How to Keep Your Dog Happy and Engaged
The goal is to channel your bored dog’s energy into healthier outlets. Ever heard the adage a tired dog is a good dog? Give your dog plenty of exercise each day. Taking him for a walk is good mental stimulation, but unless your dog is very senior, it’s not near enough cardio exercise to get him tired. Play games of fetch, get him chasing a flirt pole toy, or arrange for puppy playdates. An exuberant bout of playtime with a wellmatched 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 is not one that is interested in tearing up your shoes or tipping over the trash bin.
If your dog is chewing things he shouldn’t while you’re gone, he has too much freedom. Crate training him will keep both your belongings and your dog safe and secure, as he could otherwise easily eat something that could hurt him. Just be sure he gets plenty of exercise outside the crate.
You may also want to consider a quality doggie daycare or hiring a credentialed petsitter or dog walker to come a few days during the week. Or, if possible, petition your office to make at least one day a week dogs-welcome. And don’t forget reward-based training classes. 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-alone time can help keep your dog’s boredom at bay, assuage your guilt, and keep your house in one piece!
Teoti Anderson, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP, is a professional dog trainer and author of The Dog Behavior Problem Solver, Ultimate Guide to Dog
Training, Puppy Care and Training, and more. She hosts the Get Pawsitive Results radio show on Pet Life Radio and educates pet parents and other trainers on canine behaviour through popular webinars and workshops.