Dogs love a challenge so any toys that involve them completing a puzzle or task to gain treats will keep them entertained for hours. Create a game of food hide and seek. Dogs love sniffing out food and treats, so before leaving, scatter some treats around the house.
If you leave your dog at home alone all day, they're most likely going to get bored. Dogs shouldn't spend more than 6-8 hours alone, so you should try to keep your dog alone for as little time as possible.
Adult dogs are generally okay on their own for 4-6 hours a day. But, many dogs are good at adapting to being alone for 8-9 hours while you are at work if they are provided with enough space to comfortably move around.
There is some wiggle room, provided that your pooch has access to enough food and water, as well as a place to go potty if they need to. However, even if their basic needs are met, you shouldn't leave your pet alone and unsupervised for more than 8 hours a day.
Some households have an easier time if there is another person in the home who has a slightly different schedule. It would appear that many dogs can adapt to being alone for 8-9 hours at a time provided they have a means to potty and have adequate room to move.
Puzzle Toys – Interactive food toys like kongs and wobblers will provide your dog with a challenge and help to keep them mentally stimulated. Exercising your dog's mind is just as important as ensuring they are getting enough physical exercise.
One of the best tools to keep your dog busy for a while is a Kong or similar type of food dispensing toy. These are made of hollowed out rubber in an assortment of shapes and sizes that can be stuffed with dog friendly foods. You can use a larger size one for an entire meal or a smaller one for treats or snacks.
teach your dog to settle down calmly when you are busy, rather than giving them attention when they follow you around. use baby gates across doorways to introduce time apart. leave them with a long-lasting treat or toy that releases food. slowly increase the time you leave them alone while you're in the house.
The concept behind dog-friendly tv is that while owners are away, their dog has something to keep them stimulated and occupied to reduce feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and boredom. We might use television as a vessel to combat such symptoms, but does it actually resolve them? Likely, no.
The Importance of Stimulation: Why Your Dog Needs Constant Entertainment. While physical exercise lends itself to the old phrase “a tired dog is a happy dog,” mental stimulation is equally important to the overall health and happiness of your dog.
The television affects every dog differently.
While it's generally OK for dogs to watch television, the colors, sounds and content can make some dogs feel anxious.
If you're wondering what to do with a dog while at work to keep them entertained, you could look into the range of automated toys available for dogs. If your dog loves to catch a ball, a ball throwing machine can give them hours of fun out in the backyard.
By nature, dogs are social and thrive in group environments. Therefore, there are many advantages to adopting a second dog, such as: They can keep each other company. Both dogs will be able to entertain each other and get exercise together.
Studies have shown that classical music has a calming effect for dogs compared to faster-paced heavy metal music which may agitate pups or regular pop music which appears to have no effect on dogs. Keep in mind that a dog's musical appreciation may also be breed-related.
Impawtant Note: While it's common for dogs to sleep in crates at night, we don't recommend that you keep your dog in a crate for more than a couple hours during the day. Before you go back to the office, make sure your dog is fully potty trained so they do not have to stay in a crate at all while you're gone.
Leave a 'special' toy
Always make sure that your dog has exciting things to do when you're not with them. You can give your dog a long-lasting chew such as a stuffed 'kong' toy, a meat-flavoured chew or a treat ball when you plan to go out. Make sure that they enjoy using it when you're there.
Changes in behavior
Destructive behavior is also a symptom of separation anxiety. Dogs are social and typically prefer to be with others. Some may always struggle with being alone. When a dog doesn't know how to self-soothe or cope, they may turn to chewing or clawing stuff around the house, or barking or howling.
While your dog will remember you leaving the house, they most likely won't understand how long you were away. When dogs are left alone, sometimes they become stressed (stemming from their separation anxiety), indicating that they have an awareness of the passage of time.
Most dogs spend a lot of their time catching some Z's. When you're not home to keep your pet busy, they'll likely find a comfortable place to cuddle up and take a siesta. If you're gone for a longer period of time, your pet might even take a few naps.
Try turning the music on and watch how your dog reacts. Does he get up and seek silence in another room, or does he lay down and appear relaxed? In summary, for some dogs, leaving the radio on can be beneficial, while others don't seem to enjoy it or are not affected by it either way.
Many dogs, especially high-energy breeds, become bored and frustrated if they don't get enough outdoor exercise and mental stimulation. If your dog is starting to chew things around the house, scratch or dig at doors, or raid the kitchen or trash can, the problem might be not enough exercise!
I'm not suggesting your dog does nothing for an entire day. Most puppies and adult dogs will need at least some sort of physical or mental stimulation to ensure that we don't end up with boredom and the problems that can bring.