How to keep a high energy dog calm after surgery
Veterinarians can prescribe calming medications for the entire two-week recovery period to stop dogs from jumping on furniture and getting crazy zoomies. Because being cooped up often leads to stress and indoor accidents, you must replace backyard running with mental stimulation. Hiding half of your dog's daily food in a snuffle mat can completely exhaust them after just twenty minutes of sniffing.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from November 2026.
- This comes up 27.2× more often in r/puppy101 than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Giving vet-prescribed calming medication or sedatives (e.g., trazodone, gabapentin)Did this help you?
- 2Providing low-exertion mental stimulation like snuffle mats, puzzle feeders, and frozen KongsDid this help you?
- 3Practicing low-energy training and static commands like sit, down, and stayDid this help you?
- 4Installing pet gates or barriers to restrict access to stairs and furnitureDid this help you?
- 5Hiding treats around the house for scent workDid this help you?
- 6Using a snuffle mat for kibbleDid this help you?
- 7Using a long line in the yard to encourage sniffing over sprintingDid this help you?
- 8Redirecting to a chew toy before the dog gets windedDid this help you?
- 9Taking the dog for rides in a wagon, shopping buggy, or carDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“He’s getting neutered tomorrow and I’m thinking of ways to keep him calm during the two week healing period.”source ↗
“I’m mostly concerned about keeping him from jumping on furniture and getting crazy zoomies around the house”source ↗
“we gave the meds the vet prescribed for the whole two weeks. he needed it in order to stay calm.”source ↗
“snuffle mats saved my life with my border collie. i'd hide half his daily food in one and he'd be passed out after 20 minutes of sniffing.”source ↗
“I think its for sure stress related as he has to limit his activity due to his heart problems.”source ↗
“Theres been times where even after a short play session he starts coughing and hacking :(”source ↗
“I think being cooped up is stressing him out and hes been peeing in the house more.”source ↗
“Ive tried those puzzle toys to keep him mentally stimulated but he doesnt find them interesting. He much prefers to run in the backyard.”source ↗