Is Your Dog Suffering from Boredom?
What happens to a child, or in this case, a dog, that is left alone too much with nothing to do? In the case of your dog, as boredom sets in, so do destructive behaviors such as chewing, barking, soiling, pacing or disobeying house rules.
A dog with nothing to challenge its mind becomes a frustrated pet that will look for ways to create its own entertainment.
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In the wild, dogs are “pack” animals with specific routines and responsibilities that are focused mostly on hunting food and surviving as a group. Because it is so well provided-for in your human home, your pet may miss the meaningful activity every dog needs to feel useful and therefore, happy.
Fortunately, there are relatively easy ways to stimulate your dog without moving out into the wilderness together.
* CHECK OUT YOUR DOG’S IQ – Not all dogs care about going to Harvard or about learning one more trick. Before you knock yourself out with a pet therapist , why not find out just how smart your dog really is. Dr. Stanley Coren, a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and an avid dog trainer, has devised an online adaptive intelligence test for dogs.
Simple, at-home tests you do with your dog can measure its ability to solve problems and understand language and social cues. Maybe you have a pet that really does prefer snoozing on the couch all day, or maybe you have an intelligent dog who is suffering from a severe case of boredom and apathy.
* STIMULATE YOUR DOG’S WILD SIDE – Like humans, dogs respond to their environment. In the wild, your dog would be constantly on the move, seeing new places, smelling new scents and always watching for interesting or dangerous activity. How can you duplicate that at home? Just grab the leash and your jacket and the dog, of course, and head out for a walk.
Find new routes to travel, and allow time for your pet to really experience his environment. You need the exercise anyway, so consider this as opportunity to accomplish two important things at once.
* PUT YOUR PET TO WORK – Maybe you really don’t need your dog to fetch the newspaper for you or to carry your water bottle in its saddle bag, but your pet doesn’t know that. Learning how to perform duties for the “pack leader” is part of its ancestral instincts, and your dog will walk with its head higher if it knows it has a valuable place in your pack.
Performing hide and seek, search and rescue, hunting and retrieving, hauling or any other such activity will add interest to your dog’s day and relieve boredom. Imagine your dog later, by the fire, dreaming of a good day’s accomplishments.
* PROVIDE SOCIALIZATION – Just like most humans, most dogs enjoy meeting and interacting with others of their kind. Dog parks are ideal places for allowing your well-behaved pet to mingle and play for a while. If there are no facilities in the area, notice where other pet owners are walking their dogs and introduce yourself. Walking is always more fun in a group anyway.
* TALK TO YOUR DOG – Believe it or not, just conversing with your pet can provide mental stimulation and interest. Granted, your dog’s vocabulary is limited, but it will still enjoy your undivided attention. It is also possible to teach your dog more words than simple obedience commands. Building vocabulary together can be fun and a great way to show off your dog when company comes. By the way, did you know that dogs also enjoy music?
* THERE’S NO FREE TICKET – In the wild, every reward, which was usually food, comes after considerable effort. Teach your dog to work for its rewards in your home as well. Whether wanting attention or food, let your dog perform obedience commands before you reward. This not only reinforces good behavior but gives your pet a sense of purpose and accomplishment that translates into doggy happiness.
Your pet may not be the brightest dog on the block, but every family member will feel well-loved and content when meaningful activities are provided on a regular basis. Interact with your dog to keep its mind stimulated, and your pet will be more content, even when it needs to spend some of its day at home alone.
