11 Best Ways to Keep Your Dog Busy in 2023

The issue is that the majority of us don't actually have work for our pets to do. They receive all of their food, love, and toys without having to pay for them. And while receiving things for nothing is wonderful, it gives many of our dogs a lot of downtime.

What occurs then when our dogs become bored? They run across difficulties. If we don't cognitively stimulate or occupy our canines, they'll find other methods to pass the time, and you're probably right about that.

Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to keep your dog occupied, amused, and out of trouble. Here are 11 quick and simple ways to entertain your dog.

Destructive dogs emerge from boredom

Besides giving your dog something enjoyable to do, keeping them occupied can keep them out of mischief all day.

Dogs who are bored have a propensity to cause mischief by trying to amuse themselves. Excessive chewing, barking, digging, and other damaging actions might result from boredom.

Because they were developed to work alongside people, our dogs are easily bored if not given enough stimulation. Most of our canine friends don't have a job to do while we're at work; instead, we leave them alone, and when we get home we hand them a free meal.

That's fine for couch potatoes, but a lot of our dogs end the day with a lot of extra energy. They require boredom-busting activities and pastimes to keep their bodies and minds occupied.

Fortunately, you may easily occupy your dog's boredom with a few easy games, toys, treats, and tricks that you can teach.

Dogs need engaging play and entertaining games.

You need to think of some fun, interactive things to do with your dog so that they can stay emotionally and physically fit. Your dog, no matter how large or small, how young or old, needs to be entertained. Whether it be a straightforward game of fetch, practising obedience, or visiting the nearby park; it’s up to you.

According to a recent study, dogs who don't play as often display more behavioural problems like anxiety and aggression.

Dogs are highly social creatures and they adore spending time with us. Your dog will benefit physically, cognitively, and emotionally from play. Exercise, mental stimulation, and a stronger bond are all benefits for your dog. Play is beneficial to everyone. – The Power of Play: How Play Taught My Afraid Dog to Explore a New World

Dogs who are kept busy exhibit better behaviour.

Finding a couple that fit your lifestyle and committing to them is all there's left to do with so many excellent and straightforward options. From selecting dog-friendly toys to varying your walking routine, there’s so many possibilities.

After a quick session of obedience training, I see a significant improvement in my dog's behaviour; it doesn't take long and is fun for both of us. A psychologically challenging, active dog will make a flourishing, content, and less destructive companion.

If you doubt a dog's ability to count, try giving him two of the three dog biscuits you have in your pocket. Phil Pastoret

11 Ways to Distract Dogs from Boredom

Is your dog idle? Check out this list of 11 simple activities to keep your dog occupied and prevent boredom in dogs:

With your dog, engage in some nose games.

The easiest approach to prevent canine boredom is to keep them cognitively active, and my personal favourite way to achieve this is by playing games that require nose work. Dogs adore it, and it provides a fun method for them to "hunt" for food using some of their innate skills.

A fun method to give your dog additional mental stimulation is to conceal treats about the home or play hide-and-seek with them.

One of the most adaptable games you can teach your dog is this one. To get them started, start with a straightforward game of "guess which hand." It can be played anywhere and using existing toys or treats.

Have a tug-of-war match with your dog.

A fantastic physical and mental challenge for your dog is tug. Short tug-of-war matches are a great way to exhaust our canine pals. One of the most physically and psychologically taxing activities you can play is a good game of tug. Contrary to popular belief, your dog won't become hostile if you play tug of war with him.You can construct your own dog tug toy quite easy with some fleece or old t-shirts if you don't already have one.

Tips: Playing tug with your dog is a lot of fun, but there are a few ground rules you should know.

To get them started, start with a straightforward game of "guess which hand." It can be played anywhere and using existing toys or treats.

1.Change up Your Walking Routine

If you take the same route every day, daily walks can become a little monotonous. Switch it up by exploring new communities and varying your pace. Giving your dog the freedom to smell their environment will add to their mental stimulation. They are not merely visual beings; they also pick up a lot from all those fascinating odours. Providing children with the chance to explore offers a lot of wonderful cerebral stimulation.

2.Use Interactive Dog Toys

It's simple to increase your dog's mental activity while also reducing boredom by using food-dispensing toys like the Kong Wobbler and Bob-A-Lot Treat Dispenser. Additionally, there are many fantastic DIY toys that you can create using things from your home, such as the fantastic dog bottle game. A excellent method to keep your dog busy and mentally stimulated is with interactive dog toys.

3.Work on Some Simple Obedience Training

Training your dog is a terrific method to keep them out of trouble and gives them a good brain workout. Working with your dog on new skills or commands for a few sessions of 10 minutes each day requires a lot of mental effort.

Start by teaching your dog a dependable recall and working on some fundamental impulse control if you're unsure of what kind of training to undertake with your dog. These are always fantastic places to start. Then you can teach them additional common tricks like sit, lie down, shake, remain, and roll over.

4.Give Your Dog a Simple Job

Ask them to assist you with your daily tasks or habits. Laika, my dog, has been trained to help around the house. She assists me with loading the laundry, cleans up the dog toys, and even take branches and logs out to our wood pile. Boredom can be reduced by involving your dog in routine activities. Additionally, it boosts their self-esteem since happy, confident dogs feel valuable.

5.Give Your Dog a Not So Simple Job

Your dog should have a job that suits their breed characteristics. Border Collies typically possess exceptional agility, and retrievers typically like fetching. Make your dog's ultimate favourite activity into a profession by discovering what it is. I particularly adore lure coursing for dogs; in fact, you can construct a basic course in your own backyard. If your dog enjoys chasing, lure coursing is a terrific method for them to let off a lot of mental and physical energy. Consider making your dog his own dog cart if he enjoys pulling and you are skilled at construction.

6.Arrange a Play Date For Your Dog

Have a dog play date with your friends or family to provide your dog with some meaningful interaction. There is no need to make any additional arrangements if your area has several amiable pets.

7.Build a Digging Box For Your Dog

Create a customised digging box in your yard for your dog if they enjoy digging. Some dogs love digging so much that you can bury toys in it and let them locate them; this will keep them occupied for hours.

8.Get Your Dog a Jolly Ball

Any large ball toy can be quite entertaining, and jolly balls typically last longer than soccer balls (if your dog is a tough chewer make sure you get one without a handle). Although you can always play with them to make it more exciting, some dogs enjoy playing with these by themselves. I'm not sure why people are drawn to these magical objects, but Laika is completely obsessed with her red cheerful ball.

9.Work on Clicker Training Your Dog

You may teach your dog new behaviours and reinforce ones you didn't even ask for using clicker training. With all the additional cerebral stimulation, your dog will become exhausted, therefore this is a technique to effectively communicate with them when they execute a desirable activity. Dogs constantly pick up new skills from humans; even instructing them where to sit while you cook dinner stimulates their minds and instils polite behaviour.

10.Practice Some Free Shaping Games

Building a certain behaviour by taking a number of tiny steps toward it is known as shaping. Giving your dog the freedom to make decisions helps them learn new habits and uses an incredible amount of mental energy. Studies have showed that by employing positive training strategies such as shaping help a dog learn to make better decisions in the future. View the fantastic video by Dr. Sophia Yin illustrating free shaping.

11.Introduce Your Dog to New People and Places

Puppy socialisation is exposing your dog to unfamiliar people and environments. It's fantastic for elderly dogs as well. Like with any habit, a dog's abilities can deteriorate if they aren't introduced to fresh sights, noises, and environments. Every so often, practise social skills with some new pets and people.

Conclusion:

Studies have shown that dogs grow bored with the same old toys. Only let your dog play with a select few of his toys at once to keep him engaged. Laika, my dog, can only play with a few toys at once; when we switch things around, she gets quite excited about her older "new" toys. Play a basic game of fetch or tug to keep them engaged; interaction will always make a toy far more appealing.