You come home from work after a long day and your dog lovingly greets you at the door. You’re tired. So is he. While you were away, he’s been keeping himself busy by emptying the trash (all over the kitchen) or redecorating the living room (you didn’t really like those pillows anyway).
Sound familiar?
We’ve all experienced this at one time or another, perhaps with a puppy or a new dog. While you may think he’s just being “bad” or “should know better”, he’s probably trying to tell you something. He needs a job.
Give your dog a job or he’ll become self-employed
One thing is certain, if you don’t give your dog something to do, he WILL find something. Generally, it’s something you’d prefer that he not do. The good news is that you have a lot of options at your disposal to alleviate his boredom.
Exercise is everything
If your dog has been home alone all day, you can’t blame him for wanting a little time to cut loose. Channel his energy into something fun for you both. Chances are you could both benefit from a little time outdoors away from email, phones, and other things electronic.
Here are a few ideas for you:
- Visit a dog park. He can socialize and so can you. Try out a few different parks in the area.
- Throw a ball, a Frisbee, or a stick. He won’t even care if you throw “like a girl”.
- Teach a trick. If your idea of a dog training class is the old “obedience training” then you’re really missing out. You can choose from trick training, shaping, manners, canine sports, just to name a few.
- Solve a puzzle. Dogs love to figure things out. Let him earn his dinner by hiding a few pieces of kibble for him to find. Challenging his mind is just as tiring for him as physical exercise. He will benefit from both.
- Go for a swim. If you live close to a body of water, swimming pool, or just a hose in the backyard, take him for an afternoon dip. (Did you ever play in the sprinkler as a child? Dogs love this too!)
- Meet your neighbors. If your dog is “people-friendly” take him for a walk around the block.
- Schedule a play date. If your dog isn’t a social butterfly, but has a few close friends, setup a time for them to meet up and play together for an hour or two.
It’s important to remember that your dog isn’t being “bad”, he’s just being bored. Like humans, our canine counterparts are social, intelligent creatures. They need to be challenged physically and mentally – some require more than others (just like people).
