Why Is My Dachshunds So Hyper & How To Reduce It

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If your dachshund gets hyper often they can become quite the handful. While you’re glad to see them happy and excited, it’s a lot to manage when they start being rambunctious.

Is it normal for dachshunds to be so hyper or is something going on?

Why Is My Dachshunds So Hyper:

Dachshunds are spunky little dogs that can get quite hyper when they aren’t getting enough physical or mental stimulation on a day to day basis. Beyond simply puppy energy, if your dachshund isn’t getting outlets to release their pent up energy it will often result in them being hyper.

In this post you’ll discover:

The top 9 reasons why your dachshund is so hyper
How long it takes for dachshunds to naturally calm down
The 2 best ways to help your dachshund not be so hyper
And much more

Let’s jump right in.

Table of Contents

9 Real Reasons Why Your Dachshund Is So Hyper

1) Not Past Their Puppy Energy

If your dachshund is still in their puppy years it’s completely normal for them to still be quite hyper.

Some dogs won’t lose their puppy energy until they’re 3-5 years old!

It totally depends on your unique pup.

As your dachshund moves into their later adult years as well as senior years their natural energy will start to lower.

But until then, you’re likely going to have a pretty hyper pup on your hands.

And it’s important to note the only healthy way to stop your dachshund from being so hyper is to give them outlets for their energy.

Getting mad at them for being hyper won’t do you any good and they might even see it as playing if you chase after them.

2) Not Getting Enough Exercise

This one is a biggie.

Dachshunds were bred to be hunting dogs and as such, they have quite a bit of energy that needs to be burned off.

If your dachshund isn’t getting enough exercise they’re going to be pretty darn hyper.

How much exercise does your dachshund need?

At the very least, they should be getting 30 minutes to an hour of exercise per day.

And that’s just the minimum.

Some dachshunds will need even more than that to burn off all their energy.

The best way to know how much exercise your dachshund needs is to start off slow and then increase the amount as needed.

If you start them off with too much exercise they could get overwhelmed and that could lead to other problems.

Dachshunds are also notorious for being stubborn so if they don’t want to do something, good luck getting them to do it.

You might have to get creative with their exercise routine to make sure they’re actually enjoying it and getting the most out of it.

Related Reading: Top 12 Best Harnesses For Dachshunds

3) Not Getting Enough Mental Stimulation

Dachshunds are quite intelligent and as such, they need to be given plenty of opportunities to use their brains.

If your dachshund isn’t getting enough mental stimulation they’re going to get bored and that can lead to them being hyperactive.

Your pup needs to have things in their day that challenge them mentally to ensure they don’t get too much pent up energy.

If they don’t get this it’s normal to see them have random bursts of hyper energy to help tire themselves out.

4) Easily Excited

This is a big one for dachshunds.

They’re easily excited and get overstimulated quite easily.

What does that mean?

It means that things that might not excite other dogs can send your dachshund into a tailspin of rambunctious energy.

Even something as simple as a visitor coming to the door can send them into a frenzy.

If your pup was relaxing in a low energy state and all of a sudden gets really excited about something, they may start running around all hyped up.

Essentially they aren’t quite sure what to do with their sudden energy so they run around like a maniac because they don’t know how else to deal with it.

If your dachshund is like many others, their ease of excitability could be contributing to why they’re so hyper.

5) Matching New Energy

Dachshunds are social creatures and love being around people.

They’re also highly attuned to the energy of those around them.

If someone comes over and they act super excited your pup will likely match them.

It’s like a domino effect.

One person gets excited, then your dachshund gets excited, and then the next person gets excited, and so on.

Before you know it, everyone is hyped up and your dachshund is leading the charge.

This is why it’s important to be aware of the energy you’re bringing into your home when you have a dachshund.

If you’re feeling energetic and happy, your pup is likely to pick up on that and it could make them more hyper than usual.

On the flip side, if you’re feeling calm and relaxed, your dachshund is likely to mirror that energy as well.

Whether it’s another dog your dachshund is around or a person that’s acting super energetic, your pup will likely match that energy and become hyper.

6) Unintentionally Encouraged

One of the biggest mistakes people make is that they unintentionally encourage their dachshund’s hyper behavior.

How do you do this?

By accidentally rewarding them when they’re being hyper.

For example, if your dachshund is running around and you yell at them to stop, chase them, or engage with them in any way, they may think that you’re playing with them.

In their mind, they’re getting attention for their hyper behavior so they’re likely to do it more in the future.

It’s important to be aware of this so you can avoid accidentally rewarding your dachshund when they’re being hyperactive.

Instead, wait until they’re calm and then give them the attention they crave.

This will help to train them that being calm gets them what they want instead of acting all crazy.

7) Post Poop Dance Party

This one is common in all dogs, not just dachshunds, and it’s when your pup gets all hyped up after going number 2.

It’s basically when your doggo goes crazy after they go to the bathroom.

They may run around like a maniac, spin in circles, kick their feet, or all of the above.

This is totally normal behavior for dogs and it’s nothing to be concerned about.

Many veterinarians think it’s because they’re excited to have finally been able to relieve themselves after holding it all day.

So if you see your dachshund doing the post poop dance, just let them be and they’ll eventually calm down on their own.

8) Food Is Exciting

Another big reason why dachshunds get so hyper is because food is exciting to them.

Whether it’s when they’re about to eat and they’re hungry, about to get one of their favorite treats, or when they smell something they really like.

Many dachshunds will start acting hyper when it comes to food.

They may start barking, whining, running around, or all of the above.

It’s important to not give in to their demands and only feed them when they’re calm.

If you give in and feed them when they’re being hyper, you’re inadvertently rewarding their behavior which will only make it worse in the future.

Like we mentioned earlier.

Instead, wait until they’re calm and then give them their food or treats.

This will help to train them that being calm gets them what they want instead of acting all crazy.

9) Nothing Better To Do

In some cases, dachshunds may get hyper because they’re bored and there’s nothing better to do.

They want to play and are tired of waiting around for someone to play with them.

So they take matters into their own hands and start running around like crazy to use up their hyper energy.

If your dachshund has lots of energy and hasn’t done anything fun in the last several minutes/hours, they’d rather act hyper than lay down and be bored.

How To Calm A Hyper Dachshund Puppy (Or Adult)

1) Increase Mental Stimulation

One of the best ways to help your dachshund not be so hyper is by increasing their mental stimulation.

This can be done in a number of different ways such as training, puzzle toys, and food dispensing toys.

By giving your dachshund’s brain something to do, it’ll help to tire them out and they’ll be less likely to be hyper.

Plus, it’s a great way to bond with your pup and give them some much needed attention.

Try doing some training sessions throughout the day or giving them a food dispensing toy filled with their favorite treats.

Even better, do both!

Your dachshund will love the mental stimulation and you’ll love how much calmer they are as a result.

2) Increase Physical Activity

In addition to increasing mental stimulation, you should also increase physical activity.

Dachshunds are a breed that need a good amount of exercise and if they don’t get enough, they may start acting hyper as a way to release all their built up energy.

A good rule of thumb is to make sure your dachshund is getting at least 30 minutes of good exercise per day.

This can be a combination of walking, running, playing fetch, and/or going to the dog park.

The important thing is that they’re getting their heart rate up and burning off all that energy.

If you can do both mental and physical activities with your dachshund, that’s even better.

But if you can only do one or the other, physical activity is probably more important.

Other posts you might find interesting:

12 Best Dog Beds for Dachshunds

11 Reasons Why Dachshunds Get So Anxious + Tips To Help

9 Real Reasons Why Dachshunds Howl + 4 Tips To Stop It

Dachshund Reverse Sneezing: Why It Happens & What To Do