I recently started a new job that required me to be away for long hours during the day. Needles to say, I've been quite worried about the mental welfare of my little fur child and her adaptation to this schedule change. She's the only dog in the house and therefore relys on me for any and all entertainment. Since a second dog isn't overly realistic at the moment (not that Noel would like sharing my attention much anyway!) I began looking for ways to keep her mind occupied.
*The first and most important step to helping your dog with boredom is exercise. A daily walk will greatly decrease anxiety in most dogs and slow down their minds. This is especially helpful right before you leave them for long periods. Even though a walk is great, they're going to wake up and eventually want something to do...
The first idea I came up with were more toys! But what kind of toys? She has everything imaginable: rope tugs, floppy, gutted, stuffed, squeeky bears, tennis balls... the list goes on. What I never thought of were interactive toys. These gadgets require the dog to think in order to win a prize!
The first on my order list was a wobbling feeder! It's made by KONG and the dog must knock it all around for the food to be dispensed. I can't wait for it to arrive, although I won't be using this at every feeding. Maybe just put some kibble in there when I leave for the day to keep her mind sharp :) Price: $11-$13
Another toy I have expereince with are Red Barn Natural Dog Bones. I buy these at Petco and they're relatively inexpensive. They're Noel's favorite toy and last quite a while. Plus, they're relatively inexpensive as dog toys go. If you have an aggressive chewer (hey all you labs out there!) I highly suggest this bone. It's very durable and I've heard a lot of dogs don't lose interest in it quickly. These are real animal bones, so unfortunately they aren't vegan friendly. However, all Redbarn Natural Dog Treats come from free-range, grass-fed bulls raised eating a healthy grass diet as nature intended.
Since it's summer and the weather has been sent straight from down below, I've taken to freezing Noel's original KONG toy filled with water and chicken broth. I put a few tbs of the broth in with the water, fill the kong, place it in a cup, and freeze overnight. I've also placed a few treats in the middle of the frozen mass to add to the experience. It comes out as a big block, but she goes crazy for it! Just a warning, you might want to make this an outside toy since it gets melted and messy.
Here's some really good information about one dog households and how to help your dog be a better pet. I know my Noel just wants to please, and when she misbehaves, it's usually my fault for not being able to understand her doggy brain. This site helped me out!
Until I'm in the position to get Noel a friend, these tricks are helping curb her anxious separation behaviors. If these toys aren't what you're looking for, do an internet search! There's so much out there it's virtually impossible not to find something you think your pet will like. Good luck!
Photo credits
Red Barn Natural Bone: http://www.luckyvitamin.com/p-255983-redbarn-natural-white-bone-large-dog-chew-6-in
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