A bored dog left at home is a recipe for disaster. From digging up your veggie patch to destroying your new couch, ripping washing off the line, and driving the neighbours crazy with relentless barking, any pooch that loses a battle with boredom is chaotic.
And while the mischievous behaviour is hilarious on YouTube, you can quickly loose your sense of humor when it’s your troublesome dog.
Brisbane’s RSPCA School for Dogs dog trainer Tim Ring said we are beginning to understand more about dogs. What would once have been considered the behaviour of a “naughty” dog, we now know might be caused by a lack of mental and physical stimulation.
“Gone are the days where we assumed that the extent of an animal’s desires were food, safety and procreation,” he said.
“Science has proven what most of us who share a home with an animal already knew: animals like fun and will find entertainment whether we provide it or not.”
So why do dogs get bored?
Our four-legged best friends get bored for the same reason humans do. Although it is hard to believe when their drinking out of a toilet or chasing their tail, dogs are highly intelligent and busy creatures. Their ancestors would have spent their time finding food, water or mates, and after being domesticated most dogs were put to work in some way. Whether they were employed or otherwise, dogs did a lot of work in the past. Now, spending most of their time at home, it’s not hard to see why they get bored.
So how do you know if your dog is naughty or bored?
5 ways to know if your dog is bored
Vying for attention
Most bored dogs will try to get their owner’s attention when they want something. From whining to barking or pawing at your legs they will not give up without a fight. Of course, there are other reasons that a dog might do these things, but these can often be ruled out with some trial and error. If your dog is trying to get your attention and they have already been fed and have water, they are probably just bored.
Bin dive
Some bored dogs make a game out of going through the trash. And when they are so engaged in sniffing out an interesting scent, they can scatter last night’s dinner all through the house. For those owners that come home, after a long day, to a house covered in rubbish this is a frustrating problem. It is tempting to think that this behavior is the result of hunger. However, even the most well-fed dogs still dig in the trash purely because they have nothing better to do.
Counter Surfing
If your dog has taken up counter surfing, digging in the rubbish is the least of your worries. If a bored dog can find a way to get onto your counter or table, they will have a field day. Shattering plates and bowls after knocking them off the bench, and eating anything in reach is the equivalent of going to a theme park for a bored dog. If you’ve ever come home and wondered how your favourite fruit bowl ended up on the floor, or where that meat you left out to defrost went, your dog may have taken up counter surfing. This boredom buster can quickly become dangerous if your dog eats dangerous foods including, some fruits, chocolate or onion.
Chewing
Chewing is probably the worst side effect of canine boredom. A dedicated chewer can wreak havoc on your home and can destroy things you would never have thought them capable of destroying.
Sleeping
Older and less active dogs tend to respond to boredom by sleeping a lot. They don’t have quite as much energy to chew through the armchair or jump up on the counter, so their natural response is to take a nap when they have nothing better to do. Dog’s love of sleep makes this symptom the hardest to identify, but If your dog sleeps more than half the day, it could mean the dog is bored.
If after reading these 5 key signs you think your pooch may be bored, don’t fret there are easy ways to keep your dog’s tail wagging that won’t end with you pulling your hair out.
As mentioned above canine boredom is often the result of a high energy dog without an energy outlet. Dogs seem to be happiest when they are active, so one of the best ways to fight back against boredom is to make sure they get a lot of physical activity. Dogs are pack animals and therefore naturally crave and need the reassurance of a group. Solo dogs are more likely to get bored, depressed and become naughty, so one of the best ways to cure boredom and help your sanity is to socialize your dog with other dogs.
What is the most mischievous thing your dog has done? Is your dog bored? Comment below.
Check out Doggie Adventure Playhouse’s Instagram for fun ways to entertain your dog.