Signs Your Dog is Bored and How You Can Help
There are a few tell tale signs that you can pick up on when looking for boredom in dogs.
Dogs generally become stressed and anxious when they’re bored. Their natural state is being the protector of your home and being part of ‘the pack.’ For this reason, boredom is a common issue in dogs when their owners have a busy schedule and are out of the house a lot.
Barking
Excessive barking is a sign that your dog wants attention. They’re trying to pull the focus back to them from whatever task you’re doing.
Damage to Property
The chewing of table legs or shredding of cushions is your dog’s way of finding toys and making games out of whatever they can find to amuse themselves.
Scratching
If you notice scratch marks on your floors, especially around doors, it’s probably because your dog doesn’t like being left alone while you’re out. They’re sociable animals and if they know company is on the other side of the door, they’ll try any means to get to it.
Hair Shedding
If your dog has started shedding much more fur, it’s probably because they’re getting a little stressed. Dogs can be quite anxious animals. If they don’t have a distraction, then they’ll always be thinking about potential dangers or stressful situations. If you’re out a lot and your dog doesn’t have any toys to amuse them, they might start to get worried that you won’t come back.
Pacing
Pacing is another sign that they’re just trying to pass the time. They aren’t relaxed and are clearly just waiting for you to come home.
What Can I Do to Prevent my Dog From Boredom?
Toys
Make sure the toys you buy are educational and give your dog a puzzle to solve. Toys like congs are an excellent boredom buster as they give your dog something to focus on, can last for hours after you’ve left the house, and have a food reward, keeping your dog interested for a long time.
Siblings
Dogs are pack animals and they want to be with you 24/7. However, if you can’t manage that, the next best thing would be to get them a sibling. Another dog around the house will reduce their boredom as they always have someone to play with. Just make sure they get along prior to moving another dog in with you.
Doggy Day Care
If you can’t quite stretch to another dog in your home, why not try out doggy day care? You can take your dog to play with a whole host of other dogs while you’re out during the day, and they’ll be tired out when you get them home.
Crate Training
Providing excessive stimulation for dogs isn’t always the answer. Yes, it’s great that they aren’t bored, but giving them constant things to do while you’re out can excite them and give them too much energy. If you’re out of the house a lot, this could lead to bad behaviour.
In some circumstances, crate training your dog can benefit them as it means that they’ll naturally sleep while they’re alone and not feel bored. It also gives them more energy to have fun when you’re there.
Depending on the nature of your dog, he/she will likely feel safe and secure in their crate, often going in voluntarily for a quick snooze. Dogs see themselves as the protector of the home, but they’ll feel less pressure and anxiety when they have that tiny space to protect as opposed to the whole house.
Hunter’s Lodge – Doggy Day Care
At Hunter’s Lodge, we have 9.5 acres of secure land for your dog to enjoy, alongside paddling pools, agility courses, and even a heated log cabin, providing your pooch with all the rest and stimulation they need. For the average price of a 2-hour dog walk, your dog can stay with us all day, enjoying comfortable and safe surroundings.
To book your dog into our doggy day care, please call 01604 870330 or book here.