When Do American Bullies Calm Down? 5 Main Reasons and Solutions

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American Bullies make wonderful pets if you put in the time and effort to care for them. If you consider adopting an American Bully, you must be aware of their hyper behavior due to their high energy.

Most owners anticipate their dogs to “mellow out” as they become older, but with a breed that’s as energetic as the American Bully, is that possible?

When Do American Bullies Calm Down? American bullies calm down when they reach about 2 years old. They’re more likely to act hyper when they’re puppies because they have more energy at that time, but once they hit the age of maturity, they will be significantly calmer.

Continue reading to learn more about when American Bullies calm down, what causes them to be hyper, and simple ways to calm them down.

When Do American Bullies Calm Down?

American Bully puppies, as we already understand, are bursting with energy and eager to play and run about all day. Once they reach maturity, usually at 2 or 3 years old, they will begin to calm down.

However, reaching the age of maturity is not always a guarantee that the dog will calm down, as some American Bullies take even longer than 4 or 5 years to calm down.

If you’re concerned about why your American Bully isn’t calming down, you first need to understand the main reasons why American Bullies become hyper.

Are American Bullies Hyper?

By their very nature, American Bullies are highly energetic dogs, which leads them to be hyper if they do not have an outlet for their high energy.

They will be more hyper when they’re still puppies, but as they grow older, they will gradually calm down. However, some American Bullies continue to be hyper, even when they’re adults.

It mainly depends on the amount of exercise and stimulation the dog is getting. If their needs aren’t fulfilled, their behavior will be negatively affected.

Hyperactivity is a symptom, not a personality feature. If your American Bully is hyperactive, that means it needs more exercise and stimulation rather than training.

Whether your American Bully is hyperactive or not, you should always make sure that the dog is getting enough exercise and stimulation.

You need to be able to tell if your American Bully is hyper so you can give it what it needs and prevent its behavior from escalating further. So, here are some signs you can look out for

Your dog will be running around and jumping very quickly
Your dog will be excessively barking for no reason
Your dog will have a very short attention span and fail to respond to commands
Your dog will get tired quickly from doing little to no activities
Your dog will display destructive behaviors such as chewing on furniture or pawing at the floor
Your dog will have potty accidents despite being trained
Your dog will display some aggressive behaviors or play roughly

What Causes American Bullies to Be Hyper?

Most American Bullies aren’t hyper as they reach the age of maturity. So, if they don’t calm down, then there’s likely a reason why it’s being hyper other than age.

Let’s take a look at some of the causes of hyperbehavior in American Bullies.

Lack of Training and Socialization

If American Bullies don’t receive proper training when they’re young, they’re likely to be hyper when they grow older because they were never discouraged from being hyper, so they can’t tell it’s bad behavior.

Lack of socialization will also cause the dog to be hyper as a way to cope with the anxiety of being exposed to new environments.

Boredom and Lack of Attention

American Bullies need constant stimulation and attention from their owners; otherwise, they will become bored., which will cause them to act hyper to get their owners to give them more attention.

Lack of Exercise

American Bullies are highly energetic, so they need to be exercised regularly. If they don’t get enough exercise, they will be hyper as a way of releasing their high energy.

Separation Anxiety

American Bullies are prone to developing separation anxiety as they tend to get very attached to their owners, which will cause them to be more hyper as a way to cope.

Hyperkinesis

American Bullies might develop a condition known as Hyperkinesis, which is similar to ADHD in humans.

This condition causes them to be hyper and display other symptoms like excessive abnormal movements, impulsive behavior, and extreme oversensitivity to stimuli.

How to Calm An American Bully?

Taking care of American Bullies requires time and effort. If they don’t calm down naturally as they grow older, then you need to identify the cause and take some measures to help them calm down.

Keep in mind that this isn’t a one-time thing you can do to turn your American Bully into a calm animal; it’s a process you need to maintain to manage the dog’s activity levels in a healthy way.

So, here’s what you can do to calm your American Bully:

Provide Plenty of Exercise

Exercise is the most significant thing you can provide your dogs, above all other activities. It’s recommended to give your dog at least 30 minutes of exercise every day.

American Bullies aged between eight weeks and six months will require a different exercise routine than those older than six months; however, the principle remains the same.

To exercise your American Bully and release excess energy, you can take it for long walks. Try to maintain a consistent exercise routine, such as taking the dog for a walk at around the same time each day.

Walking on a leash is not the same as being permitted to run about in the backyard or dog park freely.

Provide Games and Entertainment

Simple activities such as chasing a ball, tug-of-war, or simply indulging in some enjoyable playtime are excellent ways to manage your American Bully’s energy.

These physical and mental workout games may consume more energy than you might imagine, resulting in a calmer dog.

Set aside a few minutes each day to engage with your dog. Join them on the floor, play around the backyard with them, or play games with them.

The activities will only enhance your relationship and help them calm down later, as American bullies love human contact.

As for the toys, I recommend you get them good chew toys like the KONG Extreme Goodie Bone chew toy:

KONG Extreme Goodie Bone

KONG is a well-known producer of long-lasting dog toys, and their Extreme Goodie Bone is among their most sturdy items.

These chews are manufactured from KONG’s famous Extreme Black Rubber and are designed to withstand your pit bull’s teeth for days of chewing delight.

Features:

Most dogs like the classic bone form
Each end has a place for you to put treats or flavorful pastes.
Medium and big sizes are available.
Made in the USA

Check Latest Price

Provide Proper Training

The importance of training cannot be underestimated when it comes to raising a dog. It requires time and patience, but it will help you to calm down your puppy.

When teaching the dog basic obedience instructions like “Look,” “Sit,” or “Leave it,” consistency is essential for improving your American Bully’s ability to focus on you.

If you’re a new dog owner, the American Bully’s rebellious nature might make training challenging. However, turning the training process into a joyful game is the greatest method to reduce this breed’s tendency to be resistant.

If you’re still having trouble teaching your dog, hiring a professional dog trainer can be an excellent option.

Create A Relaxing Atmosphere

When your dog is overstimulated, it will get enraged and become difficult to calm down. Remove any unneeded stimulants that may be present in your house.

You are also a part of your dog’s surroundings, and your dog will reflect your levels of energy and attitude.

If you don’t want your dog to be hyperactive, you shouldn’t promote it, for example, by giving him treats to see if he’ll quiet down.

What to Do If Your American Bully Won’t Calm Down?

The first thing you need to do is identify the reason why your American Bully is being hyper, so you can effectively calm it.

If you can’t identify the reason behind your dog’s behavior or it won’t calm down no matter what you do, then, then it is recommended to take your dog to a vet to determine if there’s an underlying health problem causing it to behave this way.

You can also consult with a professional dog trainer or a behaviorist to help you figure out what you can do to calm the dog down if you don’t have enough time to do that or don’t know how to.

When Do American Bullies Calm Down? 5 Main Reasons and Solutions