Play or use interactive games and toys with your dog: There are numerous interactive games and toys sold to keep your dogs mind active. Using one of these or even paying a game of simple doggy memory, using some plastic cups and some dog treats. Hide a treat under a cup and move them around and see if your dog can find the treat (like the old magician trick of find the ball). Obviously you don't want the dog to be spending numerous minutes sitting there looking at you as if to say "Huh, what do you want me to do?" You may have to teach your dog the rules to begin with, but this in itself is still creating stimulation for your dog. Even just a simple game of fetch with a new toy is another game or activity that will increase mental and physical stimulation. Running errands with your dog: The simple act of going down to the local post office or post box to post a letter. Or popping up to your local coffee shop for a coffee and sitting outside and enjoying it with your dog, allowing your dog to see the comings and goings. Or simply going for a drive in the car to the local carwash. Introducing new toys / rotating old ones: You wouldn't want to play with the same toy day in and day out, neither do your dogs. So providing a new toy (not necessarily a brand new one) every couple of days will keep your dog interested. Rotating toys is a great way to get renewed interest in their toys and keeping them mentally stimulated. Introducing new places and faces: Sometimes just taking your dog for a walk to somewhere different: such as a new dog park, the beach (dog friendly of course) or even as mentioned before, going to your local coffee shop and having a coffee outside so that your dog may see the comings and goings of what is happening around him. These simple acts break up the boredom of staring at the same four walls or fences that they see each and every day, increasing their mental stimulation. Providing areas of stimulation for your dogs within your backyard as well:
Play or use interactive games and toys with your dog: There are numerous interactive games and toys sold to keep your dogs mind active. Using one of these or even paying a game of simple doggy memory, using some plastic cups and some dog treats. Hide a treat under a cup and move them around and see if your dog can find the treat (like the old magician trick of find the ball). Obviously you don't want the dog to be spending numerous minutes sitting there looking at you as if to say "Huh, what do you want me to do?" You may have to teach your dog the rules to begin with, but this in itself is still creating stimulation for your dog. Even just a simple game of fetch with a new toy is another game or activity that will increase mental and physical stimulation. Running errands with your dog: The simple act of going down to the local post office or post box to post a letter. Or popping up to your local coffee shop for a coffee and sitting outside and enjoying it with your dog, allowing your dog to see the comings and goings. Or simply going for a drive in the car to the local carwash. Introducing new toys / rotating old ones: You wouldn't want to play with the same toy day in and day out, neither do your dogs. So providing a new toy (not necessarily a brand new one) every couple of days will keep your dog interested. Rotating toys is a great way to get renewed interest in their toys and keeping them mentally stimulated. Introducing new places and faces: Sometimes just taking your dog for a walk to somewhere different: such as a new dog park, the beach (dog friendly of course) or even as mentioned before, going to your local coffee shop and having a coffee outside so that your dog may see the comings and goings of what is happening around him. These simple acts break up the boredom of staring at the same four walls or fences that they see each and every day, increasing their mental stimulation. Providing areas of stimulation for your dogs within your backyard as well:
Is-your-dog-Bored.docx