How to Recognize Doggy Boredom
Dogs are generally balls of energy, constantly searching for the next thing to gnaw on, scarf down, or paw at. But do our dogs ever get bored? The answer is yes! Whether you’re gone at work for extended periods of time or can’t give your dog your complete attention when you’re home, your dog definitely gets bored every so often. Read on to learn how to recognize the signs of boredom in your dog and what you can do to help.
Why Dogs Get Bored
Like us, dogs need some form of mental stimulation to prevent boredom and make sure that they’re staying mentally sharp. This includes exposure to new places, things, and experiences; frequently having the opportunity to learn new things and solve problems; and being able to investigate and interact with objects and the surrounding environment. Without these activities, your dog will likely become bored.
How to Recognize Boredom
Many times, when dogs have nothing else to do, their chosen form of relieving their boredom is to make a mess in your home. If there’s a big mess in your home every time you return home from work or errands, it’s likely because your dog got bored and needs more stimulation. After all, bored dogs just want something to do. Other signs of a bored dog include antsy or restless behavior, pawing for attention, barking, jumping, digging up trash, destructive behavior in your home, and digging up the backyard. Any of these behaviors indicate that your dog is begging for attention and some sort of stimulation.
How to Help a Bored Dog: Exercise
Exercise is an important aspect of your dog’s daily routine. Bored dogs likely haven’t been able to expend their energy elsewhere, meaning they need physical activity to poop themselves out for the rest of the day. Dogs wake up with plenty of energy, and without the opportunity to run, jump, and play, they’ll get bored, restless, and will likely engage in some form of destructive behavior. Most dogs need about a 45-minute walk or run each morning.
Mealtime Can Be Fun
Turning mealtime into a game or opportunity for some mental stimulation will keep your dog sharp and entertained. A slow feeder dish is a great way to challenge your dog to work for their food and eat at a slower pace than normal. This will make them feel like they’re being rewarded for their hard work and will also prevent bloat, stomachaches, and nausea from eating too quickly. You can also put peanut butter or treats into a Kong to challenge your dog to get to the food. Your dog will be entertained for hours!
New Toys
The same old toys can get boring after playing with them over and over again, especially if your dog spends some time each day alone with only their toys to play with. Try hiding some of their older toys and bringing in new ones for them to test out. After a few weeks, bring the older toys back into rotation and hide the newer ones. This will make toys feel novel and exciting to your dog again and will prevent them from becoming bored of the same toys.
It’s perfectly normal for our dogs to become bored, but if we can prevent it, we will! Use this guide to understand your dog’s signs of boredom and what you can do to help!