With them being such an energetic and excitable breed of dog, knowing how to calm a staffy is important for all owners. Often, their excess energy comes from things like boredom, lack of exercise, or they’re simply excited about something you’re doing.
At some point, this excess energy is going to come out. It’s either going to be in a positive way such as a walk or a negative one such as tearing apart the sofa cushions or even shaking and trembling. It all depends on how you approach the situation.
Regardless of how they express their energy, there are proven methods to keep their hyperactive tendencies in check. In this article, we’ll go over some of the methods you can use to calm a Staffordshire bull terrier to help give you a better sense of control.
No longer will you have to worry about being overwhelmed by staffy’s excess energy. With all the information you’ll learn below, you’ll have enough knowledge to avoid these situations as much as possible.
5 Dog Calming Methods
We have listed a few different calming techniques below. After learning these, you’ll have enough options to stop any situation from getting out of your control. Each one has been shown to have remarkable effects on overly-excited staffies.
1. Ignore Hyperactive Behavior
As any dog owner knows, dogs love attention. In fact, their whole life revolves around trying to gain their owner’s focus, but staffies are in a class of their own when it comes to attention needing behavior.
Due to this, next time your staffy is being over-excited ignore them altogether. Don’t talk to them, look at them, or touch them. Just turn your back and wait for the behavior to stop.
By turning your back on them, you’re showing them that being hyper doesn’t gain your attention but instead makes it go away. You’re tapping into their need for your focus to alert them that jumping up and down isn’t a good behavior.
After a minute or two, your staffy should get the message and calm right down. It’s surprising how fast denying a dog of your attention calms them down.
2. Redirect Your Dog's Energy
An easy way to calm a dog down is redirecting their energy into something positive. For example, a nice long walk is a great way to rid your hyper staffy all their built-up energy that’s making them go bonkers.
After all, a tired staffy won’t have the necessary energy to keep jumping up and down. They’ll be too focused on getting some rest to act in a hyper manner.
In other words, all the frustration the built up energy was causing them will flutter away while they're strutting their stuff in the outside world. So, the next time your staffy starts acting rowdy pick up their leash and take them on an adventure.
And if you don’t have enough time for a walk, try a short but rigorous play session. For instance, maybe a quick game of fetch or tug-of-war will release some of their energy.
Read our staffy exercise article for more ideas on using up that stored energy.
3. Maintain a Calm Environment
Dogs are a reflection of their owners. If you’re calm, they’re going to feel your sense of calmness and reflect it back. So, try your best to project a positive calming energy that doesn’t evoke any excitement.
Therefore, baby talking towards your staffy is the antithesis of creating a calm environment. I know, its fun to communicate in this manner with your dog. But all it will do is make your dog more excited.
It comes off like you’re encouraging them to keep doing what they’re doing. Instead of correcting the hyper behavior, you’re reinforcing it as being something they're supposed to be doing.
So, hold off on the baby talk or any high-pitched talking until you’re comfortable with being able to control your staffy’s hyperactive personality. It will make things worse and could stunt your staffy’s training.
Removing your dog completely from noisy and potentially stressful environments, as suggested by the experts at MySweetyPet should also be considered in certain situations. For example, during a large gathering it may be wise to have a friend or family member take care of your dog.
4. Restrict Their View of Outside
Allowing your staffy to look out of the window is feeding into their hyper personality. You’re baiting them into acting crazy. If your staffy sees a person or a feisty squirrel outside, they're going to get excited, and barking will ensue.
It’s in their nature, and you can’t argue against nature. Therefore, putting up curtains or even confining your staffy to an area of your house with windows away from the street helps keep them calm.
Also, you can try buying some baby gates to keep your staffy in a calm, isolated area. By doing so, you’re taking away potential triggers from the outside world that could cause your staffy to get rowdy.
Another added benefit is it will make your walks and trips to the park much more exciting for your pup. This sense of creating more excitement might seem as though it goes against the point of this article but outside is where your dog is supposed to unleash their energy.5. Keep them Entertained with Toys!
Having toys lying around the house is an excellent way to curb bouts of hyper-aggression. It can help direct their energy towards playing rather than tearing apart your curtains or pillows.
In fact, chew toys are essential to curbing hyper behavior because they offer your dog an acceptable option for chewing. In other words, your staffy will chew on these toys instead of your coffee table.
One of our favourite, hard-wearing toys: Kong extreme. View prices on Amazon here.
Read our article on the best indestructible dog chews for staffies.
Plus, a multitude of toys helps keep your staffy from ever becoming bored. With toys laying all about, they’ll never end up frustrated from all their pent-up energy. These toys give them something they can release their energy towards; it’s like diffusing a bomb before it ever gets built.
And you can join in on the fun too by using certain toys to play something like fetch or tug-of-war. In the end, it’s all about redirecting your dog’s energy into something positive rather than towards an item you don’t want them to destroy.
A walk does not slow my dog down, he can run for EVER and still want more!
Thanks for commenting, John. They certainly are an energetic breed and yours sounds typically athletic for a staffy as well. A good walk should at least burn off a little of that pent-up energy even though it probably doesn’t seem like it.
We have a rescue staffie female of 8 ! She gets super excited when she sees other dogs out on her walks and barks.. how can we calm this behaviour down ?
Same problem
How do we control this
Consistency in not allowing it. Soon as they see another dog or person redirect. You be the leader. My staff is calm walks at heel n doesn’t get overly excited. Patience and consistency. This non sense of it’s in their nature is rubbish. You teach the dog what behaviors you want. The more they don’t get to do something they want the less they will be inclined to want it. You make yourself the prize. It’s simple yet can be frustrating. But with time, consistency, and patience. Your staffs too can be as calm as mine. Good luck.
I’d love that and look forward to it calming. I’ve this 3.5months old baby girl is jumping at my toddler, mouthing her clothes or arms. She’s completely a different puppy outside, sitting next to strangers of all kinds to get a pat. I do not punish her to not break her temper, but I’m exhausted and concerned if she every is going to calm down. how was your story? Can you share your methods that worked.
What I do I make my dog sit and behave …if she does I give a small treat..it takes time,but worth it..she walks by my side..at all times..only time she pulls a little to pee or poop..lol
My 18mth old staffy is a nightmare, she rips her bed, blankets ect, if I try taking them off her or stop her, she goes for me, she eats my lino, doors, skirting, and nothing seems to stop her.
mine used to chew everything when we 1st had him we found redirecting his chewing with nylon dog chews helped and for problem areas around the house we used to spray lemon water on the things he chewed as he doesn’t like the taste put him right off as for the blankets mine sees them as his try using bedding with no stuffing or filling that was it doesn’t matter too much if they rag them about a bit xx
Lemon and other citrus is toxic for dogs so your Staffy is being smart not liking it.
My staff does the same even peeled artex off the wall. If I answer my house phone she attacks my feet and jumps at me biting.
Nobody can enter the house she jumps at them and frightens my grand children. My husband has had enough and wants her to go . I’ve had staff’s before but never like this one .
were you able to straighten it up? I see these in my puppy, I want to find out how I can course-correct before she’s a teenager.
Can anyone advise how to stop my staffy whimpering at me all the time. Unless he is practically sitting on me it’s the only time he stops.
my girl has just started talking to me in that way she is very good dog has a powerful bark but doesnt bark alot .im happy with that only problem i have is she jumps on me over gates nothing stops her lol.
my staffy is more of a people dog then a dog dog! he ignores dogs on walks and runs up to the owners, most other dogs dont approve.. he also goes crazy when i sit down on the couch, and he runs around jumping up onto the couch and trying to play, how do i fix this?!
I use a water bottles…works good..Stopped jumping and trying to get my slippers when there on my feet..lol
how?? you use water bottles as a chew?
Hi iv just got a 5 years old he’s a rescue dog I didn’t get him from the home I got him from the woman that did but if you put a lead on him he he gets it in his mouth and trys pulling it of you and is very protective when it comes to getting them of him he will growl like mad and every time someone comes in the house he will jump all over them he ignores your command to leave alone what is best as I don’t won’t give up on him just looking for some advice and tips many thanks
We have our staffy from a shelter and put her in training classes. It helps a lot , they are very smart dogs you just have to be consistent and keep at it because they’re stubborn also. Our girl is just over a year old very hyper as they all are but I find with walks it definitely helps calm her at home also playing fetch helps a lot too. They just get bored. Mine still jumps like a kangaroo it’s amazing how high she gets. I don’t know how to stop that lol but it’s just outside so I’m not worried about it. Good luck ! Please don’t give up they’re wonderful loving dogs and definitely worth it!
I had a 5 month rescue staff lab cross. My first walk with her on a lead consisted of tug of war round the park. After 2 weeks of this I bought a light chain lead. She hates the metal and stopped biting it. She has a lot of tug of war toys but not her lead! With the jumping on visitors it’s a case of you getting in the way to prevent this. They are excitable dogs and love fuss. Keep her lead on when visitors come because you have more control until your dog calms down.
My staff is exactly the same tried everything,she doesn’t listen she’s 18months old and had her from 8weeks but she’s getting worse.
I do all of these things and my staffy puppy is still full of energy 24/7 and hes 7 months old nothing calms him down or drains his energy??
He also doesn’t listen when training as hes too full of energy
i just came across you post. how is your pup now? has he calmed a bit ?
My Staffie has learnt to be good with all aspects except when people about she just ignores me and jumps all over them tried everything long walks live attention she is just arrogant
Try the no touch no look no talk method..and turn your back.My staffy would jump on my mom,so she did the no touch no look no talk and turn your back,she don’t jump no more
if I do that once my puppy is on this mode, she’d be biting my trotters
My 8 month old staffy is gorgeous. He is very playful with other dogs but is so overbearing with my friend’s labradoodle I am afraid he will hurt him by jumping on/over him. He loves to play but it is worrying me so much I am reluctant to let him play.
Any suggestions please?
My 8 month old staffy (girl) is a nightmare at bed time she scratches the doors and whimpers and cry’s all night I go into settle her off but she just wants to be with me 24/7 real separation issues help please
My 8 month old did exactly the same thing. I found that instead of trying to settle her, I would put her out in the garden and give the toilet command with little interaction as possible, this seemed to work. The only time she whimpers now is to go toilet.
I find that if you settle her, she then expects your attention for whimpering as you are giving her mixed signals.
my girl is 13, an adorable old rescue, has to be walked twice a day, but if phone rings or I move away from her she starts to cry, I cant even go to toilet alone, and now she is getting underfoot and as Im in my 70s im concerned I will fall, giving her up is not an option
ps this has worsened since I went on a 5 week holiday and left her with a friend, is there a med available
We have a gorgeous (crazy) rescue staffy. In a kennels for most of her life, she was hyperactive when we first got her, jumping up onto kitchen units having a chew on rugs, loved toilet rolls. Anyway, after 8 months we have a different dog. Great on the lead, we don’t let her loose. recommend Yucalm tablets, none medicinal, completely natural. It takes about 6 weeks but this and daily routine of walks, playing and familiarising her with everyday sounds and smells is working a treat.
Stay calm around your staffy and turn away from hyper attention seeking. She is wonderful and the most affectionate dog I have ever had.
Hi all
Our puppy is staffy-terrier cross from the pound. She is very trainable and loving dog. However , one habit we cannot train her out of: she eats her own waste.
We feed her plenty and have tried to add activated charcoal to her biscuits, but sadly behavior continues.
I can train Staffordshire terriers with no problem. I can help solve problem canine behaviors. Contact me on Facebook, Sharon D. Smith. Near Asheville NC
😃
My ataffy pickle also eats poo now and again and he is fed well and loved. I have had him since October last year he was very skinny and unloved! He is now confident apart from this. Thanks I look forward to hearing from you Cheryl
Are pup is 10 weeks old.Given up as owner made a mistake. She is very, very boisterous . She bits every one try’s to rip your cloths. I was on the verge of giving up which is not is my d.n.a. After joining this training, I have hope for better things to come with this beautiful little girl.
how is it now? I’m in a similar situation, has your pup improved?