I Feel Guilty My Dog Is Bored: What Should I Do?

You are used to a lively and happy doggy but nowadays, his spirits are always down.

At first, you thought he was sick and took him to the vet but it was discovered your dog was as healthy as can be.

Now you know for a fact that the only explanation for his depressing mood is boredom.

You can’t help but feel guilty every time you live the house when you know your dog will just be bored all day.

So what can you do?

First things first…

Why Do I Feel Like My Dog Is Bored?

Well, if you feel like your dog is bored, the simple explanation is your dog is bored.

And you are being a good pet parent for noticing it.

Because unless you realize your dog is bored, you may not intervene and remedy the situation.

Dogs are intelligent and active animals that need mental and physical stimulation to keep them happy and healthy.

Without enough stimulation, dogs can become bored, which can lead to behavioral problems that are relatively easy to notice.

Here are a couple of tell-tale signs that your dog is bored:

• Restlessness: A bored dog may pace, wander, or seem overly anxious.

• Destructive Behavior: Dogs may chew on household items, dig holes in the yard, or engage in other destructive activities when they are bored.

• Excessive Barking or Whining: Dogs may bark or whine excessively when they are bored and have pent-up energy.

• Lack of interest in toys or activities: A dog that is normally enthusiastic about playing with toys or going for walks may lose interest in these activities when they are bored.

• Hyperactivity: Bored Dogs may become excessively hyper and energetic, and this can be seen as over-excitement or destructiveness.

• Depression: Bored Dogs may become lethargic, unresponsive, and sometimes have a loss of appetite.

What to Do

If your dog gets bored, you want to do something about it before the boredom drives them into destructive habits.

Here are a couple of things you can do to help your furry baby overcome their boredom.

1. Physical Exercise

Physical exercise is an important way to help dogs beat boredom.

Some ways to provide physical exercise for a dog include:

• Taking them for daily walks or runs: This will provide them with the opportunity to explore new sights, sounds, and smells, which can be mentally stimulating for them.

• Playing fetch: Throwing a ball or a frisbee for a dog to chase and retrieve is a fun way for them to get exercise.

• Going for a swim: If your dog likes water, taking them for a swim can be a great way for them to get exercise and cool off on a hot day.

• Hiking: Taking your dog on a hike can be a great way for them to get exercise and explore new terrain.

• Off-leash playtime: Allowing your dog to run and play off-leash in a secure area can provide them with an outlet for their energy.

Make sure that you’re providing your dog with enough physical exercise to tire them out, but not so much that they become exhausted.

 It’s also important to consider your dog’s age, breed, and health when determining an appropriate exercise regimen for them because different dogs have different energy levels.

2. Mental Stimulation

Another reason why your dog may be bored is a lack of mental stimulation.

In addition to physical exercise, you will want to give your dog lots of mental stimulation.

There are lots of ways to achieve this. Here are a couple of examples:

• Provide them with interactive toys: Puzzle toys, treat-dispensing toys, and other interactive toys can keep your dog’s mind occupied and engaged.

• Teach them new tricks and commands: Teaching your dog new tricks and commands can help keep their mind active and sharp.

• Play games with them: Games such as hide-and-seek, search and rescue, and tracking can provide mental stimulation for your dog.

• Provide them with mental challenges: You can hide treats around the house or in the yard and let the dog find them. This will keep them mentally active.

• Rotate their toys: Regularly rotate your dog’s toys to keep them interesting and prevent boredom.

• Spending quality time with your dog training, grooming, or cuddling him can help keep them mentally stimulated and emotionally fulfilled.

• Provide them with a companion: Having another dog to play and interact with can help keep your dog mentally stimulated and entertained.

It’s important to remember that every dog is different and what works for one dog may not work for another.

For instance, some dogs may not be up to the challenge of learning new tricks now and then and others may not understand the concept of a hide-and-seek game.

The best way to know what works for your dog is to experiment and see which activity resonates with them.

3. Dog Sports

Enrolling your dog in sports is another awesome way to help them beat boredom and provide them with mental and physical stimulation.

Dog sports can also be a great way to build your dog’s confidence and strengthen your bond with them, as well as to give them a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Some popular dog sports include:

• Agility: Agility training involves your dog navigating an obstacle course made up of things like tunnels, jumps, and weave poles. It’s a fun way for your dog to get exercise and learn new skills.

• Flyball: Flyball is a relay-style race where teams of dogs race over hurdles to retrieve a ball. It’s a high-energy sport that requires teamwork and training.

• Dock diving: Dock diving involves training your dog to jump off a dock into a pool of water to retrieve an object. It’s a fun way for your dog to cool off and get exercise.

• Obedience: Obedience training is a great way to keep your dog mentally stimulated and well-behaved. It involves teaching your dog basic commands like sit, stay, and come.
• Rally Obedience: Rally obedience is a sport that combines basic obedience with a variety of signs and commands that the dog and handler must complete together.

• Treibball: Treibball is a sport that involves training your dog to push large exercise balls into a goal.

• Tracking: Tracking is a sport that involves training your dog to follow a scent trail.

These are just a few examples of the many dog sports available, and there are many more options to choose from depending on your dog’s interests and capabilities.

Do I Have To Constantly Entertain My Dog?

The short answer is no – you do not have to constantly entertain your dog.

But at the same time, you cannot ignore him all day either.

Your dog needs to have some form of entertainment and interaction or they will get bored.

The amount of time you need to spend entertaining your dog will depend on the breed and age.

For instance, if you have a dog that was originally bred to be a tracking dog (e.g. Bavarian Mountain Hound), then you can expect him to be very active and will need lots of entertainment.

However, some dogs are couch potatoes (e.g. English and French Bulldogs) and need very little entertainment.

In other words, study your specific breed and understand the unique entertainment requirements they have.

Related: 15 Medium Sized Low Energy Dog Breeds

Closing Thoughts

If your dog is bored, you can try out the solutions we have suggested above.

But if none of them work – or if they are not practical for you, you can ask for professional help.

For instance, you could ask for a professional pet sitter/walker to come and give your dog some company and exercise whenever you are out of the house.

The bottom line is, the best way to kill boredom is to get the dog active in some way.