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Are you worried about how to entertain a bored dog during your 8-hour workday? We understand the importance of keeping your furry friend happy and mentally stimulated, even when you’re not at home. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore practical strategies and engaging activities to prevent boredom and ensure your dog remains entertained throughout your work hours. Discover how to keep your dog’s tail wagging with excitement while you’re away.
Does My Dog Get Bored When I’m at Work?
When left alone for extended periods, dogs can experience boredom. It’s important to recognise the signs, such as destructive behaviour, excessive barking, or lethargy. By understanding your dog’s boredom cues, you can take steps to provide appropriate stimulation and prevent boredom during their alone time. Monitoring cameras, such as Furbo, can be valuable tools for understanding and addressing your dog’s emotional well-being while you’re away.
What Does My Dog Do While I’m at Work?
When left alone, dogs engage in various behaviours to pass the time. Understanding these behaviours can help you choose the right activities and toys to entertain a bored dog:
- Rest and Sleep: Dogs spend a significant portion of the day sleeping or resting.
- Chewing: Without proper stimulation, dogs may resort to chewing on furniture or household items.
- Observing the Environment: Dogs enjoy watching their surroundings, looking out windows, and listening to sounds.
- Self-Play: Some dogs may entertain themselves with toys or engage in solitary activities.
How to Entertain a Bored Dog When Left Alone?
Keep Your Dog As Calm As Possible
Leaving your dog alone for 8 hours every day can cause anxiety, leading to destructive behaviour like chewing and destroying household items. It’s important to find ways to keep your dog as calm as possible during these alone times.
One effective method is using essential oils known for their calming properties, such as peppermint, hemp or lavender. Applying a few drops of these oils to your dog’s bed can create a soothing environment and promote relaxation. This simple trick can help alleviate your dog’s anxiety and keep them calm during their alone time.
To prevent boredom and keep your dog entertained, try these strategies:
Let Your Dog Chew
Providing appropriate chew toys is an effective way to entertain a bored dog and redirect their chewing behavior.
Chewing is a normal part of a dog’s activities. Without something to chew on, the dog may choose whatever it finds at home, beginning with your shoes or your furniture. Furthermore, chewing toys are important as well in the maintenance of the good dental hygiene of the dog, as well as to keep your dog busy.
WHIMZEES can offer some good chew time. No artificial colours or flavours, GMO-free, gluten-free, grain-free – the list goes on, so how can you not try these out?
Doggy Daycare
Doggy daycare facilities provide a reliable and caring environment for your furry friend while you’re away. If you’re unsure about leaving your dog, many daycares offer tester days to ease your concerns. They have spacious indoor and outdoor areas, professional trainers, and stimulating activities to keep your dog entertained and happy. With doggy daycare, you can trust that your dog will receive proper care, companionship, and stimulation in a safe environment.
Walk before work
Before you go out take your dog on a walk to tire them out. A tired out dog is far less likely to be destructive. Consider hiring a professional dog walker if your dog is to be left on their own for a long period of time.
Switch On The Television or radio
Specially curated music and sound designed for dogs can help create a soothing atmosphere that eases loneliness and promotes relaxation. With smart home devices like Alexa, you can effortlessly control the audio environment and play curated playlists to calm and comfort your dog. Additionally, Doggy TV offers engaging visual stimulation through dog-friendly television programming, featuring nature, animals, and playful activities. Combining these auditory and visual elements can keep your dog entertained and reduce boredom during their alone time.
Choose Some Toys For Your Dog
Dogs need some stimulation, and toys are a great way to keeping them stimulated and entertained.
Kongs: The KONG Toy, available in various sizes, is renowned as the original stimulating rubber toy for dogs. Its durable and non-toxic natural rubber construction provides mental stimulation and satisfies the natural instinct to chew.
Interactive Food Maze Feeder – Interactive puzzles, food trays or mazes engage dogs by making them work for their food. These cleverly designed feeders slow down dogs’ eating pace, preventing them from guzzling their food all at once.
Lickimats: Lickimats are a fantastic addition to enrichment activities. These textured mats are designed to hold soft foods like peanut butter or yogurt. The act of licking stimulates your dog’s senses and provides a calming and engaging experience.
Dog Puzzles and Interactive Toys- Brands like Trixie offer a wide range of dog puzzles and interactive toys designed to combat boredom. These puzzles often require dogs to employ basic problem-solving skills to access rewards, such as food treats. Teach your dog to “wait” and then encourage them to “go find it!” as they successfully navigate the puzzle. Remember to provide positive social interaction and lots of praise.
DIY Enrichment Games: Get creative and make your own enrichment games using everyday household items. From hiding treats in a cardboard box with flaps to creating a DIY snuffle mat with fabric strips, DIY enrichment games provide mental stimulation and engage your dog’s problem-solving skills. Explore online resources for fun and easy DIY game ideas to keep your furry friend entertained and mentally sharp.
Even budget-friendly stores like Home Bargains and Pound-Stretchers now offer their own branded interactive toys, expanding the options available for interactive play and mental stimulation.
Share Your Top Tips
By implementing these strategies and activities, you can keep your dog entertained and mentally stimulated during your work hours. Remember to tailor the activities to suit your dog’s preferences and gradually introduce new experiences. A well-stimulated and content dog is a happy dog, even when you’re away at work.
