Entertaining Your Dog When You Are Busy

Does this situation sound familiar? Your dog has been walked, fed, played with and cuddled all day and you are just starting to do something for yourself. It might be settling down with a cup of tea, watching a film, making a phone call or making dinner, whatever it is this is your time. However your pup decides that they need more attention, and they need it now.

I love dogs, dogs are great but sometimes you need them to ssh and entertain themselves for a bit. Here are a few ways you can keep your dog busy when you are busy. However you should always supervise your dog just in case they have any problems such as choking, frustration or anxiety.

Chews - Dogs naturally chew things, it helps strengthen their jaw and teeth as well as relieving boredom and anxiety. Chews are great to keep your dogs occupied and will help prevent unwanted chewing in the house. There are many different chews to choose from and it will depend on your dog which ones work best. Chew treats like dental sticks, jerky or chicken twists are good treats for slow eaters but may be gone in less than a minute for some dogs. Harder chews, pigs ears or hooves etc will last longer but there is a risk that it could split or the dog could choke if they eat quickly. Always supervise your dog when they have chews and if your dog eats food or treats very quickly you should consider one of the other options.

Though chews are great you have to be careful not to give them too often, they are rich and often high calorie treats. They can cause upset stomachs and cause weight gain if given too often.

Fillable toys - Kongs and food toys are great for relaxing your dog and keeping them occupied for a good amount of time. Simply fill the toy with treats and give it to your dog to lick and chew until it is empty. You can buy kongs of different strengths and sizes depending on how big your dog is and how strong they chew on toys. Make sure to buy the right size toy for your dog, if it is too small it will be too difficult for them to get the treats out, as well as being a swallowing hazard for big dogs, and if it’s too big it will be too easy and they will finish too quickly. Always start by adding the treats loosely so your dog can easily get to them. When they are used to the toy you can start making it harder so it lasts longer. The great thing about fillable toys is you can fill it with your dogs favourite treats or try to use healthier options by adding peanut butter, carrots, or putting some of their dinner in it.

Destruction boxes - I love destruction boxes! They are easy to make and so much fun for the dogs to do. It is great mental stimulation for them as they have to dig and ‘destroy’ the box to get to their treats or dinner. Start with a cardboard box, fill it with scrunched up newspaper/paper or layer a small towel in it. Sprinkle in some of their favourite treats and then give it to your dog. The first time you try this with your dog you should leave the box open and make it easy for your dog, you may have to help them get into it. As they learn how it works you can make it more difficult for them so it takes longer, however watch them so they don’t get frustrated. After your dog has enjoyed their box, there may be a bit of a mess of cardboard pieces all over the floor but, seeing your little pup so happy, I think it's worth it.

Settle - Alternatively you can teach your dog to settle. This is when your dog goes to their blanket and relaxes when asked. This is done by rewarding relaxed behaviour and when they are not seeking attention. It is an important thing for dogs to learn as they learn to relax by themselves and allows you some space to do other things. Settle is not a difficult thing to teach but requires consistency and practice. As this is such an important thing for your dog to learn, I will be writing a full post on how to teach your dog to settle.