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If you’re the proud new owner of a Goldendoodle, you know what amazing companions they make. They’re playful, high-spirited, friendly, and affectionate. They are also full of energy and need an adequate amount of daily physical exercise adjusted to their age, as well as mental stimulation. While their playful behavior is infectious and brings zest into the family, you may sometimes find it a little overwhelming and need guidance on managing it.
Don’t despair! Your Goldendoodle will generally calm down as they reach adulthood, and you can help them with the correct guidance, regular physical exercise, and consistent training. In this article, we’ll discuss Goldendoodle puppies, Goldendoodles with pent-up energy, and ways in which you can help calm them down.
Why Do Goldendoodle Puppies Have So Much Energy?
It is well known that bringing a puppy into your family comes with a lot of patience, as they can be little balls of energy when they are young, but Goldendoodle puppies are anecdotally believed to be particularly energetic. This may make you feel tired and concerned about whether and when they will ever calm down. Well, you’ll be relieved to know that just like all puppies, your Goldendoodle will most likely calm down as they age and matures.
It is helpful to be prepared for a Goldendoodle puppy. For the most part, you should expect excitable behavior such as licking, jumping, running wildly, and endless curiosity. Unfortunately, the curious nature can lead to “naughty” behavior, especially if your pup doesn’t receive enough exercise, mental stimulation, and attention, or sometimes even, on the contrary, if they receive too much attention or are too excited and overwhelmed. Remember, your puppy is exploring the world for the first time, and they need guidance and consistent training using positive reinforcement as well as physical exercise in accordance with their age, mental stimulation, and enriching games.
At What Age Do Goldendoodles Calm Down?
There is calm at the end of the storm! Some Goldendoodles may start calming down anytime between 12 and 18 months. This is where the puppy phase transitions into adulthood. However, you can still expect playful and energetic behavior. Don’t be confused by your puppy losing their puppy teeth and having a set of permanent teeth by 6–8 months of age; they will still be energetic, albeit a bit less. Some dogs can take up to two or more years to be noticeably calmer, depending on their personality.
As your Goldendoodle goes through the life stages, they will change, and so will their energy levels, also in accordance with their health.
- 0–3 months: This is one of the most energetic stages. They will usually explore using their mouths, and you can expect jumping, running, and play-fighting. This is also when they start to develop relationships with other dogs and their human family, and these early socialisation experiences will shape how your Goldendoodle interacts in the future. This is the golden window of opportunity for training, where you can begin to train your dog in obedience, and this window shouldn’t be missed.
- 3-6 months: At this stage in puppyhood, they are still full of energy and are now able to exercise more based on their age and level of physical development. Speak to your vet about the adequate amount of exercise your puppy needs on a daily basis. Although bigger, your dog is still a puppy and is still likely to get over-excited, so it’s important to stay consistent in your training.
- 6-12 months: This is considered the junior stage, where your pup may slowly start to exhibit more adult-like behavior. You will be able to redirect their less desirable behavior more easily, given that you have started and maintained regular training. However, their playfulness may increase, and this is where physical exercise and mental stimulation will be very important.
- 12–18 months:
- This is when your Goldendoodle will reach adulthood and will generally start calming down. They will begin to transition from puppyhood. However, you need to remember that this is a process and be patient anytime your dog exhibits puppy-like behavior. Most of your Goldendoodle’s life will be spent in the adult phase, where they will gradually calm down if provided with sufficient and regular physical exercise and mental stimulation through playing, walks, running, and various games or sports such as agility, scent work, and more.
How to Know if Your Goldendoodle Has Pent-up Energy
If your Goldendoodle is beyond their puppy stage and is still unusually energetic, they likely have energy pent up from insufficient physical activity throughout the day.
- Excessive barking: If your Goldendoodle barks excessively, this could indicate that they are not stimulated enough, either physically or mentally, or both. It is a way to get attention and is the best way most dogs know how to communicate. If your Goldendoodle has been fed, been to the toilet, has water, and there is no physical trigger for their barking, it could be due to pent-up energy and under-stimulation.
- Destructive behavior: This is a classic sign of boredom in dogs. Destructive behavior can include digging, chewing, and zooming around, and they usually exhibit these kinds of behavior when they have pent-up energy.
- Leash pulling: If your Goldendoodle is somewhat leash trained and pulls on the leash, and it feels like they are taking you for a walk, it could be over-excited about getting out because they have a lot of pent-up energy.
Will Neutering My Goldendoodle Make Them Calmer?
There is a common belief among dog owners that getting their dog neutered will help calm them down, which holds some truth. While getting a dog neutered won’t change their personality significantly, it can help decrease testosterone and sexual behaviors such as mounting while providing them with certain health benefits. It can have an impact on their mood and behavior. Having your dog neutered may help make them calmer over time. Speak to your vet about the best time to have your puppy neutered or spayed, depending on their age and health, as well as known pros and cons.
Tips for Dealing with a Hyper Goldendoodle
Early training and socialization are the keys to a well-mannered and well-rounded dog and are essential in managing your Goldendoodle’s behavior. Socialization will familiarize your Goldendoodle with new surroundings, dogs, other pets, and strangers. Obedience training will help your Goldendoodle take direction and obey basic commands. Positive reinforcement is the best strategy, as you reinforce the desirable behavior with something positive, such as treats or praise. These are the critical strategies for managing your Goldendoodle’s behavior, but some other tips that can help include:
- Not rewarding unwanted behavior: If you make any fuss or give attention to unwanted behavior, you are unintentionally training them too, because they learn that the particular behavior will get them attention. Only pay attention once your dog has calmed down.
- Adequate exercise and mental stimulation: Make sure your Goldendoodle gets enough exercise and playtime daily. This can include walking, running, playing fetch, and interactive feeding bowls.
- Be calm: If you want a calm dog, you must be a calm owner. Dogs are sensitive animals and may naturally match your energy levels. If you are overly excited, your dog may feed off that energy and display similar behavior. However, if you are consistently calm, you will set a good example..
Conclusion
If your Goldendoodle is in their early puppy stage, your life is anything but dull. The good news is that your pup will begin to calm down as they reach adulthood at 12 to 18 months. Each dog is different, however, and some factors come into play with a high-energy dog. Early socialization and training are critical to a well-behaved and well-mannered dog. You need to expose them to new environments, people, dogs, and other pets as early as possible in a controlled and safe environment and teach them basic obedience commands. As your Goldendoodle gets older, it is essential to continue to provide adequate exercise and mental stimulation to avoid boredom and undesirable behaviors.
Featured Image Credit: SoySendra, Shutterstock
