Kroki

Question · Puppy

How do I calm down my puppy?

The short answer

A wild, nippy puppy is often an overtired puppy. Young puppies need a lot of sleep and are only awake for short stretches, so more play rarely helps. Instead, take it out for a wee, then lead it to a quiet rest place with a chew or lick mat, dim the room and stay calm yourself. Reward quiet moments with a treat placed between its paws. Kroki, a reward-based training app for puppies and dogs, includes a rest and sleep routine for the first weeks.

How to do it, step by step

  1. Spot overtiredness early

    Zoomies, hard nipping at hands and clothes, barking at you and grabbing the lead are classic signs that a young puppy has been awake too long. It is not being naughty; its brain is running out of fuel.

  2. Take it out, then take it to rest

    Carry or lead your puppy outside for a quick wee, without play. Then bring it straight to its rest place: a pen, an open crate it already likes, or a bed in a quiet corner away from the kitchen bustle.

  3. Give the mouth something calming

    Licking and chewing help a puppy wind down. A lick mat with a little of its wet food, a chew stick or a frozen wet flannel for teething gums works better than a squeaky toy.

  4. Be boring and quiet

    Sit nearby, speak softly or not at all, dim the light and turn off the TV. Slow strokes along the chest can help some puppies; if yours nibbles your hand, just stay close without touching.

  5. Reward calm the moment you see it

    When your puppy lies down or sighs, quietly place a treat between its paws. No marker word, no excitement. It learns that calm pays off, and over time it will choose to settle sooner.

  6. Plan naps into the day

    Follow a simple rhythm: sleep, wee, a short time to play and explore, wee, then a nap again. Many young puppies need a nap after about an hour awake, so plan that rest instead of waiting for the meltdown.

Your dog is already grown?

A grown dog needs less sleep and can learn to settle on a mat on cue, at home first and later in a café or at a friend’s house. Restlessness in an adult or older dog also has more possible health causes. The page for grown dogs explains how to teach a settle step by step.

Why sleep is the secret to a calm puppy

VCA Animal Hospitals, a network of vet practices, notes that a two-month-old puppy usually spends only around four to six hours of the day in bursts of energy, and that even adult dogs spend at least half of a 24-hour day asleep. Daytime naps are completely normal. The same page points out that sudden extreme tiredness or lethargy can be a sign of illness, which is a reason to call the vet practice rather than to train (VCA Animal Hospitals).

Sleep also seems to help learning stick. In a study with adult pet dogs, those that slept, went for a walk or played after learning a new cue were better at it a week later, while dogs that went straight on to learn another task did not improve (Kis and colleagues 2017). The study did not involve puppies, but it supports ending a short training session with a nap, not more lessons.

Shouting, holding a puppy down or spraying it with water may stop it for a moment, but it adds stress to a puppy that already has too much. A review found that aversive methods can harm dogs’ physical and mental health, with no evidence that they work better than rewards (Ziv 2017).

Calming at the tricky times of day

  • Evening craziness: plan a calm chew and a nap before your own dinner, when many puppies get the wildest.
  • Before bed: skip tug and chase games in the last hour, give a final wee break and keep the lights low.
  • First night: put its bed next to yours so you can rest a hand nearby; a puppy used to sleeping in a pile often settles faster.
  • After visitors: give a quiet rest in its own corner, because new people are exciting and tiring at the same time.

What tends to make it worse

  • Trying to tire a puppy out with long walks or endless fetch. It gets fitter and more wired, not calmer.
  • Telling it off when it nips. Loud reactions add excitement; calmly end the game and offer rest instead.
  • Using the rest place as a timeout. It should be the nicest spot in the house, not where it goes when you are cross.
  • Waking a sleeping puppy to play or show it to guests. Let sleeping puppies lie.

When to see a professional

Most wild phases are normal puppy behaviour. Talk to a professional if:

  • your puppy is unusually floppy, sleeps far more than usual, refuses food, vomits or has diarrhoea, or seems restless and in pain

    Have a vet take a look

  • your puppy bites hard enough to break skin many times a day, or panics, hides or trembles rather than playing

    Get support from professionals

The help pages list services in Germany, Austria and Switzerland only. Elsewhere, ask your vet practice who they recommend near you.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my puppy nip more when it is tired?

A tired puppy has less self-control, so play turns into nipping more easily. Treat a sudden rise in nipping as a sign that a nap is due, not as a training failure.

Why does my puppy go crazy in the evening?

Evening zoomies often come from overtiredness after a busy day. A planned chew and nap in the late afternoon usually helps more than an extra play session.

Should I ignore my puppy when it is hyper?

Don’t ignore it completely, but don’t join the excitement either. Calmly guide your puppy to its rest place and give it something to lick or chew.

Will my puppy calm down with age?

Most puppies become calmer as they grow, though adolescence can bring a new wild phase. Good sleep habits and rewarded calm now make every stage easier.

Does a puppy pen help with calming down?

Yes, a pen gives a tired puppy a safe space without the temptations of the whole room. Put a bed, water and a chew inside, and make it a pleasant place, never somewhere it is sent when you are cross.

Should I play calming music for my puppy?

Soft, steady background noise can help some puppies relax and covers sudden sounds. It is a helper, not a replacement for a quiet rest place and enough naps.

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