For some owners, calming a hyper dog can feel like a full-time job, always moving, scanning, pulling, jumping, looking for the next thing to do. Often the problem isn't that the dog is "bad", it's that owner and dog are working from two completely different expectations: the owner wants a relaxed family pet, the dog wants a job. Working breeds, herding breeds and gundogs often carry strong natural instincts to chase, carry, search or move, and if those needs go unmet, frustration builds. A bored, under-stimulated dog tends to find their own outlet: barking at the window, lead-pulling, jumping up, stealing items, chasing movement, an inability to settle indoors. Calmness isn't impossible for these dogs, it just has to be actively taught rather than assumed. One of the most common mistakes with energetic dogs is assuming more exercise, longer walks, more ball-throwing, is the fix. It can help briefly, but for many dogs it simply builds more stamina and more arousal, a tired dog isn't always a calm one. Enrichment looks at the whole picture instead: what a dog needs physically, mentally and emotionally, how they rest, play, use their nose, and whether they have routines that help them switch off. The aim isn't removing a dog's natural drive, it's channelling it properly, scent work, structured play, slow lead walking or settling exercises, depending on the individual dog.