Your dog has plenty of food in his bowl. He has a nice place to sleep, enough chew toys lying around and even an anti spill dog bowl to keep his drinking area from becoming a mess. So, we are baffled and still see it chewing on a coffee table’s leg or wearing your socks around the house or staring at you as if you are under obligation to make him happy.
Dogs can come up some bizarre ideas when they get bored. Most of the time their actions make sense. But sometimes they do something that makes one wonder how did they even come up with it.
The problem is in figuring out whether it is boredom or another case of your dog being just your dog.
The Case of Stealing Your Socks Has Its Own Explanation
You left your socks on the floor for a few moments and suddenly they are not there anymore. Now your dog is happily sporting your sock throughout the house.
We easily conclude that your dog steals your socks just because he is mischievous, although your socks are quite handy and easy to carry. Plus, they are probably much more interesting than all those expensive toys around.
If dogs get bored, they engage in all sorts of naughty activities. This is why you need to give them something proper to chew on.
You don't need to hand over your favorite old shoes, though. That can make it difficult to explain later why the new shoes are off-limits.
Toys Can Become Boring Too
This is one thing dog owners sometimes forget.
Owning a toy does not entail that your dog will find it engaging or exciting. A toy that was delightful last week may appear worthless this week. It's important to utilize interactive dog toys since they give your dog something to explore and be engaged with instead of just lying around awaiting the time to be picked up.
It is not necessary to keep buying the new toys. You can try hiding a few of the toys away and then reintroducing them later. The old toy could rekindle your dog’s interest.
You can also make play more interactive. A ball thrown across the garden is different from a ball lying on the floor. A tug toy becomes more interesting when you're involved.
Sometimes the problem isn't the toy. It's that nothing is happening with it.
The Sudden Zoomies
You've probably seen it. Your dog has been lying around all afternoon. There appears to be no activity going on in the house. Then all of a sudden, one sees its pet romping around the house as if a button had been pressed.
However, the zoomies must not be interpreted as a sign of boredom. Dogs can do so for many reasons including excitement and burning off excess energy.
But if the dog is bored for many hours of doing nothing at home and then starts racing around, it makes sense to analyze what causes this behavior in terms of its exercise.
Going for a walk is not the only cure. Playing fetch, carrying out some dog training exercises, or making use of something that will force your dog to earn a tasty reward will help to distract its attention from boredom.
Suddenly Everything Needs Chewing
Table legs.
Cushions.
Cardboard boxes.
The corner of a rug.
Your dog's definition of "chewable" can be surprisingly broad.
Puppies obviously have their own reasons for chewing, but adult dogs can do it when they're bored too. Chewing gives them something to concentrate on. It also feels good and can be a way of occupying themselves when there's nothing else going on.
This is where having suitable chew toys around the house can help. If you have a bigger dog, look specifically for dog toys for large dogs that can handle the way they actually chew rather than choosing something based only on how it looks.
The Dog Who Suddenly Becomes an Interior Designer
The signs are all there as you enter the room and notice cushions lying down on the floor. The bedspread is positioned differently. The dog’s bed has been moved to the middle of the house. Somehow the shoe has ended up under the dining table.
Your dog appears to be happy with the way things have been done.
Sometimes dogs don’t even need to have a reason for rearranging things around them, but there are cases when dogs are just bored and want to do something to occupy themselves.
Digging Doesn't Always Stay Outside
Some dogs love digging. If there's a garden, they'll find the softest patch of soil and get to work. If there isn't a garden, they might try digging at the carpet, bedding or sofa.
The behaviour can come from instinct, but boredom can make it worse.
A dog with plenty of physical and mental activity has less reason to invent its own afternoon project. If digging has become a problem, don't just tell the dog to stop. Give them another outlet.
More sniffing during walks, short training sessions or a game that makes them search for treats can be much more useful than constant correction.
Barking at Absolutely Nothing
You hear a bark.
You look outside.
Nothing.
Another bark.
Still nothing.
Your dog appears completely convinced that there is something extremely important happening somewhere beyond your ability to see it.
Dogs' auditory capabilities are far superior than ours, therefore there might be a reason behind it.
However, if dogs bark repeatedly, it may indicate that they are agitated, bored, or in need of someone’s attention.
Yelling at your dog when it barks due to boredom is ineffective in getting to the root of the problem.
It may simply become a part of its playtime activity.
A bit of activity, interaction or training can sometimes do more than telling them to be quiet for the tenth time.
The Dog Who Follows You Everywhere
Some dogs are naturally clingy. Others become your shadow when they're looking for something to do.
You walk to the kitchen. They're behind you.
You go upstairs. They're there too.
You sit down. They're staring at you.
You get up. They're already standing.
It can be funny, but constant attention-seeking can also be a sign that your dog needs more stimulation.
Try giving them something they can do independently.
A safe chew, puzzle feeder or interactive toy can give them a reason to focus on something other than you.
Mental Exercise Can Wear a Dog Out
A long walk isn't the only way to tire out a dog. Their brains need something to do too. Hide a few treats around a safe area and let them find them.
Teach a new command. Use a puzzle feeder. Play a simple game of "find it." Even five or ten minutes of training can leave some dogs surprisingly satisfied.
This is especially useful on days when the weather makes a long walk difficult. You can give a dog something to think about without needing a huge amount of space.
You Don't Need to Entertain Your Dog All Day
This is where owners can put too much pressure on themselves. Your dog doesn't need a packed schedule.
They need enough exercise, some interaction, opportunities to sniff and explore, and things they can safely do on their own.
You don't need a house full of pet products either. Even a personalized dog collar can be more useful when you choose it based on what actually suits your dog, rather than buying things just because they look good.
And if their behaviour suddenly changes, don't assume it's boredom. A vet can help rule out anything else.
Dogs can be weird. New weirdness is worth checking.