Is My Dog Bored?

Dogs are smart and social creatures and it’s well-known that a bored dog can wreak havoc when they become destructive, and in other cases they may even show signs of depression. This means that boredom can affect your dog’s quality of life as well as your relationship with them. But how can you tell if your dog is bored, and what can you do about it?

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Content:

1. Do Dogs Get Bored
2. How Do I Know If My Dog Is Bored
3. How to Keep a Dog from Being Bored When Home Alone
4. Conclusion

Do Dogs Get Bored

Yes, dogs can definitely get bored, just like humans. Boredom in dogs can lead to various unwanted behaviors, such as excessive barking, chewing, digging, and even trying to escape the yard. Dogs may even become so frustrated that they become hyperactive or even aggressive and reactive.

In other cases, dogs may even become depressed, choosing to sleep all day and showing little interest in anything. Owners can sometimes confuse a depressed dog with a lazy one (although some dogs certainly love to sleep all day, it can be a warning sign in active breeds).

It’s important to understand that a bored dog is not just being "naughty"—they're trying to find ways to entertain themselves because they're just not getting enough stimulation. Remember, depending on the dog, a simple walk around the block once a day can actually be more frustrating than helpful. Big yards also do little to keep an active dog occupied. But when they are bored, they will find ways to expel that excess energy.

According to research led by Luciana Santos De Assis, “dogs that become bored often show signs of frustration and social panic when left alone. This is especially true for dogs where boredom is linked to a lack of habituation to social isolation. These dogs tend to become more reactive to external events as time progresses, leading to redirected frustration and reactive communication.”

To keep your dog from getting bored while you are away, the Petcube Bites 2 Lite is interactive pet camera that lets you give your dog treats remotely, speak to them, and keep an eye on their behavior while you are gone.

How Do I Know If My Dog Is Bored

Signs and symptoms of boredom in dogs can sometimes be subtle, or even be breed-specific. Many breeds can become obsessive and show specific behaviors. For example, a Border Collie may fixate on herding the cat. A Belgian Malinois may fixate on the fence and barking at any passersby. English Bull Terriers may start chasing their tails excessively. Some dogs become hyperactive, while others “shut down” and become listless.

Typical signs of boredom start with restlessness, such as pacing, jumping on and off furniture, or watching you constantly for signs that you may want to play or go for a walk. This restlessness can eventually become hyperactivity, with your dog struggling to settle down, zooming around the house, jumping on you, or relentlessly “running the fence” of your yard.

Hyperactivity goes hand-in- hand with destructive, unwanted behaviors like chewing, digging, or stealing clothing items that smell like you. They may also show a lot of repetitive behaviors that can become a bit like doggy OCD. This could range from obsessively licking their paws, to eating non-food items (pica), or chasing their own tail.

Vocalization is another big sign. If a dog is constantly whining, howling, or barking, they often need more attention and activity to alleviate their boredom.

As one Reddit user describes it:

"Exactly right. A bored dog will not just lay there, they'll be doing something (most likely destructive). With my dog it's night and day; if she's been well exercised she'll lay at my feet or on the back of my couch, occasionally looking for a scratch or a treat or whatever I'm eating, but it's obvious she's happy and tired. If she's bored, she's on the couch-off the couch-on-off, pacing, looking at the door, laying down chewing, getting up and giving me the chew and repeat, she's bored and I know it."

How to Keep a Dog from Being Bored When Home Alone

Dogs prone to boredom suffer most when they are home alone, but be careful not to confuse boredom with separation anxiety. Also, the higher your dog’s energy levels and the more intelligent they are, the more prone they will be to boredom, just like smart people in jobs that don’t challenge them mentally. If you need to leave your dogs home alone for long periods, here are some tips to help alleviate boredom.

1. Leaving your dog with interactive toys such as puzzle feeders, chew toys, filled Kongs, and treat-dispensing toys can keep them occupied.
2. The old cliche that “a tired dog is a happy dog” holds true. Exercise your dog before you leave to help them settle and nap while you are gone.
3. Use a pet camera to keep an eye on your dog and even speak to them to help them deal with loneliness while you are gone.
4. Try getting a pet sitter or a dog walker to break up your dog’s day and give them an activity while you are gone.
5. If your dog does well with other dogs, you can try enrolling them in doggy daycares while you are away at work.
6. Finally, give your dog a job. If your dog is a working breed, making sure they have time to do an activity that comes naturally to their breed, such as herding, sledding, running, or specific activities, you can help channel their natural instincts. By doing this, you make it easier for them to cope with “down” time home alone.

Remember, bored dogs are prone to trying to escape and roam. Use a Petcube GPS Tracker to make sure they aren’t at risk of getting lost if they do get out of your yard.

Conclusion

Bored dogs may really be a welfare issue, as boredom does more than just lead to annoying and unwanted behaviors like barking and digging. It also affects your dog’s overall mental health, leading hyperactivity, reactivity, compulsive behaviors, and possible depression. This is a much bigger problem in highly intelligent and active dogs, so it’s vital to choose dogs that match your lifestyle to avoid the issues that can come with boredom. Also, be careful to take measure to keep your dog mentally and physically active.