7 Signs Of An Overstimulated Dog

Jul 15, 2025 | Pet Health, Pets, Tips and Tricks

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  I’m finally getting to our July 4th/birthday post that I’ve been promising.  Jake and Maggie had a great birthday with lots of treats and presents.  It was a hot day, and I made sure they spent enough time both indoors and outside to enjoy their day without getting overstimulated and overheated.  Everyone brought a side dish, and we made homemade pizzas and calzones in our pizza oven.  I cut up fresh strawberries and blueberries for the pups as an addition to their breakfast, making it a special treat on their birthday.  
 

New July 4th Bows For Jake And Maggie!

The pups got their toenails cut and a bath for their party.  I ordered a few new bow designs from NaughtyPaws and these red and white flag bows are perfect.  Jake is wearing the Miss July puffy bow and Maggie is wearing the Miss July puffy sailor bow.  Use code TWOADORABLELABS10 for 10% off your order.  

7 Signs Of An Overstimulated Dog | www.twoadorablelabs.com
7 Signs Of An Overstimulated Dog | www.twoadorablelabs.com
Jake is very low-key, while Maggie is high-energy.  She gets excited very easily.  She loved having everyone over, but what do you do when your pup gets overstimulated by their surroundings?  Here are seven signs of an overtired puppy, along with tips on how to calm and prevent overstimulation.  I researched the article found on Pupford.com, and it is mainly geared towards puppies, but I think these tips can also be applied to older dogs.
 
7 Signs Of An Overstimulated Dog | www.twoadorablelabs.com
1.  Nipping and biting:
Puppies explore the world and express themselves with their mouths. When they are too tired to focus on other ways to express themselves, they turn to nipping and biting.  If your dog suddenly becomes very nippy, it’s a sign they’re overtired or overstimulated.
 
 
2.  No longer listening:
Just as kids get defiant when they are too tired, so do puppies. So, if your dog suddenly ignores cues they usually master, it may mean they’re overtired.  While it may seem like a rebellious phase, it may just be time for a nap.
 
 
3.  Hyperactivity/Inability to Settle:
The hormone cortisol kicks in after a certain amount of time without sleep. Cortisol provides a “second wind” of energy, but it can make it difficult to calm down.  This can lead your puppy to behave erratically and become hyper, even to the point of crankiness.
 
7 Signs Of An Overstimulated Dog | www.twoadorablelabs.com
4.  Chewing:
Like dogs who don’t get enough activity and stimulation, dogs who don’t get enough rest can engage in destructive behaviors like chewing. 
 
 
5.  Excessive Barking:
Since overtired puppies can’t settle down, they will look to you (or other people/animals) to continue interacting with them. They may bark excessively to get the attention of someone who will prolong the playtime.
 
 
6.  Panting and/or Lip Licking:
When cortisol takes over and puppies lose their sense of control, they can start to pant or lick their lips compulsively. These are both signs of stress and overstimulation, which often go hand in hand with being overtired.
 
 
7.  Excessive thirst:
Being overtired = being stressed. Being stressed = being thirsty. Of course, some water breaks are to be expected during playtime or training, but constantly visiting their water bowl could be a sign of being overtired.
7 Signs Of An Overstimulated Dog | www.twoadorablelabs.com
Dogs need a lot of sleep, especially puppies. You can expect your young dog to sleep 15-20 hours a day in the early days and 12-14 hours per day as they reach adulthood.
 
When puppies don’t get enough rest between active periods, they get into a state of overexcitement. This not only can make it extremely difficult for you to interact with and manage your dog, but it can have adverse effects on their health and wellbeing, including:
 
Weakened immune system
Joint or back issues
Dangerous, destructive behaviors
Lowered ability to learn and retain
Aggression
 
7 Signs Of An Overstimulated Dog | www.twoadorablelabs.com
HOW TO CALM DOWN & PREVENT AN OVERTIRED PUPPY
 
Remove stimulation, like toys or other animals
Take your dog into a quiet or dark room
Have your dog sit or lie down while you gently pet them or place them in their bed or crate
Keep a calm demeanor when handling your dog
Also, many tactics that calm your dog in the moment can be used proactively to prevent getting overtired in the first place.
 
Here are some:
 
Create – and stick to – a routine
Crate training
Short bursts of activity
 
There is so much to watch out for during those hot summer days, from toxic mulch and poisonous insects to fireworks, loud noises, extreme heat, stray animals in the yard, and your overall environment.  Sometimes we get caught up in our pet and don’t even realize how much time has gone by.  Our pets will tell us.  We have to make sure we are paying attention.
 
7 Signs Of An Overstimulated Dog | www.twoadorablelabs.com
I’m Bobbi Jo, a lab-lover who took my passion for animals and dogs and turned it into something bigger.  When I adopted Jake and Maggie, my love for them became the driving force behind Two Adorable Labs, and my blog was born.  My hope is to not only share them with the world, but to help educate others on the importance of animal health and well-being.

Two Adorable Labs has become a collection of all that I love.  I’ll send one post each week on things that bring me joy on animal health, home decor, and food recipes for humans and our furry friends.  I hope you enjoy these posts and much as I do creating them!

7 Signs Of An Overstimulated Dog | www.twoadorablelabs.com
7 Signs Of An Overstimulated Dog | www.twoadorablelabs.com
7 Signs Of An Overstimulated Dog | www.twoadorablelabs.com
7 Signs Of An Overstimulated Dog | www.twoadorablelabs.com

I love hearing from all of you and do my best to respond to each and every one of you.  I always enjoy your comments, feedback, and suggestions so keep them coming!  If I’ve posted a recipe (for our human and our furry friends) and you try it, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @twoadorablelabs and use #twoadorablelabs​.

If you do try and love my recipes, I would greatly appreciate a comment and rating.  I read every single one and respond to them.  It also lets Google know that the website contains quality content.  The more comments and 5-star ratings, the more Google will show my blog in search results!  Thank you so much!

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Jake and Maggie are now proud Ambassadors for Ava’s Pet Palace.
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Love, Jake and Maggie

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