With this summer being a pretty busy one for work and school I look at my dog Ellie sulking and immediately feel guilty. On days where I’m stuck in the office writing manuscripts for 6-8 hours I can’t help but feel badly about how bored Ellie is. So today I propose some ways to help alleviate boredom and keep both you and your pup engaged and happy. Both you and your dog will be happier and healthier!

First: walk your dog, physical activity is important for both pets and their owners. Many studies have demonstrated the importance in daily physical activity for mental health. Two 15 minute walks (per day) if you want or one big one but usually 30-45 minutes a day is great! It is also important to note there is a difference between mental and physical stimulation. Running your dog in a fenced-in dog park is different than walking them beside you on leash. Both have their benefits, but I’d caution people thinking just because their dogs are physically worked means they are mentally happy and properly mentally stimulated/challenged. Walking on a leash gives them physical activity as well as some mental challenge.

There have been some behaviorists who discuss the walk as an opportunity for dogs to use their sense of smell. We are often in a rush to walk while our dog wants to smell. This is similar to us going for a hike with a blindfold,…ok, not really but it is in the same sense that our dogs don’t get to experience the world and their surroundings. What I’ve tried doing recently is letting Ellie go for a walk where she can dictate the pace. If she wants to stay and smell something for 10 minutes she can,…a bit of a killer for my fitbit/step tracker. There have also been some businesses recently springing up that offer opportunities for dogs to come in and explore smells. (Think escape room but instead of escaping they go in to experience random smells and objects)

Another is regular brushing and playing, brushing/ grooming your dog is a great way to make sure they are being touched and handled by you regularly. Ellie normally gets brushed 2-3 times per week (Her and my apartment need this frequency). Her teeth are brushed almost daily.

Training. Right now my schedule doesn’t really allow bringing Ellie to any formal training but I think this is a great way to create and strengthen the human animal bond. Even if your dog is a pro star there are many classes out there that teach random skills and tricks. An alternative to these classes obviously is buying a book of tricks to teach them! Challenging your pup with new skills and commands help to mentally stimulate and challenge them and keep the boredom blues away.

Finally a game! ‘Find it’ is a great game to have your dog play. Getting a specific toy associated with the game is helpful. Hide the toy somewhere easily accessible to your pup and ask them to find it, then ask them to bring it, then reward! Obviously there is a bit of training involved here but once they’ve gotten the idea, it is a great way to help challenge them in using their senses (smell) to find something. Try these training treats for this and any other tricks!

Comment on any cool tricks or tips you have to keep you and your pet happy!