Does your dog jump all over guests the moment they arrive? Does your cat zoom around the house at full speed, knocking things over? Or maybe your rabbit digs frantically at the floor, unable to settle?
Many pets struggle with overexcitement, and while it can be fun at times, excessive energy can lead to stress, frustration, and even destructive behaviour. The goal isn’t to suppress their enthusiasm, but to help them manage their energy and settle when needed.
Using Tellington TTouch, along with a few simple strategies, you can gently influence how your pet responds to excitement—helping them feel more balanced, relaxed, and in control of their energy.
Let’s explore why pets get overexcited and how to help them find a healthy balance.
Why Do Some Pets Get Overexcited?
Not all excitement is bad—after all, we love seeing our pets happy and playful! But when excitement becomes excessive or difficult to manage, it can affect both your pet’s well-being and your relationship with them.
Common Causes of Overexcitement:
🐾 Pent-up energy – If a pet doesn’t get enough mental or physical stimulation, energy can build up and explode in bursts of excitement.
🐾 Overstimulation – Too much noise, attention, or sudden activity can trigger hyperactive behaviours.
🐾 Attention-seeking habits – If jumping, barking, or zooming around gets them attention, they may repeat it more often.
🐾 Anxiety or stress – Some pets use excitement as a coping mechanism when they feel overwhelmed.
🐾 Breed or personality – Some breeds are naturally more energetic, while others struggle with impulse control.
The good news? Overexcitement can be redirected in a positive way—without punishment or force.
Recognising the Signs of Overexcitement
While some excitement is normal, these behaviours may signal difficulty in self-regulation:
🐶 Dogs: Jumping, barking excessively, spinning, grabbing objects, pulling on the lead.
🐱 Cats: Zoomies, sudden pouncing, knocking things over, excessive meowing.
🐰 Rabbits & Small Pets: Running in circles, chewing cage bars, thumping, digging excessively.
By understanding these signs, we can help pets transition from high-energy bursts to calmer, more balanced states.
How Tellington TTouch Helps Calm Overexcited Pets
Tellington TTouch is a gentle, hands-on technique designed to reduce tension, increase body awareness, and encourage relaxation. It’s used for horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, and even exotic animals to help them feel more settled and in tune with their bodies.
✔ Encourages relaxation by reducing tension.
✔ Helps pets become more aware of their movement.
✔ Provides gentle stimulation without overstimulation.
✔ Can be used before walks, playtime, or stressful situations.
TTouch Techniques to Calm an Overexcited Pet
1. Gentle TTouches to Settle the Mind & Body
Using light, circular touches and slides on key areas of the body can help bring awareness to movement and encourage calmness.
🐕 For dogs: TTouches on the body encourage a sense of grounding.
🐈 For cats: Light touches can help ease tension.
2. Body Wraps to Reduce Hyperactivity
A soft body wrap (like an elasticated bandage or calming wrap) can provide gentle pressure, helping pets feel more secure and settled.
🐶 Helps excitable dogs regulate their energy before walks.
🐈 For cats and rabbits, a light towel wrap can reduce fidgeting and help with grooming or vet visits.
3. The Balance Lead Technique for Excitable Walks
For dogs that pull or lunge when excited, a double-ended lead clipped to both the front and back of a harness distributes movement more evenly, reducing pulling without restriction.
This method:
✔ Helps excitable dogs slow down without frustration.
✔ Encourages smoother, more balanced movement.
✔ Prevents lunging forward when seeing another dog or person.
4. Slow, Grounding Movements to Shift Energy
Instead of fast, high-energy games, try activities that engage the brain and slow down movement.
🐾 Sniffing games – Letting dogs sniff and explore burns energy while calming the mind.
🐾 Slow lead walking in patterns – Walking in gentle zig-zags can help dogs stay engaged without overexcitement.
🐾 For small pets: Encourage foraging by hiding food to slow them down and engage their focus.
Other Ways to Help Pets Regulate Their Excitement
Alongside TTouch techniques, making small adjustments to daily routines and interactions can also help pets stay balanced and settled.
1. Encourage Calm Before Play
🐶 If your dog jumps or barks when excited, wait for a moment of calm before engaging with them.
🐱 If your cat suddenly zooms around, encourage calm interaction with gentle stroking or slow blinking.
2. Mental Stimulation Instead of Just Physical Exercise
Many people think the answer to overexcitement is more running, more chasing, more play—but this can actually increase hyperactivity.
Instead, try:
✔ Puzzle feeders to engage the brain.
✔ Food toys like licki mats or kongs to encourage licking which can be calming
✔ Sniff walks (letting dogs explore rather than pulling them forward).
3. Predictable Routines
Excitable pets often do better when they know what to expect. Try keeping feeding times, walks, and quiet time consistent.
What NOT to Do When Dealing with Overexcited Pets
🚫 Trying to ‘tire them out’ with excessive high-energy play – This often increases excitement rather than settling them.
🚫 Using force or restriction – Holding an excitable pet too tightly can create frustration rather than relaxation.
🚫 Ignoring signs of overstimulation – If a pet is struggling to calm down, using TTouch or structured activities can help them settle.
Final Thoughts: Helping Pets Find Their Calm
Overexcited pets aren’t “naughty” or “out of control”—they simply need guidance in managing their energy levels.
Using Tellington TTouch techniques, structured activities, and a gentle approach, we can help pets feel calmer, more balanced, and in tune with their bodies.
If your pet struggles with overexcitement, Zen Animals is here to help! 📩 Contact us today to learn how TTouch can support your pet’s well-being!
