First Coast Pet

Posts Tagged ‘dog boredom’

Boredom is probably the primary cause of dog shenanigans, as anyone who has left their pet at home to return to a completely ravaged house with household refuse spread about from one end of the place to other and a chewed up rug can tesitify to. Or that 2 foot deep hole under the fence, or the shredded curtains, or any number of instances of disastrous and seemingly vandalistic chaos and destruction!

The thing is, your dog is totally bored and getting fun anyway he can. Probably a bit miffed at being left at home again too. Thats why he has been barking all day and the neighbours look daggers at you when you drive home from work. The thing about most dogs is that they simply dont have enough mental stimulus when they are home alone, however the most straightforward thing to do is to appeal to his most active need apart from the need for human companionship ~ of course I am referring to food!

There are very few dogs who are not obsessed with food, the eating of it, the finding it and the playing with it. Here are a few ideas that will keep your dog mentally occupied during the day.

Another neat idea is freezing various kinds of foods. Get a hollow dog toy, maybe a ball or a Kong, fill it with your dog’s favourite edible obsession, throw something smelly in there like kabana and put it in the freezer over night. The expression on his face when you give it to him is kinda worth it too, once he has had a good look at it. He knows its food, but he can’t quite get to it; as it gradually defrosts, more and more tid bits become available. Trust me, he wont go that distant from it and will be chewing at it all day.

If your pet drinks milk, try freezing a tetra pack and putting it in his bowl. This also works well with soup.

Try concealing a few treats around the yard under containers, in flower beds and so on.

Ensure he has some things to chew on other than the tyres of your Harley. Pig ears are pretty good.

Teach your dog! There are plenty of on line training courses available, covering various tried and tested techniques. Come up with one that suits you and your dog and start a regime. It will discipline your dog, keep him mentally alert and controllable.

Give him some room to run from time to time. Dogs love exercise with their owners, you cant just leave them confined in a yard with a bunch of toys for weeks at a time. Try to walk him everyday, and take him to an off leash park or an area where he can run his legs off. The more exercise and freedom a dog gets, the more content he will be. There are some dogs that are really working dogs, and they absolutely need to be, well, worked. If you are the couch potato type, you should really look at a breed that is content to do nothing all day and has a low energy level.

Having some doggy company can help too, but still all the above principals apply, unless you want to have two paranoid destructive barking messengers of chaos and anarchy on your hands instead of just one. Give them things to play with, hide food treats, give them things to eat which are hard to get at; have a look at some dog training courses and give them plenty of excercise and freedom and your dog will be happy and well adjusted.

Ever get home only to find your dog had destroyed some of your prized possessions, maybe chewed up a favorite item of clothing?  This may well be a scenario that you have faced or wish to avoid in the future.  One possible reason for this kind of behavior is separation anxiety, especially when a dog has been left alone for a long period.  However, it may be that the cause is simply that your dog is suffering from boredom.

Dogs need company and stimulation just as we humans do.  Almost any dog will get bored if left alone for a long time.  If you don’t provide stimulation for your dog, he will find his own activities and these could involve chewing up your possession, digging up your garden, barking or whining constantly. 

Dogs should never be left alone for longer than four hours at most.  If because of your life circumstances or job, you can’t avoid leaving your dog alone for long periods, here are some tips:

•    Why not hire someone to walk your dog.  Maybe you can get a friend or neighbour to walk your dog. If not, you could hire professional dog-walker.  Walks are a great activity for dogs. They stimulate him with all the fascinating sights and smells.  Dogs love walks and it’s great exercise also!

•    Being an only puppy or dog, like being an only child, can sometimes be lonely.  It may be worth thinking about having another dog as a companion.

•    If your dog likes to dig, you could give him a specific place in your garden. It gives him something to do to relieve his boredom.  You could create a digging pit where he can dig as much as he wants without destroying your flowerbeds.  To being with it is important to make him want to use the pit by building up a positive association with it. You can tempt him into it with treats and have some treats in the pit for him to find.

•    You should have a variety of toys and chews for your dog and rotate them to keep up his interest. Dispensing toys that contain treats are particularly useful since they have a high fascination for a dog. Also, keep your possessions out of the dog’s reach if you don’t want them chewed upI.

•    Hiding treats around the house is one way that you can stimulate your dog’s interest.  Make sure that you hide the treats in easily accessible places, but that provide some challenge for them.  In old socks, under an upside down bowl – these are examples of hiding places.

Hopefully you will find the tips given useful in dealing with boredom in dogs.  Obviously when you are with your dog, make sure that you take him out for regular walks and play games with him.  It is essential that you puppy dog is given the correct training.

Read more about dog separation anxiety and about emotions in dogs.

Are you are having problems with your puppy chewing your furniture and possessions. You may have now gathered that your little puppy can create a huge amount of damage, from picking at your carpet and scratching doors and floors, to chewing your brand new pair of very expensive shoes. As with any negative behavior, there is always a reason for chewing.

It is important to understand that it is natural and healthy for a puppy to chew. It is only when the chewing becomes destructive that it should be stopped. In this article the main reasons for chewing will be outlined together with details on how to stop this.

There are various reasons why your puppy is chewing your house to bits. The ones covered below include teething, boredom and separation anxiety.

Teething
At about 3-4 weeks your puppy’s teeth start to emerge. By 16 weeks they will start to fall out when the first permanent teeth start to come through. When their gums are sore, they chew to ease them.

Boredom
Young puppies are particularly prone to becoming bored. You need to provide them with stimulating activities and exercise. Left alone for a long time, your puppy may rapidly become bored and will turn to destructive behavior like chewing.

Separation Anxiety
Your puppy may start chewing in order to alleviate his stress and separation anxiety especially if he is left alone too long.

Once you know what the reasons for your puppy’s destructive chewing, it will help you to take appropriate action. Here are some tips to help you stop inappropriate chewing.

• Firstly, give your puppy a few specific toys. It is important that they are different in texture, taste and shape and are sturdy so your puppy does not become bored too quickly.
• By using these toys and playing regularly with your puppy, they will begin to have pleasant with them and are more likely to play with them when left alone.
• Put any items of value out of reach. You can also discourage your puppy from chewing your furniture and other objects by spraying something like Listerine or other anti-chew deterrent. The taste is not pleasant for the puppy and will prevent him from chewing.
• In the beginning it is important not to leave your puppy alone for extended periods of time. Begin with a short 10 minute period and gradually build up to longer absences.
• If you are away for a period of time or cannot watch your puppy, you could confine them either in a pen or crate.
• It is important to praise your puppy when you see him chewing appropriate items. This establishes the desired behavior through positive reinforcement. On the other hand if you see your puppy chew on something he shouldn’t, say something like “no” or “stop” in a stern voice. Consistently doing this will give a negative association.

Now that you appreciate the causes for your puppy’s chewing, you should be able to take appropriate action. It is very important to reward correct behavior and to consistently teach your puppy what he is allowed to chew and what he is not allowed to chew.

Check out these links to read more about stopping your dog chewing, dog separation anxiety and how to deal with boredom in your dog.