods of the day. 
3 Train your puppy to answer commands.[8] When your puppy is excited or unruly, it can be difficult to get their attention. Starting obedience training while the puppy is young will improve their obedience. Using a command like “sit” or “settle down” can force them to calm down if they are behaving wildly.[9] 
4 Ignore bad behavior. Puppies will not learn how to properly act on their own. If your puppy is jumping, mouthing, or chewing because of their excitement, you may be tempted to speak or play with them to distract them. Instead, ignore them. Walk away from the puppy, and the puppy will learn that these actions will not get them what they want (your attention).[11] 
5 Avoid leaving your puppy in a crate for long periods of time. If you are crate training a puppy, you should make sure that they are not left in their crates for excessive periods of times. They grow anxious in the crate, and when they come out of the crate, they will have pent up energy. As you are crate training, try leaving them in there for only a few hours at first.[12] 
1 Allow the puppy to spend time alone during the day. Puppies easily grow attached to their humans. If you spend every second of your time home with the puppy, they will learn to crave your attention while you are gone. Instead, while you are home, let the puppy play by themselves for part of the time. This will teach them not to depend on your attention, and they will grow more independent when you are out of the house.[13] 
2 Give the puppy a piece of clothing with your scent. Your puppy might find your scent comforting. When you leave the house, give the puppy a worn piece of clothing. This clothing will have your scent on it, and it can comfort them if they are feeling lonely.[14] 
3 Provide food puzzle toys when you leave.[15] It is best not to create a big commotion when you leave the house. To help distract your puppy from your departure, give them a toy with a treat inside. They will concentrate on getting the treat out, and they may not even notice that you have left.[16] 
4 Ignore the puppy when you return home. When you come home, your puppy may be very excited. They might jump, bark, or demonstrate other excitable behaviors. To teach them to remain calm, you should ignore the puppy for a few minutes after you return home. After this point, you can pet and play with your puppy.[17] Advertisement 
Ty Brown Dog Trainer Ty Brown is a Dog Behaviorist and Trainer and the Owner of Ty the Dog Guy, a business that provides dog training through digital resources (podcasts, web series, and online courses) along with in-person dog training. Ty has over 17 years of experience in dog training and specializes in both mitigating unruly pet behavior and service dog training. Ty has been awarded the "Best of State Award" for dog training in Utah ten times and his work has been featured in ABC, NBC, CBS, Spike TV, and Entrepreneur Magazine. 
Community Answer Keep your puppy in a different room; once he calms down, let him go. If he behaves, reward him with treats. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 22 
Community Answer Try a warm full water bottle and soothing white noise. Giving him a nice place to sleep, like a cozy dog house with soft bedding and protection from the elements can also help. A good dog bed retains heat in the winter and lightly cools in the summer. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 5 Helpful 13 
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