Tips to Cure Your Dog’s Boredom

Although dogs are generally quite good at entertaining themselves, that doesn’t mean they don’t get bored once in a while. If you’re not sure if your dog is bored or you know he’s bored but you don’t know what to do, read on!

How do I know if my dog ​​is bored?

Dogs don’t often hide the fact that they are bored – they actually try to make their feelings very clear. Here are some of the telltale signs of dog boredom:

• Destructive behavior: Bored dogs will chew, dig or scratch anything they can get at, whether it’s your furniture, doors, walls or yard.

• Hyperactivity: Dogs that have been bored while you’re away will often greet you with overflowing enthusiasm, jumping on you and barking or whining frantically.

• Extreme self-soothing behaviors: Bored dogs may also engage in extreme self-soothing behaviors, such as licking their paws or other raw body parts.

How do I cure my dog’s boredom?

Luckily, it’s not hard to add a little excitement to your dog’s life. If you notice your dog displaying any of the telltale signs of boredom, try incorporating some of these ideas into your daily routine. Not only will these cure your dog’s boredom, but they will also provide a great opportunity to strengthen the bond between you and your dog.

Idea 1: Make meals more engaging

A simple and fun way to enliven your dog’s day is to turn mealtime into playtime. Replacing their traditional bowls with puzzle feeders will keep them mentally and physically engaged as they figure out how to get to their food.

There are several different models of puzzle loaders available, such as:

• Brick puzzles, like this one by outdoor dog
• Ball puzzles, like this one by Our pets
• Snuff mat, like this one by AWOOOF
• Interactive puzzles, like this one from LOOBANI

There are so many options on the market that you can always have a selection of puzzle feeders handy and mix and match to keep your pup on their toes.

Idea 2: Give them “company” while you’re away

If you’re worried about your dog getting bored when left home alone, fear not, there are devices specifically designed to keep your dog company.

• DOGTV: Before you go, tune into DOGTV, a unique streaming service designed specifically for dogs. Their programming is displayed with adjusted coloring and at a higher frame rate to better suit dogs. Programming is also divided into three segments, programmed according to the average canine daily cycle.

• Animal cameras: With the PetCube Cocks 2, you can interact with your dog via your phone while you are away. It offers two-way communication, so you can talk to your dog and hear if he responds, also throw treats up to 6 feet in the air for your pet to grab. Interested? Check out our full list of the best pet cameras.

Idea 3: Keep Their Minds Busy

Another way to combat dog boredom is to provide them with toys and activities that will occupy their minds throughout the day. If your dog needs to spend time alone during the day, a toy kong is a simple but effective way to entertain them. Just fill it with a thin layer of his favorite Freshpet Roll or a handful of bagged recipe and your dog can spend hours fishing for the snack. During the summer months, you can also freeze the Kong to make a nice refreshing treat.

Idea 4: Teach them new tricks

Spending a little time each day working on new tricks will keep your dog’s mind engaged and channel their energy into positive behavior. This can be especially useful if your dog has to spend time alone during the day, as he can use it as downtime after spending his energy with you. If your pup is food-motivated, we recommend using their favorite Freshpet treat as a high-value reward during training.

Idea 5: Try a dog sitter or dog walker

If your dog always seems bored, especially when you’re away from home, it might be a good idea to find out about dog daycare or dog walking services in your area. That way they’ll have company to entertain them when you’re not around.

Do you have any other tips for curing your dog’s boredom? Share them in the comments so other pet owners can try them out!