Dog Boredom Busters

Dogs like to be kept busy and their routine is important when it comes to stopping them from getting too bored. We are creatures of habit and as we move our routines around work and other commitments, things tend to fall into a timeslot. You’ll eat breakfast at the same time each day just like you feed your dog around the same time. You might go on a short morning walk to give them a chance to go to the toilet followed by a long period alone. By the time you get home, they’re bursting for the toilet and want to get out and really stretch their legs. This routine is one many pup parents will recognise or at least do something similar to. Once your pup knows it, they tend to cope well with routine but with sudden changes or with long hours of being left, they may grow bored.

If they have been waiting all day to get out for a walk, then when you come home it might be raining too hard, you need to have a plan in place. Just shrugging off a walk and expecting your pup to settle for the evening might not work and you may even come across some behaviours you might not be expecting.

If your dog is feeling bored and doesn’t know what to do with themselves, you’re more than likely going to notice some behaviour changes. Our canine companions will find the most creative ways to entertain themselves when they haven’t got enough to do and some can be a lot more damaging than others. Preventing them from becoming bored in the first place is always the best course of action however we all get bored from time to time so here are some signs to look out for:

●      Excessive sleeping

●      Begging and searching for food

●      Restlessness or pacing

●      Repetitive behaviours like overgrooming

●      Increased vocalisation

●      Toileting in the house

●      Falling out with other pets

●      Attention seeking behaviours

●      Destructive behaviours

Some dogs will simply follow you around and try to get your attention when they get bored. They might bark more at environmental noises or spend the time they have nothing to do grooming themselves. Grooming is a normal behaviour but when done to an excess it can cause bald patches and sores on their skin. A bored dog isn’t just a nuisance but can cause harm to themselves when they don’t know what to do to stay occupied.

Attention seeking and boredom behaviours can ultimately result in your home dealing with the brunt of those frustrated feelings. When our canine companions become frustrated over having nothing to do, they can take this out on their surroundings. You might find them urinating against your couch or chewing on your skirting boards, anything to stave off their boredom. Dogs need mental stimulation to be happy and when they don’t get enough of this they resort to behaviours that are often unwanted by their humans.

If you think your pup is showing any signs of feeling bored or if you have to change their routine and leave them longer than usual or miss a few walks, it might be time to break out the boredom busters. There isn’t just one way to entertain your pooch when they might not be getting all the attention they want and deserve. Different dogs gravitate towards different activities and it’s nice to have several ideas to mix it up a little and keep them as mentally stimulated as you can. Next time you have to hold off on a walk or you don’t have time to give your pup extra cuddles throughout the work day you can look to some of these boredom breaking methods.

One of the best ways to keep your pooch occupied is with dog boredom toys. Toys that dogs can play with and interact with without supervision are essential for keeping them busy when you’re out of the house for longer than usual. You might be looking for toys they can play with in the garden or the best toys for your puppy but it depends on the individual what they might enjoy. Some dogs like to play tug while others enjoy a game of fetch. Most canine companions can agree that the one thing that keeps them busy which is food. Enrichment toys that involve food will usually get them working their brains a little harder so when you can’t physically tire them out, you can at least mentally wear them out.

The Lickimat Buddy Original Dog Toy is a great start for pup parents looking for a way to entertain their fur baby. You can either spread delicious wet food or a paste based treat for your dog to pick and nibble away at. It takes much longer to eat from a licky mat than just eating from a bowl so it makes them actively work while munching. If they quickly become experts then you can start to freeze the mat to make it take a little longer. The Rufus & Rosie Rubber Snake Dog Treat Toy is a little more difficult. You fill the body of the snake with treats of their dinner and they have to work out how to extract every last bit. Not only is it a challenge to get food from and the rubber material is safe to freeze to make it even more difficult but there’s a squeaker in the head to make it fun even after they’re done.

For the real big brains of the pup world who are used to working out puzzles, toys like the iQuties Bone Hide Interactive Dog Toy will challenge them. You hide treats in the little spaces and place cups over them so your pooch has to lift each one off individually. These more difficult toys can be great if your pup has figured out the basics and you need to up the ante.

Boredom breakers aren’t only toys but you can also keep your pooch busy with a nice tough chew. While they can gobble down most treats quickly, natural chews are a great way to keep them occupied. Chews like Hollings Pizzles are healthy and natural with no added nasties. They’re similar to rawhide but the process of making them is a lot safer for your pup with fewer chemicals used.

Few dogs can say no to a pizzle and better yet, they’re easy on the stomach. Tough chewers might benefit from a nice hardy treat like the Hollings Maxi Roast Bone. If your pup loves to chew then it’s always good to give them an outlet. In times when you know they might get bored then offering the ability to chew on something to keep them entertained before they go on to find their own chew toy is always the better option. A delicious meaty bone is always going to taste better than your chair legs anyway.

If you’re looking for a long lasting rawhide free chew for your pup then Smartbones Smartsticks Chicken Chewy Wrapped Sticks are a great option. They’re perfectly safe and nutritionally beneficial for your pup to eat. No harsh chemicals are used in making them and they’re safe for pups of all breeds as they come in various sizes and shapes. Whether your pooch prefers a chicken flavoured chew or a peanut butter flavoured chew, you will be able to find something to suit them from Smartbones.

Sometimes you may be stuck inside with your beloved pet and feeling the pinch of boredom with them. What better way to keep you both entertained than by learning something new? Trick training isn’t just a mental workout for them but for you as well. You can practice your timing and rewarding the behaviours you want as you get closer to the finished trick and they can try their hardest to figure out how to get a treat from you. All you need for some trick training are treats. Treats for training should be on the smaller side like Pedigree Tasty Bites Chewy Cubes With Chicken or Wagg Training Treats with Chicken, Beef & Lamb Dog Treats. If you can break them down smaller that’s even better so you can get more repetitions in!

You can train anything you like from a basic sit to a rollover or even getting them to put their nose on your hand as a target training session. Tricks don’t have to be difficult to tire your pup out, it just has to be something new. If your pooch has more tricks than you know what to do with, you can start to add some more complicated elements. These iQuties Training Buzzer Interactive Dog Toy are great for teaching your pup to ring a buzzer to request a treat or when they want to go outside to the toilet. Dogs are smart and with enough practice, they can learn lots of impressive things and keep boredom away for the both of you.

Whether you need to keep your pooch busy or you’re looking to pass time together while it’s raining, you can find all sorts of boredom busters in store and online.