When we decide to live with a companion animal, we learn that, just like us, they also go through different stages of behavioral development before reaching maturity, and for this reason it's common that during the puppy phase our furry friends show very intense exploratory behaviors due to the amount of external, novel stimuli they're exposed to, which of course are part of their environment and help them in their growth and learning processes. For this reason it's normal for strong, high-impact emotional reactions to show up during that period. In light of this, you've probably experienced that phase of insatiable energy with your puppy, due to the restless temperament typical of their age, in which they seem tireless, never stopping activities like: running, jumping, playing non-stop, demanding your attention at every turn, attention deficit, low concentration, destroying objects, excessive barking, excessive distractibility and, in some cases, nervous and insecure behaviors. However, this stage also passes, since little by little those attitudes tend to fade and, in general, most furry friends reach a good balance between activity and rest as they reach adulthood.
Despite that, in many situations this doesn't happen, and many furry friends don't manage to control their hyperactivity, so the situation becomes disturbing, causing discomfort and emotional upset, and disrupting harmony at home. That's why, at Siu, we want to share some recommendations that can help you with your restless furry friend:
First of all, keep in mind that for any kind of emotional imbalance, flower therapy is always an excellent option, since it supports the restoration of emotional balance and psychic well-being in pets. In this case, Vervain flower essence has the emotional quality of stabilizing hyperactivity and excess enthusiasm, helping overly persistent animals who become unable to relax and, as a result of those states, end up with stress, tension and lack of sleep.
All those cases where our furry friend overdoes it and exaggerates their behavior — for example, jumping abruptly on people, dogs that move around wildly and unrestrainedly, those who show compulsive behaviors like chasing bicycles or vehicles, biting their own tail, licking themselves excessively, barking incessantly, howling persistently, startling for no apparent reason.
With Vervain flower essence, pets benefit naturally in situations where it's very hard for them to find calm — little pets who don't stop, who deliberately overflow in their behaviors, and in simple circumstances where they always show signs of anxiety accompanied by: excess salivation, and a very accelerated respiratory and heart rate. In these situations, this essence has a great calming capacity.
Likewise, our Learning flower blend is ideal for very restless animals, since it fosters the ability to manage their excitement and modulate the internal tension they experience, which is why this essence is very important for both puppies and adults.
The same goes for animals that don't have enough space to run and thus release their excess energy.
With the Learning flower blend, excitement levels go down, the emotional rhythm balances out, avoiding physical and energetic wear. The length of use is relative and depends on each case, but it's recommended to administer it for 2-3 weeks and up to three or six months. Ideally, give 2-4 drops orally 6-8 times a day. You can also mix 10 drops into their daily drinking water. Along with flower therapy, it's essential to add the following recommendations:
- Set up daily walk or physical activity routines — this will help burn off your furry friend's excess energy.
- Encourage moments of calm, that is, increase periods of quiet by offering relaxed environments away from noise, and eliminate exciting stimuli.
- Set a specific time for daily play — this way your furry friend has fun and entertainment, which also helps lower their energy while teaching them to relax and find calm.
- Ignore it when they seek excessive attention from the family, and likewise ignore agitated, nervous behaviors by walking away from the spot. We must make sure not to reward or give attention when there's excessive, unstable activity.
- Stimulate their senses and mental capacity through scent exercises — for example, hiding treats around the house for your furry friend to find, using interactive toys, teaching tricks, etc. Setting mental challenges keeps them occupied and relaxes them.
- Give massages and pet our companion, along with relaxing music paired with aromatherapy using natural essential oils, which encourages relaxation and promotes calm. When you dedicate this time to your furry friend, where physical contact is key, you'll help strengthen the bond and promote emotional states of relaxation and calm.
- Reward those moments and places where they behave calmly with petting, kind words in a positive tone, and food treats — this way we help our furry friend understand which attitudes are the right ones.
As a final recommendation, it's important that we assess our own moods, since if we have altered, restless emotional tendencies, our furry friends will pick up on them and will surely be affected too — so relax! so your furry friend can find calm. It's essential that we're consistent with our little furry companions; it's not enough, nor easy, to put all these tips and tricks into practice, but it is important to establish routines, as far as possible, and repeat the actions we take to calm our furry companions. Remember to always factor in veterinary checkups and consult with behavior professionals — never self-medicate your pet to try to calm an altered mood, as you could put their health and well-being at risk.