Published in Animals, this study by Anastasia Shabelansky and Seana Dowling-Guyer explored how owners experience and interpret their dogs’ excitable behavior. Excitability—often expressed as jumping, mouthing, hyperactivity, or difficulty calming—is a common reason for training referrals and even relinquishment. Yet scientific research on the phenomenon remains limited.
Using self-administered online questionnaires, the authors collected data from owners who self-identified their dogs as “excitable,” resulting in a sample enriched for higher levels of this behavior. Despite limited generalizability, the study provides valuable qualitative insights into everyday challenges faced by owners.
The results showed that certain daily scenarios reliably triggered excitable behavior. The most common and intense reactions occurred when the owner or visitors arrived at the home. These situational cues often elicited jumping, barking, or other high-energy behaviors difficult for owners to manage.
Across the sample, nearly all owners reported frustration, with the majority indicating they were “very frustrated.” Many excitable dogs also exhibited co-occurring behavior problems, including disobedience, destructiveness, chasing, and excessive barking—patterns consistent with broader behavioral dysregulation.
The study highlights the need for better education and management tools for owners, as excitable behavior can strain the human–dog relationship and contribute to welfare concerns. The authors note that targeted recruitment of highly excitable dogs limits broad conclusions, but the findings underscore the importance of future research and improved intervention strategies.
Source: Shabelansky, A., & Dowling-Guyer, S. (2016). Characteristics of Excitable Dog Behavior Based on Owners’ Report from a Self-Selected Study. Animals. Published March 1, 2016.
