At What Age Do Goldendoodles Calm Down?
Goldendoodles are known for being fun, energetic, active dogs that need and love to exercise every day, but you may have started to wonder if yours is bouncing off the walls needlessly or abnormally. Age could have something to do with this, so the real question you should be asking is: what age will my Goldendoodle start to calm down?
Most Goldendoodles calm down around twelve to eighteen months of age. This is generally when the transition from puppyhood to adulthood takes place. The dog matures and energy levels reduce. However, it’s to be expected that Goldendoodles harbor a great deal of energy throughout their lifetime.
While Goldendoodles should calm down some as they grow, you can expect to have an active and energetic dog for the entirety of its lifespan; this is simply the nature of a Goldendoodle. However, there may also be some cases in which a Goldendoodle becomes unnaturally hyper, and that will surely raise a few questions. Read on to learn some of the possible reasons behind this.
Should My Goldendoodle Be This Hyper?
As mentioned earlier, it is completely normal for Goldendoodles to be somewhat hyperactive, especially since they are high-energy dogs. This hyperactivity will only be increased during puppyhood because it is perfectly normal for young dogs to exhibit boundless amounts of energy.
The cutoff age for excessive hyperactivity is usually anywhere from twelve to eighteen months of age. However, it is also good to keep in mind that every Goldendoodle is different, so you may not see an immediate change when yours reaches this age. Be patient with your doodle and let them mature as their natural clock allows.
However, if you start to feel like your dog has gotten old enough to stop this kind of behavior but has not, you may want to do some investigating. The same is true if your dog has calmed down in the past, but for unknown reasons has had a spike in hyper behavior. There are a couple of potential reasons behind this, so let’s take a look at a few of them.
The number one reason why your Goldendoodle might be more hyper than usual is that it is not getting the amount of exercise it needs. When Goldendoodles (especially puppies) get agitated and restless, they are likely to exhibit a great deal of energy. They are active dogs that require a lot of exercise, so if they aren’t getting what they need, that energy will manifest itself in other ways.
It is also possible that your Goldendoodle is simply bored. Even the sweetest mildly-tempered puppy can become naughty and hyper when it gets bored and is left with nothing to do. If your Goldendoodle has been bouncing off the walls and getting into more trouble than usual, that probably means he or she needs something to do. Let’s talk about some ways for you to solve this particular problem.
Reducing Unnecessary Hyperactivity
Since excessive hyperactivity is most often caused by a lack of exercise and attention, the first thing you should be doing is paying more attention to your dog and giving it more opportunities to exercise. Goldendoodles are, as mentioned before, active dogs that will require at least a half-hour of exercise every day. Puppies may require more or less depending on how young they are.
However, every Goldendoodle is different. Some are active and strong enough to handle 30 minutes every day and may even need more than that. Some may need an hour or more every single day. You will have to just watch and monitor the needs of your Goldendoodle. Try increasing the amount of exercise your Goldendoodle gets and see what happens.
You may also find that your Goldendoodle needs more attention at home. If you are giving it plenty of exercise and it still seems to be exhibiting naughty behavior, you may need to spend some extra quality time with it. Puppies especially will be inclined to exhibit naughty behavior if they are bored or in need of some extra love.
This attention-seeking behavior could include peeing indoors and chewing on furniture, shoes, or whatever else they are able to find. If you come home to a shredded couch or your favorite pair of shoes desiccated, that probably means your little pup needs a little more attention. Spend an hour or two playing with him or her every day and see what happens!
However, before you start thinking that play and exercise will solve all your problems, you must also take into account the possibility that your Goldendoodle is still young and untrained. You must start training your Goldendoodle right away. A lack of training and discipline will lead to a naughty, ill-mannered canine.
If necessary, consider enrolling your Goldendoodle in a training program with a professional obedience trainer. Not only will this help your dog to become well-mannered and obedient, but it will also help your Goldendoodle to become well-socialized and polite to other dogs. A cranky, aggressive dog is the last thing any dog owner wants.
What Happens If My Goldendoodle Is Not Active?
Before you go knocking the idea of a hyperactive Goldendoodle, remember that a lack of activity could be just as bad, if not worse, than an excess of energy. As previously discussed, Goldendoodles are an extremely active breed of dog. Even if they calm down a little after exiting their puppyhood stage, they will still have a high amount of energy.
If you have started to witness your doodle acting tired or lethargic, that could be a hint that something is seriously wrong with them. It could mean your dog is sick or depressed if they start to lose their energy. However, it could also be an adverse reaction to being bored. While your dog could exhibit excess hyperactivity when bored, it’s also possible that your dog has given up and decided to be lazy and reclusive because of boredom. This is equally unhealthy, so make sure you get out on those daily walks!