Help with my hyperactive dog!

Charlie1986

I could really do with some help with my dog! I posted a month or so ago as he was always begging for food and really hyperactive. Well the begging for food has now stopped but the hyperactiveness is alot worse. He's going to bed at about midnight and only sleeping until 2.55 am on the dot! Its been the same every night for almost 3 weeks now. He sits at the bottom of the stairs yapping and crying and ripping the wall paper etc until I get up, then he wants playtime. I know the advice given is to leave them and they will stop, he really doesn't stop (I waited over an hour the other day). I don't play with him when I go down to him but he just runs around the room bringing me toys and jumping all over me. If I take him upstairs he'll be on and off the bed and running around licking everything.
I really don't know what to do, he had me in tears earlier as he just won't stop, even after long walks. I've been to the vets who said that there was never know need for him to have been put on the KBR tablets for his Epilepsy and he doesn't know why that happened, now I have to slowly ween him off them.
He really is like a different dog now and is not a joy to have around at the moment, I've just ordered one of those diffusers in hope that it may do something so I can get more than 3 hours sleep at night. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Fire_Fox

An hour isn't long to wait for him to quieten down, although I know it feels like it! Think Supernanny ... Have you watched any of the 'It's me or the Dog' on 4OnDemand? What about trying clicker training? Loads of videos on You Tube.

You might try a change of diet? There are links between higher protein diets and poor behaviour in dogs, and also between additives and high glycaemic index foods and behavioural problems in humans. What are you feeding at present?

giantmutantbroccoli

Accept that you're going to go for 24 hours or so without sleep. It probably won't take that long for him to give up, mind, but be prepared for it. As Fire Fox said, waiting an hour won't make a difference - it just teaches him to be persistent! As far as the dog's concerned just having you downstairs with him is a reward, even if you don't play with him. You have to completely ignore him for the whole night, and don't get out of bed until your normal getting up time.
Have you considered crate training? That way you could keep him confined to his bed, and not being able to walk about at night might encourage him to sleep longer.

That said, it sounds very likely that this is a result of the medication he's on. It'd be a good idea to ask your vet for advice on what to do about his sleeping habits.

Link to previous thread for reference:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2178315

cyberbob

How many times do you walk him a day? Sometimes more but shorter walks can help

Raksha

Lots of walks (IMHO) only leads to a fitter dog, not necessarily a tired one - mental stimulation is the way to go - training and not feeding any meals from a food bowl, let him work for his food, either through food rewards for training, or by using a food dispensing device like a Tug a jug or a kong.

fruitycar

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You might try a change of diet? There are links between higher protein diets and poor behaviour in dogs, and also between additives and high glycaemic index foods and behavioural problems in humans. What are you feeding at present?

when we first got our dog (he was 8 months old) we carried on feeding him the same food, (Tesco value dried ) After trying various different brands, it was noticeable what we fed him affected his behaviour. He is now fed on Burns and whilst he is still very lively, he has lost that 'madness' he had. (worst of all we tried was Bakers:eek:).

Mutter_2

Charlie did you ever look at the Epi Angels web site? You can contact them by email with your concerns.

Charlie1986

Thank you for all the replies. He is fed on Burns at the moment, I don't think it is his food though and it took almost a year for him to settle on this. Last night was a better night, he woke up at 6.45am so i'm presuming that it is/was the tablets and now they are getting out of his system.
I put his food in one of those balls that drop them out as the dog pushes them along (can't think of what it's called) and I play with him alot during the day. He goes for a walk morning, noon and at about 7pm for 30-45 mins, he can't manage much more as he runs about everywhere and tires himself out.
Hopefully I will see in the next few weeks what happens now he's coming off the tablets. I haven't considered crate training as he was abused as a puppy and doesn't like confined spaces or being 'locked in', I think that will cause more trouble to be honest.
Yesterday just got a bit much with him, getting up at 3am and then none stop all day. He's been really good today and seems to have calmed down considerably. Now just to see what tommorow will bring :rotfl:

Charlie1986

Mutter wrote: »

Charlie did you ever look at the Epi Angels web site? You can contact them by email with your concerns.

Yes I had a look and it is a very interesting website. I will drop them an email and see if they have any suggestions.

Charlie1986

Another good night again last night, I actually had to wake him up at 7am for his morning meds and he went straight back to bed until 9am! Seems like he's getting back to his normal self now, the only problem is i'm still waking up at 3am listening for him but all I can hear is his snoring :rotfl:

Charlie1986

Well seems he's back to his ways, 2.55am this morning! I've put him in the kitchen as he's running around like a lunatic tonight, think I will try him in there overnight as well. Only thing is he's scratching the door all the time