5 Signs Your Dog Is Bored

Life can't be one long dog park visit, but does your dog understand that? Probably not. The reality is that many dogs stay at home while their people are at work during the day. Rather than whine around the house complaining there's nothing to do, your home-lone dog may be stirring up trouble.

Here are five typical signs your dog is bored, as well as what to do about it.

1. Barking

Several things can cause barking, but boredom is a common culprit. Your pup may bark at the world outside his window, whether it's at the mailman or a lizard; a dog left in a yard may bark at the neighbours; some dogs will howl. In any case, it's not a good recipe for neighbourly relations!

2. General Mischief

Coming home to your dog's excretion in every corner? Are your stuff scattered throughout the living room? Are your furniture changing positions? A bored dog can create his own fun by turning your house into his own private playground.

3. Destructive Chewing

Dogs are built for chewing, and a bored dog is happy to put his teeth on whatever's in reach, so coming home to a tattered rug, destroyed shoes or even a hole in the wall isn't that unusual. To your dog, chewing is fun, and he will not be able to differentiate the items that are meant for him and what are not. This can happen at any age, but prime times are when your puppy is losing his puppy teeth at about 16 weeks, and again when his back molars come in at about seven months.

4. Escaping

If your dog is too bored at home, he might try to escape. A jailbreak can begin innocently enough with your dog following his nose or chasing something he sees, leading him to sneak off when the door is open. If he has experienced this grand escape/adventure, it might become a repeat escape.

5. Hyper Greetings

It is normal that your dog is happy to see you when you get home, but are his greetings over the top? Does he jump up, zoom around the place, ignore you when you cue him to sit or settle or generally act like a crazy dog? If he's been bored all day, having his favourite person come home could cause all that pent-up energy to explode.

How to Keep Your Dog Happy and Engaged

Dogs are made to move. So it is good to keep them well-exercised and tired. A well-exercised dog is a happy dog. Always remember that a tired dog is a happy one, so rather than wondering if your dog is bored, keep him/her exercised and busy with toys! You can start by giving your dog plenty of exercise each day. Taking him for a walk is good mental stimulation. But if your dog is senior in age, it's not near enough cardio exercise to get him tired. Play games of fetch, get him chasing a toy rope or arrange for puppy playdates. A good playtime with a well-attached canine friend can tire your dog out good and quick.

Put all but four or five of your dog's toys away, swapping them out each day for a new selection. This will keep them fresh for your dog. Ideal toys are interactive, such as ones you stuff with food your dog has to puzzle out. Perhaps skip the dog dish and feed your dog out of interactive toys altogether. A dog that is chasing a ball that dispenses kibble will be less interested in chewing your shoes or barking for no reason.

If your dog is chewing things he shouldn't while you're gone, he has too much freedom. Limit his area and not allow him the entire house. Just be sure he gets plenty of exercise when you bring him outside.

If you don't mind spending a little, you consider sending him to a doggie daycare or hiring a dog walker/dog-sitter to play with him. And don't forget reward-based training when you have time. A well-trained dog is a joy to have in your home. Every minute can't always be exciting for your dog, but making a plan to address home-lone time can help keep your dog's boredom at bay, assuage your guilt, and keep your house in one piece! :)

Tags: dog, dog behaviour, dog psychology