Do you often come home find that your dog has damaged yet another piece of furniture or clothing? Or has he made another mess on your good Oriental rug?
Your dog is likely not intentionally misbehaving, but rather that he may just be bored. Just as your work day goes by quicker when you are very busy, your dog accelerates the passage of time by chewing up the furniture or your leather shoes.
Even if your dog does not exhibit destructive behavior, if he is left alone for long amounts of time, he could still suffer from dog boredom. Signs of dog boredom include listlessness, weight gain, and lack of interest in most things.
Aside from the visible symptoms, dog boredom can have negative long-term effects on your dog’s health as well, including mental problems and early death.
But you can easily prevent dog boredom by taking some simple steps. Here are three tips for beating dog boredom
1. Hire a Dog Walker
Your dog enjoys walks for much more than getting a chance to relieve himself. The sights, sounds, and scents encountered on a stroll around the neighborhood stimulate your dog’s brain and keeps his sensory functions in shape. The exercise is also good for him as well as for you!
If the dog is alone for most of the day, consider hiring a dog walker. Most communities have licensed walking services that, for $5 to $15 per day, will take your dog out at a time that you choose for a 15-30 minute walk. You can also hire a trusted neighbor or neighbor’s child who is home for all or part of the day, which may be prove to be a cheaper option.
2. Adopt a second dog
Being an only pup can get lonely when humans aren’t around during daylight hours. Adopting a second dog can not only provide companionship for your four-legged friend, but also helps to provide a loving home for a second dog.
We recommend that you begin your search at an animal rescue group such as Affenpinscher Rescue (http://www.affenrescue.org) that provide shelter and seek permanent homes for animals that have been abandoned or raised in puppy mills.
3. Create “Projects”
Create “projects” for your pup to complete during the day. This will keep his mind occupied, and also provide him with a yummy treat upon completion.
Give your dog the task of finding treats that you have hidden around the house. Hide treats in places that are easily accessible to your dog but places that will provide a bit of a challenge. You can hide treats under an upside-down dog food bowl, under a frisbee, or in an old sweat sock. Having activities to perform during the day will keep your best friend alert during his waking hours while you’re away.
4. Buy boredom-beating Toys
If you don’t have any sweat socks that can afford to have a hole or two chewed into them, you can buy inexpensive dog toys that will keep your dog busy for hours.
One of our Affenpinscher’s favorite toys is his kong toy (pictured, left). Kong toys are bulbous hard rubber objects with hollow interiors that hold a variety of yummy items such as peanut butter, liver paste, or small treats.
Dental kong toys (pictured, right) work in the same manner as regular kongs, but with the added benefit of cleaning your dog’s teeth as he chews on it. Our Figgy particularly enjoys this toy and has spent hours gnawing it and rolling it around the floor to get the goodies.
Help keep your dog happy, healthy,and out of trouble for destructive behavior by putting these dog boredom tips to use!
Do you have any dog boredom beaters that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear them! Post a comment below.