Is my dog bored?

Can your dog get bored, and how can you help them? We find out the reasons for dog boredom and ideas for enrichment to curb the monotony.

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Is my dog bored?

From chewing the furniture to barking all day, boredom in dogs can cause potentially problematic behaviour. That’s because if dogs don’t have enough mental stimulation, they can end up finding ways to keep themselves occupied. Unfortunately, this often involves behaviour you’d rather avoid.

If you’re worried that your dog is bored, the first step is to work out why, before offering some fun enrichment activities to make sure your dog gets all the mental stimulation they need.

Do dogs get bored?

Yes, dogs can definitely get bored. The reason for this can vary but it usually falls into one of three categories:

• Lack of physical exercise
• Lack of mental stimulation
• Lack of social interaction with other dogs and people

Some dogs might become bored because they only get two quick walks per day. Others might become bored because they spend most of their day at home without any company or interaction from other pets or people. Over time, this boredom can start to create issues.

How to tell if your dog is bored

Some telltale signs that can indicate your dog is bored include:

• Excessive barking or howling
• Destructive behaviours such as chewing furniture or digging
• Restlessness
• Pawing or jumping up

Some of these signs can also indicate other problems such as separation anxiety or pain that may require vet treatment. If you’re concerned your dog might be bored, it’s always worth getting the all-clear from your vet before exploring ways to keep your dog entertained.

Six dog enrichment ideas for you to try

In addition to making sure your dog is getting enough exercise, offering enrichment activities is a great way to help engage your dog’s brain. These activities should be tailored to your dog’s breed and personality but we’ve rounded up six ideas to get you started.

1. Make mealtimes more enjoyable

Your dog’s ancestors had to work hard for their food, spending hours tracking and hunting their prey. These days, our dogs usually eat their meals in seconds. Science shows that dogs enjoy working for their food so try using puzzle toys and LickiMats to extend feed times and challenge your dog at the same time.

2. Offer activities when home alone

Before leaving the house, offer your dog a long-lasting chew or stuffed Kong to keep them entertained while you’re gone. Leaving a puzzle toy or snuffle mat in another room for your dog to find can also help extend playtime and tire your dog out mentally.

3. Play games

Most dogs love playing games and this is a great way to offer plenty of mental stimulation. Try creating an indoor treasure hunt with treats or toys, or teach your dog to play hide-and-seek for hours of fun.

4. Explore new areas

Discovering different places helps your dog’s mind stay active. Switch up your regular route and head to new places like the beach or your local town centre.

If you’re constantly asking your dog to stop sniffing on walks, go for a ‘sniff walk’ instead. Let your dog set the pace and allow them to smell the spots they want to explore. While it may be shorter than normal, it’ll be more mentally rewarding for your dog.

5. Regular training sessions

Training sessions are one of the best ways to make sure your dog gets plenty of mental stimulation. Make sure your dog knows the basics, then move on to more complex commands such as advanced recall and trick training.

These sessions don’t need to be long, either – a few five-minute sessions throughout the day will still give your dog plenty to think about.

6. Give your dog a job

Some breeds such as Border Collies and German Shepherds have a strong work ethic and can quickly get bored. Finding a job for your dog to do around the house can help keep them mentally stimulated and channel their energy into positive tasks. You could train your dog to put their toys away, pick up the post, close doors or fetch specific items – the possibilities are endless.