Dog Gets Overstimulated on Walks? Here’s Why + What To Do
If your dog gets overstimulated on walks, you're not imagining it. They pull harder. React faster. Seem wired afterwards instead of relaxed. And despite your best efforts, the walks that were supposed to help them blow off steam are just making things worse.
You’re not doing anything wrong — but something isn’t working, but there are steps you can take to help your dog reset and enjoy walks to the fullest again! Let’s break down why this happens and what to do when walks become a more...chaotic experience.
What Does Overstimulation on Walks Look Like?
Why Constant Overstimulation In Dogs Is A Problem
Why Dogs Get Overstimulated on Walks
Meet the Holy Trinity (The Antidote)
How to Set Your Dog Up for Success on Walks
Are Your Walks Doing More Harm Than Good?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Overstimulated Dog On Walks
What Is Overstimulation in Dogs?
Let’s start with the basics — a stimulus is anything that triggers a change in your dog’s body or their behaviour. It could be a sound, a smell, movement, or even something like a shift in energy.
Overstimulation on the otherhand, happens when your dog is exposed to too many of these stimuli at once, or over a short period of time. This can create an overexcited and overwhelmed dog. Without proper regulation or decompression they can become stuck in a heightened state. Their system becomes flooded, and they struggle to process or respond calmly.
👉🏾 [You can read more about this over on my blog post about trigger stacking].
👉🏾 [You can read more on my blog post here about the dangers or stress and arousal]
Some dogs can handle a lot going on around them. Others get overwhelmed quickly and struggle with regulation, and when that happens, it often shows up in their body language and behaviour.
What Does Overstimulation on Walks Look Like?
When dogs are out walking, they’re surrounded by sights, sounds, smells, and movement — all of which act as stimuli. For some dogs, this can become overwhelming fast, especially out in new environments, around new people or if they’re already been carrying stress or arousal from earlier in the day.
I call it “squirrely behaviour” (others call is hypervigilance); that shifty, alert, high-energy state where they’re constantly scanning, tense, anticipating, reacting, and unable to settle.
It’s not always obvious, but here are some common signs:
- Pulling like a maniac
- Frantic sniffing or zig-zagging
- Barking at everything (or nothing)
- Jumping up, lunging
- Struggling to take treats
- Coming home more restless than before
- Tense or stiff body language
- Hyper-focused staring
- Sudden jumpiness
- Difficulty responding to cues
Why Constant Overstimulation In Dogs Is A Problem
When dogs are constantly overstimulated without regulation, they become stuck in a heightened state of arousal and that’s exhausting, both mentally and physically. It’s like their nervous system is constantly firing and everything just gets overwhelming. Over time, this can lead to reactivity, anxiety, and trouble settling, even in calm environments.
Think of it like...
You know how for some people, opening an email inbox feels like opening a door to a tiger? Heart racing, tense shoulder, short breathes, brain firing warnings...
Now imagine that feeling... every single time you go for a walk. That’s overstimulation for a lot of dogs.
When stress builds, it doesn’t just disappear. It sits in the body, bubbling under the surface. That’s when we start to see an over excited dog on walks and unpredicatable behaviour like constant barking, reactivity, hyper-vigilance, and even snapping and biting.
Why Dogs Get Overstimulated on Walks
There are a few different reasons this happens, and it often comes down to a mix of silent internal pressures.
Enter what I call the Unholy Trinity:
- Stress (carried over from previous triggers or days)
- Arousal (hyped-up energy with nowhere to go)
- Frustration (being restrained or unable to chase, sniff, play, etc.)
This combo pushes your dog into overdrive, which if not deal with can build up and become more impulsive and unpredictable.
Meet the Holy Trinity (The Antidote)
If the unholy trinity of behaviour is stress, arousal and frustration, then what is the holy trinity? The foundation that helps dogs regulate, recharge, and reset. I call it the Holy Trinity because these three things when done right can transform behaviour from the inside out:
- Rest — not just sleep, but real downtime and structure that helps a dog learn to switch off. Rest is where regulation happens.
- Purposeful outlets — chewing, sniffing, digging etc. Dogs need a job that challanges them and taps into their instincts.
- Mental stimulation — problem-solving games, scent work, and challanges that engage the brain without adding chaos.
These three elements work together to lower your dog’s stress baseline, making it easier for them to stay calm, learn, and make better decisions — on walks, at home, and everywhere in between.
How to Set Your Dog Up for Success on Walks
- Meet their needs before the walk (outlets, structure, decompression)
- Keep walks short, quiet, and structured
- Avoid triggers if you must
- Avoid walks if you must
- Use food to create focus (scatter feeding, pattern games, etc.)
- Don’t be afraid to end early and turn back
- Celebrate the small wins
A shorter, calmer walk is always better than a longer, chaotic one.
Are Your Walks Doing More Harm Than Good?
If every walk feels like a battle, it might be time to pause. Not forever — but long enough to reset the system.
Now a common myth is that we have to walk our dogs everyday, but what they don't tell you is that if every walk is a stress-filled chaos fest, and you can find alternatives — that's okay. If fact, a lot of owners who have opted for meeting their dogs needs through different methods often enjoy it more.
Many owners make the mistake of relying on walks as their source of exercise, but more walks just means more exposure to stress, triggers, and frustration. If your dog is constantly coming home more wired than they left, walking might be what is keeping them stuck in a stress loop.
👉🏾 [Click here to download my FREE Detox Protocol to buid that foundation for better walks]
👉🏾 [Click here to read more about breed specific outlets]
👉🏾 [Click here to read about structured walks and how they could benefit your overstimulated dog]
👉🏾 [Click here to read more about if your dog needs a day off walking and why rest days matter]
Final Thoughts
If your dog constantly gets overstimulated on walks and struggles with self-regulation, it’s usually a signal that they need more support.
When we focus on meeting their core needs — rest, outlets, and mental stimulation — everything starts to shift. Walks become smoother...triggers feel less explosive...and your dog starts to feel more in control of themselves and their environment.
Have any go-to tips or wins that helped your dog manage overstimulation?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Overstimulated Dog On Walks
Walks can be sensory overload — smells, sounds, movement, other dogs, people — and for some dogs, it’s simply too much. Making them impulsive, hyperactive and unpredictable.
Before the walk start with structure and calming activities like scatter feeding in the garden or some leash drills before the walk. On the walk, keep things short and structured. Use food for focus, avoid overwhelming environments and situations, and don’t be afraid to turn back.
Signs include: pulling, barking, frantic sniffing, jumping, lunging, ignoring food, struggling to respond to cues and more. Overstimulation often looks like excitement or frustration but builds quickly and doesn’t come down easily.
Hypervigilance is often a sign that your dog doesn’t feel safe or is anticipating something. It can stem from stress, anxiety, or previous negative experiences. Helping your dog feel secure, decompress regularly, and walking in quieter areas can really help.
Related Reading
- How to Tire Out a Dog Without Walking: My 5 Favourite Stress-Free Solutions
- Why Every Dog Owner Needs a Dog Training Journal
- How to Calm a Hyperactive Dog: 5 Effective Strategies to Create Calm and Control
- Say Goodbye to Stressful Walks: The Benefits of Structured Dog Walks for Challenging Dogs
- Do Dogs Need Days Off From Walking? Why Rest Days Matter
- Training Your Dog To Ignore Other Dogs: Why It Matters and 4 Methods To Get Started
- From Bark to Bite: All You Need To Know About Trigger Stacking in Dogs
- Is Your Dog a Nightmare To Walk?: 5 Mistakes You May Be Making
- 3 Super Easy Loose Leash Walking Games To Build Engagement
- Frustrated Dog? Signs, Causes & 3 Strategies to Build Their Tolerance
- Breed Specific Outlets - Why Your Dog Needs More Than Just Walks
- Stress and Arousal in Dogs: The Silent Catalyst Behind Behavioural Issues
