One of our regular readers asked us: “Why is my puppy so calm?” and he didn’t mean it in a good way. We did a bit of digging up, and below are some of the reasons why it might be happening.
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Do you find your pup lying around and unmotivated to perform any activity all the time? Well, for many dog parents, it may seem like a blessing in disguise. They might get some more free time from the constant effort you have to put in with a puppy. But it can be a matter of concern if your dog is too calm for a long time.
It is possible that what you think is calmness is actually tiredness, illness, or even depression. Multiple reasons can cause your little four-legged friend to be much calmer than its usual behavior.
We will discuss some reasons why your puppy is so calm and the steps you can take to resolve this issue in this article.
Why Is My Puppy So Calm?
#1 Illness
If your dog is usually an energetic one but being too calm all of a sudden, the chances are that he is ill. You should observe your dog carefully to know if it’s sick. Some symptoms may include:
- Lethargy.
- Gas.
- Vomiting.
- Fever.
- Nosebleed.
- Diarrhea.
- Appetite loss.
- Bad breath.
- Breathing difficulty.
- Frequent urination.
Even if some of these symptoms might not sound alarming to you, they can be signs of some underlying conditions causing severe repercussions.
For example, lethargy in your dog can imply signs of osteoarthritis, metabolic diseases, or infections like parvovirus.
Besides that, bad breath not only implies poor oral hygiene but can also be some kidney or liver-related problem.
#2 Natural Calmness
There are many cases where your dog is just naturally calm. It is usually related to the genes or breed of the dog. Many dog breeds are calmer than others; golden retrievers are an excellent example. Sometimes the behaviors of puppies are also related to their natural parents.
If the parents of your puppies are calm, there are high chances they will be calm too. These two conditions usually do not cause any harm; in fact, you should consider yourself lucky that your puppy is calm rather than anxious or nervous.
Still, spending more time and playing games with your puppy will make him more active.
You might like to read: Best Treats For 8 Week Old Puppy
#3 The Hot Weather
Summers are not pleasant for many dogs. It’s pretty evident that when the heat rises, it not only affects humans but dogs too. The heat causes many dogs to slow down due to exhaustion, especially those accustomed to a colder environment.
Breeds like Chow-Chows and Siberian Huskies are some of the examples of dogs that are more affected by heatstrokes. As a dog parent, you need to observe the symptoms of heatstroke, which include:
- Restlessness
- Vomiting.
- Seizure.
- Disorientation.
- Breathing difficulty.
- Tongue and gums turning pale in color.
- Excessive drooling.
#4 Problems With Diet
The diet is a crucial part of a puppy’s health, and some issues in the diet can cause fatigue in the dog’s body. It is quite possible that your puppy has food poisoning.
Many foods usually used by humans are not suitable for dogs. Some of them include:
- Xylitol
- Garlic
- Alcohol
- Chives
- Chocolate
- Avocado
- Bread dough
- Salty foods
- Raisins
- Grapes
Some fruits, such as apples, are safe for dogs, but their seeds can still be harmful. In addition to the prohibited food, you should also know some symptoms of food poisoning in dogs other than sluggishness.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting.
- Depression.
- Weakness.
- Difficulty in breathing.
You might like to read: Do Puppy Teeth Turn Black
#5 Depression/Boredom
It might sound weird, but boredom can cause many psychological issues in a puppy. Boredom can lead to further stress, anxiety, and depression. In some cases, boredom even causes signs of bad habits.
As a dog parent, you should know that only physical exercises and actions are not enough for the dogs, and they require constant mental stimulation as well.
In fact, some dog breeds such as German Shepherds, Border Collies, and Golden Retrievers, which are more intelligent than most of the other dog breeds, require more mental stimulation.
These breeds are bred for jobs that include various physical and mental tasks. But unfortunately, house dogs don’t get the opportunity to showcase most of their skills and get extremely bored without adequate human engagement.
#6 Cold/Flu
Cold and flu are not just limited to humans but can be a real problem for little puppies too. These issues are pretty common among puppies and can make them tired/sluggish, perceived as calm.
Some symptoms of cold in puppies include:
- Coughing.
- Sneezing.
- Runny nose.
- Increased sleepiness.
- Watery eyes.
In addition, flu is even more severe than cold and can lead to many serious symptoms. The symptoms might seem similar to cold in case of mild flu, but severe flu can bring pneumonia, high fever, weakness, and difficulty breathing.
Note: Cold or flu can also signify more serious health issues like bronchitis, kennel cough, or allergies that might need proper care.
You might like to read: Can A 2 Month Old Puppy Have Rabies
#7 Injury
It is also possible that an injury is keeping your high-spirited little puppy down more often than usual. In fact, there are more signs associated with injuries like crying, limping, or licking a body part.
An injury can be anything from a broken bone, sprained ankle, or wound. If your dog is slowing down, you might need to inspect for swelling or wound.
The reaction of dogs is not always the same as an injury. You will find some dogs crying in pain when injured, while some will not react at all. These behaviors are developed in dogs as many of them are hunting dogs, and an injured animal is more exposed to attacks. Therefore appearing stoic is almost a necessity in the wild.
But it makes it difficult for humans to understand when their four-legged friend is suffering and hiding the pain for more prolonged periods makes the injury more serious.
Due to the pain, the dog’s body will release hormones that induce stress affecting the functioning of the metabolism.
#8 The Dog Is Trained To Be Calm
Sometimes a dog is getting calm simply because you trained him to be calm. It might be surprising for you! The chances are that you haven’t done it consciously. It is likely to happen when you reward him more for being calm than being energetic.
You can change this behavior simply by rewarding him more when he is energetic and less when calm.
Note: Make sure not to encourage energetic behavior too much; otherwise, you will have the opposite problem.
Things To Do When Your Dog Is Too Calm
#1 Go To A Vet
Not knowing your dog’s actual reason behind your dog’s calmness is among the primary problems for a dog owner. Therefore whenever you suspect this kind of behavioral change in the dog, you should definitely book an appointment with the vet. In any case of food poisoning, illness, or injury, your dog requires proper medical treatment.
#2 Improve Diet
A poor diet is also often the reason for your puppy becoming too calm/sluggish. When you visit your vet, make sure to discuss the vet dog’s diet too and get a proper diet plan for the dog if necessary.
#3 Regular Exercise
Just like humans, the bodies of puppies also require physical exercise. As a dog parent, you’re responsible for keeping the puppy physically active, especially in the early days. It also highly depends on the dog’s breed on how much physical exercise it will require every day.
You can take your puppy for long walks regularly to start, but sometimes it is possible that walking is not enough.
If you think that your puppy is not getting enough physical exercise by just walking, then you might need to find some other ways like playing fetch with him or any other games.
#4 Engage The Puppy With Toys
Many puppies that are too calm are usually suffering from boredom. Giving some toys to your dog is a great idea to make it more active, especially if the dog spends a lot of its time doing almost nothing.
You can find different types of games and toys to engage your puppy and keep it active, including puzzle games.
#5 Keep The Puppy Hydrated
Always make sure to keep your little friend hydrated and give it an adequate amount of water. Keeping your puppy hydrated is even more critical during summers to protect them from heatstroke.
Try to provide them with clean and fresh water as much as possible. I would suggest placing water bowls in different places inside the house. It will make freshwater more accessible for your puppy.
You might like to read: How Long Do Puppy Crazies Last
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal for a new puppy to be calm?
Adjusting to a new place is a big deal for a little puppy, and it is also a little confusing for the puppy as it is exposed to an entirely new environment. Therefore it is pretty common for them to act calm.
Can puppies be calm?
Of course, puppies can be calm. Some are calm inherently, and some might have other reasons. As long as it’s not too sluggish, there’s no need to worry.
Are mellow puppies good?
Mellow puppies are actually very relaxing even for the owners, and it’s always good to have a calm puppy than a hyperactive one.
What makes a puppy calm?
Multiple reasons make your puppy calm, but the ones that require care and attention are:
- Illness
- Injury
- Depression
- Hot weather
- Diet problems
Wrap Up
I hope this article cleared your concerns about your little puppy and its newfound calmness. Make sure to share the article with your friends if you like it!