Can Your Dog Have Spring Fever?
‘Spring fever,’ noun: the feeling of restlessness experienced by many people at the onset of spring.
Do warmer temps give you an extra ‘spring’ in your step these days? Or maybe you’ve noticed the extra zoomies your dog has or more swagger coming from his tail these days. Everyone gets hit with that spring fever once March rolls around, even your pup! And here’s why:
As a response to the changing environment from winter to spring, pets experience more sensitivity to changes in smell and temperature. Spring is a particularly stimulating, exciting and sometimes confusing time for your pup, leading to a whole new host of behaviors - some okay and some not okay.
Springtime brings with it blooming flowers, trees releasing pollen, small animals coming out of hibernation and more daytime. Scents play a huge role in your dog’s spring fever; there is nothing more exciting than new smells that are all over the place. But, these seasonal changes (and smells) can result in a sensory overload for your dog. Mix that with changes in temperament and behavior and your dog could be bolting, escaping and ignoring commands in pursuit of newness from spring.
The exact changes from spring fever in your dog can vary between pets, but there are some symptoms that emerge to help you understand if your pup is heading towards a diagnosis of spring fever:
Increasing energy levels
Waking up earlier in the morning
Becoming easily agitated
Overheating
Heightened curiosity
Spending large amounts of time in the sun
Becoming territorial
Besides these symptoms, there are some concerns that should have pet parents on alert with spring fever as well. Along with the new smells and animals coming out of hibernation, these conditions unfortunately make it a time for your dog to escape and run around since they are curious about everything new. Spring fever can have your dog finding new ways to escape by running, digging or jumping over something just because they may catch a whiff of something new. With more cars on the road and more people out with dogs, it’s important to keep your dog on a leash and to check your fences for any holes that your dog can fit through.
Another big concern for pet parents in the springtime are parks. With nicer temps bringing more people outside and to the park, there will be more kids who will want to pet your dog. Just remember, if you say yes to one kid to pet your dog, don’t be surprised if a group of kids wants to join in on petting your dog. Be cautious with how your dog can react with a bunch of people around and know your dog’s telltale signs for when they’ve had enough or are becoming overwhelmed.
While we can’t prevent our pets from experiencing spring fever, we can be proactive and follow some easy ways to help your pet cope with their new found energy and curiosity. Make sure you have some tasty treats on hand to reward them for their good behaviors and always practice your positive reinforcement with belly rubs, head pets and encouraging words!
Practice their recall. Selective hearing can happen when your dog is on sensory overload, making them not always choosing to come back to you when you call. Make sure to practice their recall regularly to keep it fresh for them so when you do call, they will come back.
Give some extra time. Whether its an extra ten or twenty minutes on a walk or for playtime, give them some extra time to work off that extra energy and to get the zoomies out before heading in. Your pup will thank you for the extra time and you will be thanking yourself when you have a tired pup snoozing.
Mix up your walks. Help your pup out with exploring on your terms instead of them running off, trying to get out the front door or escaping from their backyard by taking them on new walks to different places. This will help them to explore as well as keeping everything under control on your end.
Teach your dog a new game. Work on some basic commands and have fun getting their energy out by teaching your dog some new games and/or tricks. Check out 3 easy games to try with your pup:
Find-It: This game involves your pup finding some tasty treats. Whether it’s in the backyard or in the house, place some treats around and give the cue ‘find it’ before you let your dog go explore. Once they begin to understand the game, you can increase the difficulty of it by hiding treats under things or inside of things.
Frisbee: Instead of your regular fetch sessions with a ball, try grabbing a frisbee and teaching your pup how to catch it when you throw it to them.
Sit-Stay-OK: This is a great way to work on some basic commands while having fun. First have your dog sit and stay (say both commands) and then move yourself around the room or yard. When you’re both ready, say ‘OK!’ in a high pitched voice and let your dog chase you around for their reward. You can start out with 5 second stays and work your way up to 30 seconds or more!
Spring fever can hit all of us pretty hard, especially if winter has been harsh on us. But pet parents need to be aware that it can hit our furry friends just as hard. Try to seize the moment and plan activities for inside and outside to really make the most of the warmer temps. Remember, a couple extra minutes can go a long way with your pup if they are showing signs of having too much energy!
If your dog is experiencing some major zoomies, it sounds like the perfect time to contact Going Mutts Pet Services! A daily walk and some playtime is just what the dr would order for that spring fever in your pup. Drop us an email (info@goingmuttspetservices.com) or fill out a contact form on our website to let us know how we can help with your pet care needs.
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