It looks like you spotted your dog staring out the window, looking like a philosopher in a deep existential crisis. Or maybe they’ve taken up the hobby of rearranging your couch cushions and chewing up remote controls?
Whatever you saw your dog doing, there is a high chance that your dog was just bored, just like you. The only difference is that your dog doesn’t have an option of swiping left on Tinder or binge-watching Netflix. But you need to know when your dog is bored and what should you be doing to help them.
Just like us humans, dogs need sufficient physical and mental stimulation to lead a healthy life. This includes their playtime, walks, social interaction, bonding with the owners, solving puzzles, etc. All these activities don’t just help in keeping your dog occupied but also help in their brain development and ensure a healthy body.
Can Dogs Really Get Bored?
Boredom in dogs is not a small issue and should be taken very seriously as prolonged and frequent periods of boredom can lead to restlessness, behavioral issues like anxiety, obsessive compulsion behaviors and may even loss of bond with their owners.
Now your dog obviously wouldn’t be able to tell you that they are bored. But they will make sure that they communicate it with you non-verbally. Here are the signs that can indicate that your dog is bored –
Signs of Boredom: (1)
Chewing on furniture or household items
Begging for more treats
Excessive barking or whining
Pacing or restlessness
Repetitive behaviors like spinning, tail chasing, shadow or light chasing, etc.
Destructive digging or other behaviors
Peeing or pooping in non-designated areas
Fighting with other pets
Attempting to get attention more frequently
We understand that it may not be as obvious sometimes. But that’s where your love for your dog comes into the picture. You need to pay real attention and keep looking for these signs. It usually will be a combination of them.
Why Do Dogs Get Bored?
Now that you’ve learnt how to identify a bored dog (unless you searched this question on your browser and it brought you here directly), let’s dig a little deeper into this topic and understand why dogs get bored in the first place.
If you think about their wild times, dogs (or wolves if you go back further) lived a very active life. Their days were filled with wandering with their packs and hunting for food. Even after dogs got domesticated by humans, we got them to help in various activities ranging from hunting to rescuing to herding and more. Most dog breeds are developed for a specific purpose.
For example, breeds like Akita, Rottweiler, Siberian Husky, Bullmastiff, Boxer, etc., belong to the working dog group. They usually come with very high energy levels and are associated with work like military operations, guarding, hunting, search and rescue, etc. Breeds like Collie, Old English Sheepdog, Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, etc., are herding dogs. Then there are breeds like Afghan Hound, Beagle, Rhodesian Ridgeback, etc., who are hounds and are known for their hunting and chasing skills. (2)
These dogs not only come with high levels of energy but also very high intelligence levels. Border Collie, for example, holds the record for memorising over 1000 human words. A Siberian Husky named Togo and team travelled 674 miles in five and a half days to deliver the serum in time to Nome, Alaska and saved the lives of over 10,000 people.
Now, if you have a dog like this, you cannot let it do anything. It would be like forcing Sheldon Cooper to sit in a room without any book or Usain Bolt not being allowed to run. It would not only bore them but also affect their physical and mental health.
You may now argue that my dog does not belong to either of the above groups and is actually a toy dog who was bred to be a lap dog. So, the thing is, every dog does not require the same amount of mental and physical stimulation. Dogs that belong to toy groups would need much less stimulation than one from a hunting or sporting group. But even a toy dog like a Shih Tzu, Maltese, Yorkie, Pomeranian, etc. can get bored.
Activities to Prevent Boredom in Dogs
Daily Exercise:
One of the best ways to get boredom out of your dog is taking them for exercise. It could be a walk, run, training, hiking or even a game of fetch. This option has a double benefit – it gives you a reason to work out as well.
Mental Stimulation:
Puzzle Toys and Games: Nowadays, you get plenty of interactive games that can keep your dog’s body and mind engaged and stimulated. Some even come with hidden food inside.
Training Sessions: If your dog is new to the family, you can teach them obedience like sitting, standing, walking without a collar, etc. on your commands. You can take the training a notch up as well by signing up for dog sports like agility, flyball, dock jumping, earth dog, etc.
Scent Work and Enrichment Activities: One way to do this is to allow your dog to sniff while on walks. Another way is to either get scent toys or make some DIY stuff like a muffin tin puzzle, box search, etc.
Social Interaction: Encourage playdates with other dogs, visits to dog parks, or structured group activities to provide social engagement.
Rotate Toys and Environments: The same toys, same walking route, same people, etc., can get boring after a time. This is true even for us, humans. So, keep introducing new toys, change your walking route, and introduce new people to them.
The Importance of a Routine
Structured Daily Activities: Dogs enjoy predictability. A routine provides a sense of structure and stability to dogs. Ensuring their meals, walks, plays, etc. at the same time consistently, reduces the chances of anxiety drastically in your dog.
Avoiding Long Periods of Inactivity: It is possible that you may not be able to follow the routine on some days. But even then, you need to make sure that there is something happening in your dog’s life. The longer you keep your dog inactive, the higher the chances of boredom and then anxiety because the pattern gets broken. This also includes not leaving them alone for a very long time.
When to Seek Professional Help
Excessive Boredom or Behavioral Issues: Seeing your dog getting bored for a while may not be a big issue given that you will make up for it using some of the solutions we’ve suggested. However, if you see the boredom frequency increasing and resulting in compulsive behaviors like excessive barking, pacing, lack of appetite, etc., you should seek professional help. There are dog behavior experts who can help you with this. You might think that they are expensive at times, but we have a solution for that – keep reading.
Health-Related Issues: Chronic boredom can even lead to several health-related issues for dogs. These include weight gain, cognitive impairment, depression, etc. If you notice any of the following, we strongly recommend consulting a vet.
Conclusion
In summary, dogs can very well get bored because of inactivity, insufficient mental and physical stimulation, the same toys or environment, etc. It is very important to identify the signs in advance and solve it as they can lead to health and behavior-related issues if ignored for a long time.
Don’t stick only to the solutions we’ve given you. Get as creative as possible. Think of your dog as a little baby who’s just entered the world and is fascinated by every new thing it sees. Your job, then, is to keep their curiosity alive and make sure their energy gets spent in good ways.
How can Spot Pet Insurance help?
Yes, we remember that we said we have a solution for you to save some money while taking care of your canine buddy. Spot accident and illness plans can be used with any licensed vet in Canada or the U.S. Whether you are home, or traveling to the U.S., veterinary services your pet receives for the diagnosis, treatment, or management of covered conditions can be eligible for reimbursement. Spot’s accident and illness plans can help cover a variety of conditions including broken bones, lacerations, aggression, kidney disease, diabetes, and more. With the addition of Wellness Riders for an extra cost, you can also receive reimbursements for wellness exams, certain vaccinations, dental cleanings, and more.
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