And how to facilitate fun
Your dog is antsy, walking from one side of the room to the other. She sits in front of you and barks, but you can’t figure out what she wants. After a few minutes, she runs off and you hear her chewing on your shoe in the other room. On the other hand, maybe your dog lays around all day long, moving from the couch to the bed and back to the couch.* In either case, it’s possible that your dog is bored. Yes, like humans, it seems that dogs get bored too.
Now, you might question that assertion. Dogs aren’t human, so there’s no way for us to know with certainty what they are feeling. We can’t ask them if they are happy or sad. Even if they could answer, we would not be able to claim their version of confused is the same as our version of confused. The perception and perspective of a dog are much different than that of a human.
Almost anyone who has a dog will tell you though that dogs do have feelings. Dogs will jump up and down in preparation for a walk. They will cry when their owners leave. They will run up and snuggle with their human parent after periods of prolonged separation. These are all anecdotal examples, but scientists have also researched dog emotions by looking at things like hormones and body language..
So, if we agree that dogs have emotions, then the query we need to pose is how similar are dog emotions to human emotions? That’s a more difficult research subject, and one we don’t need to dive into today. While a dog’s version of boredom might not be the same as the human version, it is similar enough in function that for now we can label it as the same feeling.
With that introduction out of the way, let’s talk about entertaining canine companions. You don’t have to take your dog on a three-mile run to keep them happy. There are lots of simple and fun activities you can do with your canine companion to strengthen your bond while giving them a fulfilling life.
Walk it out
Don’t underestimate the power of a good walk. Even if you have a yard, walks are still a great form of enrichment. Don’t worry if you’re not a power-walker. It’s actually better if you’re not.
To your dog, the best thing about a walk likely isn’t the physical exercise. It’s all the smells they find along the way. So let them sniff. Even if that means walking 2 feet at a time, from one patch of grass to another, that’s alright. It’s possible you might walk for 20 minutes and not make it more than 50 feet from your home.
Don’t worry, your pup doesn’t care about how many steps they get during the day. The mental stimulation they can get from taking in all the scents along the walking path will wear them out plenty. It’s hard work interpreting so many good smells.
There aren’t many games simpler than “find it.” You toss a treat. Your dog finds it.
Play “find it”
Simple is not the same thing as easy though.
When your dog catches on to the “find it” cue, you can start tossing treats in spots where they have to work to discover it. Think of a patch of tall grass or an unruly lawn. Your dog will have to really use their nose to find a treat hidden in a spot like that.
The podcast Enrichment for the Real World published a very helpful episode that explains how to teach your dog to “find it”, the benefits of the game, and how to increase the difficulty of the game over time.
Treat toys for dogs
Not every toy has to be bought off of Amazon or purchased from the pet store. Empty toilet paper rolls and cardboard boxes will be just as entertaining for your dog to play with if you set them up right.
Fill toilet paper rolls or boxes with treats, seal fold in the ends or flaps to prevent all the treats from falling out, and let your dog have at them! Your pup might need some encouragement at first if they’re not extremely food motivated, but most dogs will love tearing the cardboard apart to get to the yummy food inside.
This is especially great for dogs who love to tear things apart. You know, the dogs who rip apart plushies in 3 seconds or the dogs who dissect shoes in their free time. Cardboard treat toys give them the opportunity to satisfy their desire to destroy in a way that doesn’t exploit your shoe closet.
Toys all day
Fetch and tug are often underrated, but they are fantastic games for dogs. Take out that tennis ball or rope toy and start playing! If your dog doesn’t understand how to chase a ball or pull on a rope, don’t worry. You can teach your dog how to play, and a lot of dogs will learn to love the games.
As an added bonus, fetch and tug are games that can be utilized to teach dogs to “drop it.” So not only can dogs get a good physical workout from playing, they can get a good mental workout too.
And let’s be honest here. The human can also get a workout when playing tug with a dog who’s really into the game. Have fun with it!
Frozen goodies
Kongs and other frozen treat toys can keep dogs entertained for a prolonged period of time. Fill the toy with kibble, treats, peanut butter, dog-safe fruit, or a combination and freeze it until you need it. Your dog will have to work to get the food out but they will be constantly rewarded as they do.
If you don’t have a frozen treat toy, an ice-cube tray can be used in a pinch. Add a small amount of food to each ice-cube spot, top off with water, and freeze. Another option is to fill your dog’s bowl with their breakfast or dinner, mix in a couple treats if you would like, add enough water to cover the food, and freeze until meal time. It’s an easy option that will help keep boredom at bay.
TV for dogs
This isn’t an option that all dogs will appreciate, but some dogs can get into doggy TV. Some dogs might watch it for a few minutes, others might be enthralled for a longer time, while other dogs won’t care at all. There are different types you can try, from wildlife videos to clips of dogs being dogs. My dogs are most interested in YouTube videos by Video Rover. Just don’t expect them to binge watch dog TV like it’s Game of Thrones.
Trick and treat
Tricks aren’t just fun to show off to your friends, they also are fun for your dog to learn. Forget the outdated adage that old dogs can’t learn new tricks. All dogs are capable of learning new things. At first, hone in on the basics like “sit” and “come,” then work on new commands.
Dogs can learn to do just about anything if you break it down for them. Teach them to spin, do a dance, or fetch your slippers. Make sure to always reward dogs for the things that they do and do not use punishment. It is unkind to punish your dog, and it doesn’t work well as a training method anyway. Experiment with different foods to find your dog’s favorite, and they will likely do anything to please. If they are not your best friend before you start training, this will set them on the path to love you forever.
No limits when it comes to entertaining dogs
The list of ideas above is not exhaustive. There are many more ways to keep you and your pal entertained. If you take nothing else away today, remember that dogs have feelings too, and it doesn’t always matter if those feelings are exactly analogous to human emotions. Even if there’s just a small chance that we can improve someone’s life, be that someone a human or a dog or a cat or a member of another, we should take that chance. All of our lives will be better for it.
*If your dog is acting unusually lethargic, it might be due to illness and not boredom. In that case, please seek care from a vet.