26 Quick & Simple Ways To Relieve Dog Boredom
Is your dog bored? Are you looking for some simple ways to keep your dog busy and out of trouble? Well look no further, I’ve put together a big list of ways to keep your dog entertained.
Now I probably don’t need to tell you this, but having a bored dog can lead to all sorts of issues. Bored dogs tend to develop destructive behaviors such as excessive chewing and barking. Think about it this way — for thousands of years we’ve bred dogs to work all day alongside us, so most of them have developed quite a work ethic.
The problem is most of us don’t have actual jobs for our dogs to do. They don’t have to work for their food, affection or toys; they get it all for free. And while getting stuff for free is great, it leaves many of our dogs with a lot of down time. So what happens when our dogs get bored? They get into trouble. If we don’t keep our dogs mentally simulated or busy they come up with their own ways to pass the time, and you’re probably not going to like their idea of entertainment.
Luckily there are a few simple ways to keep your dog busy, entertained and out of trouble. Here’s 26 quick & easy ways to relieve dog boredom.
Bored Dogs Become Destructive
Beyond giving your dog something fun to do, keeping your dog entertained can help keep them out of trouble throughout the day.
Dogs that are bored have a tendency to get into trouble by looking for ways to entertain themselves. Boredom can lead to excessive chewing, barking, digging, and other destructive behaviors.
Our dogs were bred to work alongside humans, so without proper stimulation they can easily become bored. Instead of having a job to do most of our canine companions are left alone while we work – and then when we get home we hand them a free meal. That’s great for couch potatoes, but many of our dogs are left with a lot of excess energy at the end of the day. They need boredom busters & activities to occupy both their bodies and minds.
Luckily there are a few simple games you can play, toys you can try, treats you can make, and tricks you can teach to quickly relieve your dogs boredom.
Dogs Need Interactive Play & Fun Games
To keep your dog fit both physically and mentally you’ll need to come up with some interactive activities and dog toys to enjoy together. Whether you have a young or old dog, big or small – they need entertainment. From a simple game of fetch, working on obedience, or a trip to the local park; it’s up to you.
A recent study found that dogs that don’t engage in a lot of play exhibit more behavioral issues such as anxiety and aggression.
Dogs are social animals and they really enjoy being with us. Play is good for your dog physically, mentally and emotionally. Your dog gets exercise, they get to work their brain and it helps to build your bond. Everybody benefits from play. – The Power of Play: How Play Opened Up a New World For My Fearful Dog
Keeping Your Dog Busy Leads to Better Behavior
With so many great and simple choices it’s just a matter of finding a few that suit your lifestyle – and making the commitment. From choosing toys that will keep your dog busy, or changing up your walking routine, there’s so many possibilities.
I notice a huge difference in my dogs behavior after a simple obedience training session, it doesn’t take much time and it’s enjoyable for the both of us. An active, mentally challenged dog will make for a thriving, happy, and less destructive companion.
If you think dogs can’t count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them. – Phil Pastoret
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Play Some Nose Games With Your Dog
One of the best ways to relieve dog boredom is by keeping them mentally stimulated, and using nose work games is by far my favorite method. Dogs love it, and it gives them a fun way to use some of their natural abilities to “hunt” and scavenge for food.
Hiding treats around the house or playing a game of hide and seek with your dog is a fun way to add in some extra mental stimulation to their routine. It’s one of the most versatile games you can teach your dog. Start off with a simple game of ‘guess which hand’ to get them started. It can be played anywhere, with toys or treats you already have.
Play Some Tug of War With Your Dog
Tug is a great way to mentally & physically challenge your dog. Short games of tug work wonders for tiring out our canine friends. Minute for minute a nice game of tug is one of the most physically & mentally challenging games you can play. And contrary to myth playing tug of war with your dog will not make him aggressive. If you don’t already have a dog tug toy you can make your own pretty easily with some fleece or old t-shirts.
Tip: Tug is a great interactive game for dogs, but there are a few basic rules to follow to keep it safe and fun.
Change up Your Walking Routine
The daily dog walk can get a little mundane if you’re taking the same route everyday. Switch it up by exploring new neighborhoods or parks and changing up the pace. Allowing your dog to smell their surroundings is a great way to enrich the experience for them. Dogs aren’t just visual creatures – they learn a lot from all those interesting smells. Giving them the opportunity to sniff around adds a lot of great mental stimulation.
Now I’m not suggesting you have to stop every time your dog wants to sniff something, but taking those kinds of relaxed walks (even if it’s just setting aside 5 minutes of sniff time) will make the walk much more meaningful to them since they get to sniff out what’s going on in the neighborhood.
Tip: Does your get dog have good leash manners? If not check out these 10 dog walking tips that make for a better dog walk.
Use Interactive Dog Toys
Using food dispensing toys, such as the Kong Wobbler and Bob-A-Lot Treat Dispenser, are an easy way to give your dog some more mental stimulation and relieve dog boredom at the same time. There’s also a lot of great DIY toys you can make from items around your house like the great dog bottle game. Interactive dog toys are a great way to keep your dog occupied and mentally stimulated.
Going for a hike, playing with a Kong Wobbler, and playing a game of tug are all simple ways to keep our dogs entertained. And contrary to the old myth playing tug will not make your dog aggressive.
Work on Some Simple Obedience Training
Training your dog gives your dog quite a mental workout, and it’s a great way to keep them out of trouble. A few 10 minute training sessions a day working with your dog on new tricks or commands burns a lot of mental energy.
If you’re not sure what sort of training to do with your dog start by teaching your dog a reliable recall & working on some basic impulse control – they’re always a great starting point. After that commands like sit, lay down, shake, stay, and roll over are some other common tricks you can teach.
Give Your Dog a Simple Job
Have them help out with your chores or everyday routines. I’ve taught my dog Laika how to do some chores around the house. She helps me load laundry baskets, she knows how to clean up dog toys, and she’ll carry sticks and logs out to our wood pile. Incorporating your dog into everyday tasks can help relieve boredom. It also helps build their confidence; a dog that feels useful is a happy, confident dog.
Give Your Dog a Not So Simple Job
Find jobs for your dog that fulfill their breed tendencies. Retrievers tend to love fetching and Border Collies usually excel in agility. Find out what your dog absolutely loves doing and make it into a job for them. I personally love lure coursing for dogs – you can even set up a simple coursing track in your own yard. It’s a great way to burn off a lot of mental and physical energy, and if your dog loves to chase they’ll love lure coursing. If your dog likes to pull and you’re handy consider building him his own dog cart.
Arrange a Play Date For Your Dog
Give your dog some meaningful interaction by having a dog play date with your friends or family. If there’s some friendly dogs in your neighborhood even better – no need to make any special arrangements.
Introducing new toys, socializing, and changing up your walking routine are great ways to keep your dog mentally stimulated.
Build a Digging Box For Your Dog
If your dog loves digging build them their own personal digging box in your yard. Bury toys in it and let them find it; some dogs love digging so much this can keep them entertained for hours.
Get Your Dog a Jolly Ball
Any big ball toy can be a lot of fun, and jolly balls just tend to be more durable than a soccer ball (if your dog is a tough chewer make sure you get one without a handle). Some dogs love playing with these all by themselves, but of course you can always make it more interesting by playing with them. I don’t quite understand the allure of these magical items, but Laika goes insane for her red jolly ball.
Work on Clicker Training Your Dog
Clicker training your dog can be used for training new behaviors and rewarding ones you didn’t even ask for. It’s a way to clearly communicate with your dog the exact moment they perform a desired behavior; all the extra mental stimulation makes for a tired doggie. Dogs are always learning from us – just teaching them where to sit while you prepare dinner is mentally stimulating and enforcing good manners.
Practice Some Free Shaping Games
Shaping is building a particular behavior by using a series of small steps to achieve it. Letting your dog make their own choices burns an amazing amount of mental energy and helps your dog develop learning behaviors. Studies have found that by using positive training techniques such as shaping help a dog learn to make better decisions in the future. Check out Dr. Sophia Yin’s excellent video demonstrating free shaping.
Introduce Your Dog to New People and Places
Exposing your dog to new people and places is an important part of puppy socialization. It’s great for older dogs, too. Just like any behaviors a dog that isn’t exposed to new sights, sounds, and places can get a bit rusty. Work on their social skills every once in while with some new dogs and people.
Most dogs love nose work games, playing outdoors, and taking a trip to local beach or lake.
Use a Stuffed Kong to Keep Your Dog Busy
When you leave your dog at home give him a stuffed Kong or another tough interactive toy to keep his mind occupied. One of Laika’s favorite things in the world is a frozen peanut butter filled Kong. When I leave she doesn’t even look up; she’s too busy working on that Kong. I’d recommend a Kong to anyone that’s looking for a simple toy that will keep your dog busy.
Tip: Not sure what to put in your Kong? Check out 39 healthy foods you can stuff in a Kong.
Use a Kiddie Pool or Take a Trip to the Lake
A lot of dogs naturally love water; on a summer day these dogs will love just splashing around and wading in a shallow pool. If you live by a dog friendly beach or lake even better. Many dogs love a good swim – not just Labs. It’s an amazing exercise for dogs with arthritis since it’s low impact.
Hire a Dog Walker
If your dog’s home alone for long periods of time consider hiring a dog walker. If you don’t want to hire someone see if one of your neighbors, relatives or friends would be willing to stop by every once and a while to let your dog out for a nice walk or game of tug.
Make Some Frozen Treats For Your Dog
You can freeze dogs treats in ice or make some ice cubes from broth. Just like a stuffed Kong, frozen dog treats are a great way to occupy your dog when you leave the house or need to do some chores. If you have a full sized Kong it’s pretty amazing how long they can keep a dog occupied.
Give Your Dog Some Extra Attention
Dogs are social creatures, so a nice belly rub, massage, or grooming session is an easy way to create a meaningful interaction with your dog. It’s a great way to bond and keep your dog occupied at the same time.
Alternate Toys to Keep Your Dogs Interest
According to studies dogs get bored with the same old toys. To keep your dog interested in his toys only give him access to a few at a time. My dog Laika only has access to a couple toys at a time – when we swap them out her enthusiasm for her older “new” toys is high. Keep them interesting by playing a simple game of fetch or tug, interaction will always make a toy much more desirable.
If your dog is a tough chewer like mine consider some Kong or West Paw Zogoflex toys – they’re the only toys my dog hasn’t been able to chew up. If it gets dark before you get home from work there’s glow in the dark dog toys available.
Playing fetch is one of the simplest ways to engage with our dogs.
Give Your Dog a Nice View
Dogs like to know what’s happening outside so give them a chance to scope out the yard. A lot of dogs love napping in the warm sunlight in front of windows. Of course if you have cats they might have to compete for the nice sun spot.
Make Your Dog Work for His Food
When it’s time for his meals you can use a treat dispensing toy or simply make him do a few tricks to work for it. If you feed kibble you can also try hiding pieces around the house. Studies have found that dogs prefer earning treats to simply being given extras. It goes back to the fact that dogs have been bred to work alongside us; working is not only something to keep the occupied – it gives them a purpose.
Teach Your Dog to Relax
Not all dogs are naturals at relaxing. The relaxation protocol is a useful technique to teach your dog to sit and stay in a variety of situations. Sometimes a nice simple belly rub is enough to soothe and relax your dog – it’s also a great bonding experience.
Make a Flirt Pole for Energetic & High Drive Dogs
It’s a rod with a lure on the end and many dogs love chasing after them. You can make your own with PVC pipe, bungee cord, and a toy for the lure. Word of caution; flirt pole chasing can be really hard on a dogs joints so keep sessions short and don’t play with dogs under 1 year of age to avoid growth plate injuries.
Make a Simple DIY Puzzle Toy
One simple way to relieve dog boredom is by making a DIY puzzle toy for your dog. If you’ve got a muffin tin and some tennis balls you can make yourself a dog puzzle right at home. Here’s 6 simple DIY dog toys you can make at home.
Give The Something to Chew On
Get some chew Toys, bones, or Bully Sticks. Most dogs love chewing, but be sure to keep an eye out for their safety. If they start to break them into pieces they become a choking hazard. Our personal favorite chew toys are Benebones – they’re durable, tasty & generally less expensive than antlers or bully sticks.
Make Your Own DIY Agility Course
Another fun way to relieve dog boredom is by making your own DIY agility course to. It’s a good way to brush up on some basic obedience and teach them some fun tricks at the same time. Weave poles, a ramp, tunnel, or just a simple jump. You can create your own complete course for roughly $175.
Looking for some more creative ways to keep your dog entertained? Check out our list of 33 simple ways to keep your dog busy indoors.
Give Your Dog Mental & Physical Exercise
To keep your dog mentally and physically challenged give them some fun activities to do. Spending a little bit of extra time making sure your dog gets some meaningful interaction leads to a happy, healthy dog.
Dogs aren’t natural couch potatoes; they’ve been bred to work alongside humans. Relieve dog boredom by giving them something to do. With a little bit of imagination you can come up with all sorts of ways to help keep them entertained and busy.
Guests often laugh when I say “time to do laundry” and my dog readily jumps up and gets excited. There’s nothing wrong with getting your dog involved with your everyday chores; I even make my dog Laika bring me her leash when it’s time to go for a walk.
She eats her meals out of a Kong Wobbler; partly because she scarfs down her food quickly but mostly to keep her mind engaged. She helps me in the garden – she’s excellent at collecting wood for the firepit. Simple little tasks throughout the day really do add up.
What do you do to keep your dog busy and entertained? How do you relieve dog boredom? Any special treats or games?
Looking For More Ways to Keep Your Dog Busy?
Looking for more boredom busters for your dog? Check out our list of 33 Simple Ways to Keep Your Dog Busy Indoors for more ways to keep your dog happy, entertained and out of trouble.
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Great post!!!! I do many of these things to keep the huskies entertained!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
This is a great post! Really helpful for my 13 year old dog, she is sometimes really lazy and she loves the frozen treats!
Thanks for the tips – I will have to send this off to Taj’s mom to alleviate her boredom.
So many great tips! Riley is an older fella, so he doesn’t really get bored – he is happy just laying and taking naps! But I will definitely share this for those who have younger dogs 😀
I love your list! Some fantastic ideas here – Mort’s favorite is “alternate toys” which could very well mean “buy new toys” which is favorite thing in the world. The box at the door (WOOF WOOF WOOF! Excitement!), then new toys come out of it. Best. Day. Ever. 🙂
Thanks, it’s funny whenever we come home with a box Laika pretty much assumes it’s for her. I actually start to feel bad when we get a package at home and it’s not for her lol. It does make for the best day ever when new toys arrive.
Oh Mort makes that mistake too! Just today I got new thread and some wheels of elastic band. I was all “hey, see? Boring stuff not for you” and he wiggled, grabbed the wheel of elastic and took off… and I suddenly realized how similar it looks to a frisbee! He ran around the room treating it like a new disc. Oooops! Luckily he gave it back to me to throw before there was elastic everywhere 🙂
Aww, glad he didn’t make too much of a mess with it lol. I can picture him running around all excited 🙂
Love your idea!!!! Also came up with my own idea. I had an empty tissue box laying around…..then decided to put cookies in it, shook it so she could hear the rattling….. and she understood she needed to find a way to get them out. Thankfully this lasted for 30 minutes. First I was thinking I could teach her to shake and drop it so they’d fall out. I also kicked it to model what she should do. After putting it in her mouth and dropping it, that just didn’t do the job. Next she took in her mouth and pranced around the pool table 12 times …haha in excitement and maybe just thinking about it. Then she decided to drop the tissue box, and what I did not expected, she continued to tear the kleenex box a part in 200 different tiny pieces to make sure she had gotten every crumb. Go figure!!! However I did just praise her… (and will probably do it several times when more boxes become emptied.
Honestly this is a HUGE issue and need tons of ideas. I just made a small blueberry yogurt frozen treat for her (after playing hide and seek w/ her. Idk how this saves my time quite so far… haha….. but you know….. in an hour i have my neighbor’s kids coming over for her tooooo. Maybe now that I have accepted she has a condition I am taking all my time over compensating.
Stuffed Kongs are at the top of our list of things we give out for Veruca and Ava to entertain themselves. But we also play a lot of fetch and have tried a couple of variations on nose work in the house when it is raining outside. Obedience drills are always fun too.
My dog will ignore everything if she’s given a stuffed Kong, it really has some sort of mesmerizing effect on her. Fetch is always fun, and she loves nose work, too.
That is an excellent list. We have definitely used some of those ideas. We had to nix the jolly ball though because they get too wild. 🙂
Lol, Laika goes nuts for the Jolly ball 🙂
That is the most comprehensive list I’ve ever seen. This is one to bookmark!
Wags (and purrs) from Life with Dogs and Cats.
Thanks so much, I keep thinking of more to add as well. Luckily keeping dogs busy has many options.
Great ideas! Clicker training ALWAYS seems to bounce our dogs out of boredom ;). That and of course, the park! Shared 🙂
Great post! I like how you mentioned both play and training options as ways to engage your dog and relieve boredom and strengthen the human canine bond. Either way works and hopefully its all fun. Thanks for the mention of our DIY dog toy.
No problem at all – it’s an excellent example of how with a little creative thinking we can all do a bit more to keep our dogs busy 🙂 That’s the sort of game I love, something anyone can make.
Love everything about this! Bulldogs and Arizona don’t mesh about 9 months of the year and I’m always trying to think of ways to give my dogs what they need without risk of overheating. Thank you for some new ideas! http://www.givethatdogajob.com
Fantastic post! I love all these ideas, but I’ve never frozen treats in broth before so I’d like to try that one. Sharing.
Wonderful post and great ideas. At our house we are always worn out as Mom works us out a lot and we have our sports, so we love down time to nap. Katie is a bit bored now that she is a senior and can’t walk much, doesn’t like to play games, but she just sleeps then.
My Dog is very energetic, I think he’s a Labrabull or a Pitador as some call it. He has a Kong but gets bored with it after a while; because he can’t rip it to shreds. So I like to go to my recycling bin; pick up a cardboard object and throw it around the house, it’s his favourite kind of toy; it’s fun watching him go after every single piece until hes successfully ‘defeated’ it. If there’s a leftover Cream carton; I’ll stick a treat in it and watch hi try and get it out.
But sometimes when he’s bored, I just get down onto all fours and tussle with him. We have a game where if he has a toy in his mouth, he has to get past me and I’ll try to push him back. He finds a way around me but it’s fun pitting my strength against his; He’s ‘very’ powerful, got shoulders like a bull. 🙂
Aww I find myself wrestling around with my dog as well. She loves it when I get down on the floor for some “I’m gonna get you” play. We do the same thing and it is so much fun for her 🙂
What do you do with a puppy when you try to play and all he wants to do is jump and bite?
I’d work on using the redirection method with some toys to make sure the puppy has good bite inhibition before playing any rough type games such as tug of war or wrestling.
Redirection is just another way of saying “do this, not that.” My dog Laika was really bitey when she was young, and the redirection method worked pretty well. Anytime she would get too rough and bite too hard I would grab a toy and encourage her to play with that instead. If she continued to try to go after my skin with those sharp teeth I would just stop playing altogether. It didn’t take her too long to realize biting me made all the fun stop, but biting the toy meant it could keep going.
Here’s some more information on the subject: https://www.puppyleaks.com/training-your-puppy-not-to-bite/
27. Buy another dog to play together! 😉 We were planning this anyway but the day we brought Dusti home to Holli, we could see the change in her behaviors right away, mostly she doesnt dig near the amount she used to. Now theyre too busy playing to need to. 🙂
How can I get my dog involved in helping with daily tasks? I saw the suggestion but HOW to do it?
Do you spend anytime out in the yard or garden? One of the ways my dog loves to help out is to pull weeds for me. I’ll point to a weed & tell her to “pull,” and I also use her digging skills when we’re planting new stuff.
I’ve also had her help out with doing the laundry & putting away her toys by teaching her the “pick up” cue and getting her to drop items into the laundry basket or toy box.
You could also teach your dog the name of some specific items along with the “bring it here” cue. My boyfriend taught her to “bring me my slippers.”
How can I get my dog involved in helping with daily tasks? I saw the suggestion but HOW to do it?
Those are some good ideas. She already helps take slacks and socks off by grabbing and pulling :).
If anyone else has more ideas, I’m all ears.
Thank you.
I taught my dog to grab things starting with pulling a spoon with some peanut butter (make sure it is just peanuts, with no sugar/xylotol added, we use teddy brand) on it our of a jar and then letting her lick off the peanut butter to teach her how to grab things, moving to grabbing and getting a freer out of our hand rather than peanut butter off a spoon, and then worked up to all different items like brushes, bandanas, etc. and she loves the game
Could you give me some advice on my dog please,we,re in a one br and no back yard can’t go to the park all the time,and she’s not just bored she looks depressed aswell and when I play with her it’s not for long , she’s 10 yo,I don’t know how to try and make her happy and content could you please throw some ideas at me ,thanks
My dog is not trained and he is almost 4 and he is starting to get really bored. He doesn’t live in the house so what do I do?
Are you looking for training advice to help get him used to being indoors, or activities that can keep him occupied while he’s outside?
Uh, where does he live? If there’s room build a fenced in run area outside – then no leash is necessary. Our boy loves to chew on empty plastic milk cartons and bat them around. There bouncy path is unpredictable so it is more interesting then just a simple ball. Make sure you watch that he doesn’t chew it to pieces.
give the dog to someone else and get a cat until you can be bothered to train your dog.
………. speaking of windows, we actually had a bay window installed for them to watch outside – it has a shelf padded for them ( are we sick people?) nope! A basket loaded with toys – especially girl dog picks one out to bring to us when we come home. She also likes to jump for the toy at bedtime. She also watches TV at times. Play dogs barking on your PC ……. there are several web sites to go to for this.
Nice read. Thank you for these awesome ideas. I just bought an automatic ball thrower for Ben and he started having lots of fun with his new toy!
That’s awesome. I keep looking at those thinking ‘dude, that would be so sweet,’ yet I still haven’t bought one. So your dog is enjoying it already? Which one did you get? I might have to give one of those a shot.
Thanks for this! This list will become invaluable in the summer months with my pooch!!
What a great list of ideas to prevent boredom in dogs! I do a lot of these already but I’d love to get some agility equipment for the yard or a nosework kit for my Husky. I’d also like to teach her to pull a wagon or cart, but safely, and give her little jobs to help me in the garden.
Love & Biscuits.
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
I loved the “working for his food” part. Indeed, we tend to spoil our dogs and make their life too easy. As a matter of fact, my last dog was adopted off the streets and he knew how difficult it was back when he didn’t have a home. He was very easy to train. My current dog that I’ve adopted from someone else is kind of hard to train..
I enjoyed reading your blog, and I completely agree that dogs should be interactive with their owners.
Wow, what a comprehensive list! I was already doing some of these with great success, but I definitely got a few gems from this article, thanks!
Thank you so much for this list! I will definitely use them in the upcoming summer! Happy and I are already looking forward to those games!
Great list with lots of fun activities both for us and our pups!
I’d also like to recommend dog frisbee – it’s loads of fun and exercise for the both of you.
I have done everything you have suggested to keep my dog happy and excited but he just gets depressed as soon as I stop playing with him and taking him out I buy him treats every day and don’t know what else to do I have had him from 6 months old and he is now 4 year old has anyone anymore suggestions please
Have you tried using stuffed Kongs or food puzzles that he can work on by himself? If I stuff a Kong with treats and peanut butter, and then freeze it overnight it will last Laika a good 30+ minutes. It’s one of the few activities that she’ll work on alone with complete concentration. (If you’re not a fan of using Peanut Butter you can use low sodium broth for frozen Kongs as well)
I just figured out recently that using one of those slow feeder bowls with cut up carrots keeps my border collie entertained for a long time! He can usually get the first carrot pieces out easily but after awhile the bowl gets slippery from all the licking and the carrots are almost impossible to get out! It keeps him entertained for a good amount of time, lol.
My staffy thoroughly enjoys the 5 seconds of use he gets from most toys before he decimates them! Fortunately he has an innate ability to find discarded balls on the beach, so we have a regular supply. 🙂
Cat trees are great for cats to relieve boredom, but not sure many people would be able to fit a dog tree in their homes!!
I have always had lab mixes and they are great fetchers. I like to use one of the manual ball launchers which keeps them running and wears them out! It may just be me but it seems like they behave better if they get exercise everyday.
Thanks for writing this, these are some awesome ideas!
I was thinking of getting a kiddie pool for my dog,
but now the weather hasn’t been as warm as I anticipated.
At least I can always take him for a walk.
Play dates are always fun, especially if you go to one of these pop up dog cafes
i arranged a proper setup for my dog in this way he enjoyed the play area.
my dog always like to walk and jump in the street he played football wiith me
Really amazing post! Sometimes out of boredom dogs tend to chase their own tails, however, by using your fun ideas, one can easily relieve dog’s boredom.
Read this article to know more about why do dogs chase their own tail.
https://www.boredcesar.com/why-do-dogs-chase-their-tails/
Good post! We will be linking to this great content on our site. Keep up the great writing.
Wonderful tips & fun reading. Terrific ideas..thank you….well thought out & well written.
Great Post! I got the love of my life, Jimmy last year and he’s still keeping me busy entertaining him. My parent’s dog (Sassy) is 11 years old and is a couch potato. thanks for the suggestions. I love your blog.
Wow! I had a great time reading through your detailed explanation of bored dogs and tips to avoid that. Great job I must confess.
I’ll also like to add that being a pet owner comes with responsibilities we should be willing to carry out, or ensure that it’s carried out.
Being a pet parent transcends merely providing good shelter and meals for our buddies. we must understand they are emotional being and have a craving to be accepted and regarded.
Way more than getting your dog excited, keeping him happy and active does every pet owner a world of good.
There is such as thing as “separation anxiety” and the happier your dog is, the lesser his chances of having such negative setback.
This also highlights the responsibility of pet parents outside of providing meals and shelter.
Well done and great job with this site!
Hi, another method I’ve been using recently is to play music for my dogs when I leave the house. It’s been proven in an actual study that classical, soft rock and reggae can lower a dog’s stress levels. It also been shown that dogs spend more time lying down when those type of music are played. However, each dog has their own preferences, so it’s good to experiment with all three types to see if any have more of a noticeable effect.
Since these types of music also can also lower anxiety, I believe this would be an effective method to reduce boredom in dogs and relax them.
to relieve dog boredom is to play relaxing music. I just did some research on dog music and it’s been proven that classical music, raeggae,
Loved the info, who doesn’t loves Dogs, a lot of this reminds me of my dog Jake, miss you Jake. 🙂
can I ask what happened to jake if it’s not personal?
Some great new ideas that I had not thought about. With having to work from home for the time being it is a great time to try a few new ideas for some new games. Seems we are going to have some time with the way things are going.
The best thing is to talk with a dog trainer or someone who is knowledgeable in animal behavior training to see, number one, if there is some medical reason why the dog is not interacting appropriately, or they can help come up with some ideas
Great list with lots of fun activities both for us and our pups! especially the last point regarding Physical Exercise…It’s important to keep them active and agile.
Well done and great job with this site!
I love these ideas! It’s been so hard to be creative during these times. I’m going to make a list for me and the kids for things for them and the dog.
I complete agree that giving your dog mental & physical exercise is very important. The dog needs to feel like he or she is working so to speak, otherwise they can become disinterested, depressed or even destructive. Good article for us dog lovers and dog owners!
I love these ideas! I will definitely be printing a list…it will also relieve our kids from boredom while they are stuck at home.
I find that mental and physical stimulation are absolutely necessary or my dog destroys my house.
Wow, you gave great ideas for my dogs and cats. actually i have 7 pet cause
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Thanks for the tips, it will really come in handy 🙂
It’s a good idea to make frozen treats for a dog, I’ll definitely try it!
“Bored Dogs Become Destructive” – that’s SOOOO TRUEEE
Thanks for great tips. I will apply those tips to my shepadoodle.
Great list of suggetions and good inspiration!
My pooch is suffering from boredom, I think. was just wondering if anyone else had any other ideas/tips or ways for keeping him happy so he doesn’t seem so bored. Hate thinking he’s bored.
I would imagine there is also a big difference from age, race etc. however, activity would always be numbers one goal.
I’ve bought some of the dog puzzle games for my crew and I also do dog sports (agility, canine freestyle, lure coursing, trick dog, etc.)
I take my dog with me when I run errands, for example, go through the drive-through at the bank, provided I don’t have to leave him in the car and it’s not too warm or cold. I always make sure to take water with me! I put a cup of water for my dog in the cup holder in my car, and she drinks out of that when she’s thirsty.
I take my dog to visit different parks, recreation areas, etc. Do an internet search for what might be in your area.
I Set up play dates with dogs I know my dog likes and plays well with. https://esacare.com/top-three-dog-training-myths-explained-by-14-renowned-experts/
As of late, the Amazon delivery driver is keeping our dogs interested. I love the video of frozen treats, especially in the summer.
Getting toys for Dogs to play with is the best way to relief them off boredom
Thanks for the tips! Many here i havent tried yet! 🙂
DIY dog toys, lots of outdoor activity, and a good comfy place to rest!
Really enjoyed reading this article! Will surely try them with my pooch.
My dog loves Jolly Balls more then anything in the world…loves destroying them that is. Seriously she’s more excited when I bring out a Jolly Ball than anything else I’ve ever tried to give her. But that seems to be because she wants to tear the thing to pieces, which is what she then proceeds to do…
I suppose the one good thing is that she doesn’t seem to swallow the pieces or anything. She just likes destroying them and leaving scraps all over the place. But at around $20 a Jolly Ball it’s not really the most economical toy…
Thanks, its really good article about dogs, I like it, Thanks
I do have a dog but I can’t give him much time due to my work. But when ever I’m with him I make sure that he does not get bored. And after reading this article, I got to know how to keep my dog busy and out of boredom.
My dog eats some at first, but I think because there is some ice, he does not eat after that
I think his mouth is cold
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The temps change by treat, I definitely needed to give the time and fixing list so individuals could choose if they need to look at the plans.
Great ideas my 10 year old border collie loved those treats!
I LOVE the dog boredom busters! I especially love the one about giving your dog a job. My dog, Henry loves helping. It’s more of a challenge for me to try to find a way for him to help in a way that makes sense and then elevate it as he masters the job. I always have him work for his treats, which he loves. And he has his nightly “digging” sessions. I really need to video it, because it’s hysterical!
I’m sharing these tips with my dog friends. 😊💖🐶
I complete agree that giving your dog mental & physical exercise is very important. The dog needs to feel like he or she is working so to speak, otherwise they can become disinterested, depressed or even destructive. Good article for us dog lovers and dog owners!
Thank you for sharing. These ways are very interesting. I’ll try it for my dog someday.
Those who love dog and it will curiosity for their, This is a great post! Really helpful for my 13 year old dog, she is sometimes really lazy and she loves the frozen treats!
I absolutely agree giving dogs psychological exercise is very important. The dog needs to feel like he or she is working so to speak, otherwise, they can become disinterested, unhappy, or even harsh.
My dog likes balls. Loves damaging them. Seriously she’s more excited when I bring out a ball than anything else I’ve ever tried to give her. But that seems to be because she wants to tear the thing to pieces.
I suppose the one good thing is that she doesn’t seem to swallow the pieces or anything. She just likes destroying them and leaving scraps all over the place.
Nice article for us dog lovers and dog owners!
Haha Arshalan yes!
Dog’s really sometimes get funny! I believe, dog’s also helped people, dog’s lower stress level! Helps our health!
How about my dogs?
Balls are something that my dog enjoys too. Mostly, he enjoys causing people harm. Seriously, bringing out a ball gets him more thrilled than anything else I’ve ever attempted to give him.
But it appears that he is doing it because she wants to rip the thing apart.
Sure!
These dog boredom busters are fantastic! Something about providing your dog a job is one of my favorites. Henry, my dog, enjoys assisting. It’s more of a problem for me to figure out a method for him to assist in a way that makes sense, and then to enhance it as he gains experience. I make him work for his rewards, which he really enjoys. He also has his “digging” activities at night. I definitely need to record it since it’s so excited!!!!
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for the amazing written article, waiting for another part.
I had an empty tissue box laying around…..then decided to put cookies in it, shook it so she could hear the rattling….. and she understood she needed to find a way to get them out.
Everything about this is fantastic! Bulldogs and Arizona don’t get along for roughly 9 months of the year, so I’m always trying to come up with new techniques to give my dogs what they need without overheating them. Thank you for the fresh thoughts!
I like how you mentioned both play and training options to engage your dog, relieve boredom, and strengthen the human-canine bond. Either way works and hopefully its all fun.
Who would have thought there’d be 26 ways to relieve a dog’s boredom! But I’m glad there are that many. My dog seems to get bored easily. Thanks for the article.
Thank you very much for this article, it is necessary for people to see and hear them. It is necessary to inform other people about this with all kinds of cameras, so I found this site and I can recommend it to everyone very well.
I don’t get time to stay at home for my workload. But, when I do stay home during the weekend, I watch my neighbor’s dog, Oscar. He is trained very well and is pretty friendly with his neighbors. I enjoy being around him. But, I did notice that he is getting bored these days and I feel like his owners are not aware of it nor have they taken any steps regarding this matter.
This article enlightened me with ways to get dogs out of boredom and I am excited to suggest those dog owners read through your article. Thank you for sharing some amazing tips!
We put treats inside of those large Kong toys. Problem solved!