Why Is My Andalusian Rat Hunting Dog So Nervous?

We get a lot of emails every day asking about the nervousness this breed has by sheer genetics. These little guys just can't sit still for a second!

Let's look at where that nervous energy comes from and what we can do to help them be calmer, while staying just as fun.

Is It a Nervous Breed?

No doubt about it — the Andalusian Rat Hunting Dog has a lot of nervous energy, so much that it can run circles around you before you even blink. Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it's true that they have a lot, and I mean a lot, of energy.

Don't worry, it's not your fault — they're simply built that way genetically: very active, restless, curious, and impatient. Some individuals are somewhat high-strung, others very high-strung. Which one do you live with?

How to Keep Our Bodeguero From Being Nervous

It's impossible to get them to lose their nervous energy entirely, since it's part of who they are. But we can help them be much calmer and less agitated.

To do that, we just need to keep a healthy lifestyle with them and give them what they need: freedom. Here are a few tips that will really help them settle down.

4 Daily Walks

Yes, we're talking about four walks a day as a minimum, not a maximum. And at least two of those should last at least an hour, giving them room to run freely and/or play with other dogs.

It's essential that they burn off their excess energy so they can settle down. Pent-up energy that isn't released can build up and lead to behavioral changes (biting, destroying things at home, for example).

Exercise

Our dog needs exercise every day — yes, they're tiny, but they still need it. It's the only way they'll feel fulfilled, and as a result, they'll be calmer once back home.

This doesn't mean running them into the ground — we should never force it (they should set the pace). But we should let them run freely for at least an hour.

We can play fetch with them, let them join us for a light jog, or simply let them have fun playing with other dogs (the best option of all).

A Healthy Diet

You probably think that buying a mid-to-high-priced kibble means you're already feeding your Bodeguero well — let us remind you just how mistaken that is. There's no better diet than a natural one, based on fresh ingredients (known as a BARF diet).

Everyone who tries it with their dog confirms the results: smaller stools, a happier dog, a shinier coat, and a big drop in anxiety. In other words, a much calmer dog.

Causes of Nervousness in an Andalusian Rat Hunting Dog

There are some pretty everyday factors in dogs' real lives that negatively affect their mood and stress levels. The more stress, the more nervousness.

We all know these factors, but either we haven't stopped to think about them or we didn't take them seriously at the time. Let's go over them:

• Leaving our Andalusian Rat Hunting Dog home alone for many hours a day. Not walking them enough / not letting them exercise daily
• Using pre-made food (kibble) even though a natural diet is better and cheaper. Scolding our dog excessively (it causes them stress) / not treating them as part of the family
• Not socializing them, not letting them play with other dogs daily. Yelling at them or getting angry with them instead of using positive reinforcement (the method most recommended by experts)
• Not taking care of their health (if they're in pain, they'll get even more anxious)

So now that we know all the reasons, it's our responsibility to help them feel fulfilled every day and put these good practices into action.