Now, imagine your (confined) dog sitting alone for 10 hours a day while you are at work. It is no surprise your dog will try to find ways to keep himself busy. The problem is, that any behaviour considered ‘normal’ by dogs like digging, sniffing, chewing, and rolling, can be seen as destructive by humans.

The key here is to find a good balance between what your dog needs to feel enriched and stimulated and what is acceptable to you as a dog companion and guardian. We’ve done all the research for you and put together a simple list of 15 ways you can prevent your dog from getting bored. Have a look!

• Go for a walk (sniffaris!)

Regular walks are essential for a dog’s physical and mental well-being. Exploring new scents and environments can be really exciting for them. If you can, try to change your route to explore new neighborhoods or parks. Let your dog sniff and explore as much as he wants – remember, this is his ‘sniffari’ (a walk where your dog leads you where he wants to go, as long as it is safe).

• Hide and seek

Hide your dog’s favorite treats or toys around your home and in your garden and encourage your dog to find them. This engages their sense of smell and provides great mental stimulation. A dog’s sense of smell is his most powerful sense and can be up to 100 000 times more sensitive than a human’s. Dogs use their sense of smell to navigate their world, so any activity that engages smelling is a powerful enrichment activity.   

• Get moving 

Dogs need physical activity to keep mentally and physically healthy. Choose an activity that is best suited to your dog’s needs, as well as his physical capability. High-energy dogs will enjoy a flirt pole, which is simply a rod with a lure on the end that can be waved around to encourage the dog to chase after it. Most dogs also love a game of tug and you can use an old towel for this. These kinds of activities can be hard on hip and knee joints so keep jumping activity sessions short and don’t play with dogs younger than a year old or dogs suffering from joint injuries or pain.

• Chewing

Chewing is a fantastic way for dogs to relieve boredom and stress. Provide them with safe chew toys to keep them occupied. There are so many great options out there that are durable, tasty, and healthy. Consider bully or puzzle sticks, beef tracheas, dried pig ears, dried tendons, and specialized chew toys. Stay away from marrowbones, rawhide chews, cooked bones, and pig hooves as these can cause choking or health issues. Always monitor your dogs when they are chewing. If chews start breaking into tiny pieces that may become choking hazards, distract your dog with a yummy alternative and remove the chew. 

• Rotate those toys

Research shows that dogs get bored with the same old toys and much prefer brand-new ones. Don’t leave all of your dog’s toys out all the time. Try giving your dog only one or two toys at a time and swap them out regularly to keep things interesting. Another great way to prevent toy boredom is to wash old toys so that they seem ‘new’. Always use a safe and gentle detergent when washing dog toys. Make a toy more interesting or desirable by playing tug or fetch with it.   

• Get them digging

Many dogs love digging and this can cause heartache for any avid gardener. If you don’t want your dog to dig up your garden or you don’t have a garden, consider building your dog a digging box. You can also use a plastic shell sand pit for this, or a lined wooden box. Fill the box or shell with sand pit sand or small plastic balls and bury your dog’s favorite treats or toys in it. You can also designate a portion of your garden as your dog’s personal digging spot – encourage him to dig there by hiding treats and toys in this spot only. 

• Brain games

These days there is a wide variety of interactive and enrichment toys out there, from simple, cheap options to more expensive and complicated ones. Interactive toys are great for mental stimulation as the dog needs to engage with the toy so that it dispenses treats or food. Examples of interactive toys are puzzle toys, snuffle mats, lick-mats, retractable tug ropes, snuffle balls, and self-moving balls. You can also make cheap and simple DIY brain games for your dog using items lying around the house. For example, close a few of your dog’s favorite treats in a small box and allow him to rip the box apart to get to the treats.   

• Quiet time

It is so important to encourage your dog to enjoy quiet time. This will teach him that it is okay to take a time-out, especially when you are not around. Some dogs need a little help to learn to relax. The best way to help your dog relax is to spend quality time with them in a way they enjoy. For example, gentle massages and petting is something a lot of dogs enjoy. Allow your dog to cuddle with you on the couch if they want to. Calmly dispense treats when your dog is showing calm and relaxing behavior. Dogs also need time to loaf around and be couch potatoes. Maybe spend some time grooming them quietly and gently.    

• TV for dogs:

There is a wide variety of relaxing and calming music that has been specially developed for dogs to reduce anxiety and nervousness. These days, many people have access to various streaming services and there are channels and playlists available on apps such as YouTube and Spotify that are designed to relax and calm dogs. Put on some dog TV or music to help your dog relax and use it when there is thunder or fireworks, especially if your dog is prone to anxiety. Visit our YouTube channel for hours of relaxing and calming dog music that you can put on when you go out or to help your dog sleep.   

• Tricks and training

Many people think training is just for obedience, but here at Place for Paws we don’t believe in culturing obedience in dogs; we feel that building a trusting relationship between you and your dog is more important than obedience (this obviously has a place too!). So, when we say training and tricks we are thinking of fun and engaging things you can teach your dog to build your relationship and get them thinking. Examples of tricks you can teach your dog that will benefit you and them in other ways, are reliable recall (making sure your dog comes to you when you ask them to), and basic impulse control, like ‘stay’ or ‘sit’ (this is useful if there is danger and you need your dog to stay put). A few minutes of learning a new trick will get those brainwaves firing, leaving your dog calm and relaxed.

• Social animals:

Some dogs are way more social and accepting of dogs and people than others, so keep this in mind if you decide to take your dog somewhere where there are lots of other dogs or people. If your dog is a social butterfly, why not set up a play date with an equally extroverted dog, or take a visit to the local dog park? We have a complete list of all dog parks, dog-friendly beaches, and dog-friendly walks and hikes throughout the country. We are sure you will find something close to you! When in a public space, keep your pup on a lead at all times, unless you are 100% comfortable that your dog won’t be exposed to any danger or present danger to other dogs or people. If you see your pup feels uncomfortable or over-stimulated, rather call it a day, as you may end up encouraging wild and excited behaviour rather than calm and relaxing behaviour.  

• Enrichment:

This is such a broad topic that we have written an entirely separate article on enrichment activities. However, in short, an enrichment activity is anything that creates a sensory experience for your dog and allows them to engage their mind and body. Enrichment activities allow dogs to engage in natural ‘canine’ behaviours such as sniffing, digging, and chewing, and reduce stress and anxiety while encouraging relaxation. Enrichment activities can be puzzle toys or homemade activities. An enrichment activity will engage a dog’s sense of smell, touch, and taste as well as mental and physical energy. Have a look at our enrichment article for simple ideas and activities.  

• Agility

We don’t expect you to become an agility trainer (this is hard work) but what you can do is set up a DIY obstacle or agility course for your bored dog. This can be done indoors or in the garden, depending on the amount of space you have. Have a look around for any household objects that you can use to build an obstacle course, like chairs, blankets, pool noodles, hula hoops, broomsticks, or washing baskets. Use your imagination! You can also encourage your dog to explore natural obstacles while out walking, such as climbing over logs, skirting around rocks, and dipping under bushes. Remember, never force your dog to do anything he is uncomfortable with or engage in something that may put him in danger. Some dogs may need time and patience to enjoy an agility or obstacle course and some dogs may not enjoy it at all. Give your dog the space and choice to enjoy activities that he is comfortable with. 

• Frozen treats

Giving your dog a frozen treat is a great way to keep him busy for ages, and can also be used as a meal replacement. Freeze your dog’s favourite treats in ice cubes for them to lick and play with. Mix some of your pup’s kibble with sugar-free (no sweetener!) peanut butter, mashed banana, and plain yoghurt and freeze in a Kong (or similar alternative) for a yummy treat that will keep your dog busy for hours. Have a look at our shop for a range of rubber toys and Kongs you can use for frozen treats. Make a ‘popsicle’ for your dog by mixing in treats such as coconut milk, blueberries, and strawberries and freezing them in moulds to give to your dog on a hot sunny day to keep him busy. There are also several dog-friendly ice cream recipes you can use to spoil your best friend. 

• Work for food: scatter feeding/treasure hunt

As we’ve already mentioned, free-roaming dogs often have to search or scavenge for food and spend much of their time foraging. Give your house-bound hound a chance to engage with his wild side by ‘scatter feeding’ him his meals. Scatter feeding is simply scattering your dog’s kibble over a wide area such as in your house or garden. This will increase the amount of time it takes for your dog to find and eat his meals, as well as provide loads of mental and physical stimulation as he uses his sense of smell to sniff out his dinner. This is also a really simple and easy slow-feeding activity, specifically for dogs that like to gobble down their food. Kibble can be hidden in snuffle mats, around furniture, or in and amongst your lawn grass for a stimulating and enriching dining experience for your pup that activates their innate need to forage for food.