On Helping Your Canine Overcome Boredom

Dogs are easily entertained, but they are also easily bored if left alone without a source of stimulation. Unfortunately, their boredom often prompts them to dig up treasured gardens, rip up clothes, and destroy furniture. Realize that your canine is not doing these things because he is angry with you. He’s doing them because he’s bored. In fact, boredom is the catalyst behind many common canine behavioral problems.

The solution is to take steps to minimize the likelihood your dog will become bored in your absence. Fortunately, doing so is simple. This article will provide several tips you can implement immediately to dispel your pooch’s boredom and enjoy his companionship.

Provide Plenty Of Toys

Dog toys provide your pooch with a source of entertainment when he is alone. Some are designed for chewing. Others, like rope toys and balls, can be carried and tossed. Still others, like kongs, are chewer friendly and dispense small treats.

When choosing toys for your pooch, make sure they’re large enough to prevent them from being swallowed. They may become caught in his throat or cause gastrointestinal issues. Also, if he’s an avid chewer, avoid rope toys. They will eventually fray and the strands can easily be ingested.

Give Him An Outlet For Daily Exercise

Boredom combined with excess energy is a recipe for destruction. Many canines are kept indoors all day without an outlet through which to burn their pent-up energy. Without toys or another source of stimulation, your pooch may direct this energy at your furniture.

The easiest way to resolve this issue is to make sure your dog receives ample exercise each day. If possible, take him for a walk in the early morning before you leave for the office. Take him for another walk when you arrive back home. The activity will help him expend his energy and keep his boredom at bay.

Make Weekly Trips To A Dog Park

Find a local facility that welcomes other dogs and their owners. Your pooch will have an opportunity to socialize with others while roaming freely off-leash throughout the yard. Before long, he’ll make friends with other canines and look forward to seeing them each week. Not only does this provide him with an additional outlet for physical activity, but the anticipation of visiting the dog park will help minimize his midweek boredom.

Enroll Him Into Professional Training Classes

Training classes are a valuable experience for your canine. They help him learn what you expect of him, and how he should behave under your leadership. Experts also suggest that professional obedience classes are an essential ingredient for establishing your authority and cultivating your canine’s respect.

Some classes focus on socialization methods while others are designed to teach advanced commands and tricks. Some concentrate on agility training while others address canine therapy. There are even classes that train dogs in search and rescue techniques. Each type of training engages your pooch’s mind and body, and thus reduces his boredom.

Invest In One-On-One Time

Your canine craves your attention. Ten or fifteen minutes spent playing with him each day may be enough to keep him from getting bored. You can also leverage this time by organizing short training sessions to teach him new commands and reinforce those he already knows. Like professional obedience classes, these short sessions are mentally and physically engaging for your canine. They offer the added benefit of giving him a chance to interact with you on a private, uninterrupted basis. This type of stimulation plays a major role in keeping him from becoming bored throughout the day.

There are many things you can do to keep your dog’s mind and body occupied. They just require a little time and effort. The suggestions above will not only bust his boredom, but will also improve the friendship you share together.

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Category: Pets
Keywords: canine boredom, dog boredom, bored dogs, how to help your dog not be bored

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