Monday, 27 January 2020

Is your Dog getting bored while you are busy working? Here’s how you can keep them entertained.

We, as working parents, have a very tight schedule at times and fail to give time to our pets. We miss out on playing with them indoors or outdoors. Pets really get bored when they’re couped up in the house all day long, and may act out by destroying furniture, clothes, or shoes. They find ways to vent out all their energy on something and that does not come out nicely for anyone.

You, as responsible pet parents, should look out for signs for whether or not your little ones are bored or if they require a good walk or a play session with their favorite human.

The following signs can be noted to identify if your pet is craving a playtime:

  • Non-stop Barking looking at the window and door.
  • Lying down and whining while looking at you.
  • Following you around the house.
  • Licking their paws.

It is very necessary to keep your pets entertained, which includes both physical exercises and mental stimulation training exercises. Both of these training regimes should be added to their daily routine. Even though walks can be a good physical exercise, it is not always enough and your pets need more activities like fetch or tug of war or playing with their favorite toys. You need to analyze which toys are best for your pets according to their breed. You might need to experiment a few times to understand what kind of toys does your pet prefer, and then make it a routine to have a toy play session daily.

If you spend time with your pet regularly, playing with toys or having a run in the park, you will notice that they do not destroy your belongings and are much happier than usual. The more you play with your pet, the better the bond you have with them.

There may also come situations when they get bored with their toys, and you need to put those toys away and introduce your pets to new ones. This would end up making them feel rewarded and strengthen your bond with them. Always remember, when you are discarding old toys, instead of throwing them away, donate them to your nearest Animal Health Care NGOs, so that they reach the abandoned and rescued stray animals.

What all kinds of toys are available for your pets?

There is a huge variety of toys available for your babies, and you will always have a plethora of options to choose from. There are different toys catering to different kinds of moods of your pets. Here are some examples.

Balls

These are proven to be a favorite with dogs. You can choose a soft plush ball if your dog is young and teething, or a tennis ball that has a slightly harder exterior if your dog is older.

Rope Toys

These toys feature a rope that your dog can bite. You can hold the other end of the toy and begin a tug of war. Dogs love these toys as these toys suit their natural way of playing.

Stuffed Toys

These toys are soft, which means they are safe and protect your dog’s mouth. They can be found in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Dogs can grow very attached to these toys!

Chew Toys

It is natural for your dog to want to chew, even after he has teethed. Chew toys for dogs ensure that he chews something safe, and not your sofa or bed. These toys come in a variety of shapes: sticks, ropes, bones, animal shapes, rings, etc. Some dogs are powerful chewers, while some dogs are not. These toys have different levels of durability to match your dog’s chewing power.

Treat-dispensing Toys

These are toys that contain treats for your dog. They can be filled and refilled with your dog’s favorite treat. Your dog then has to figure out how to use the toy to get to the treat. It ensures hours of fun for him as he twists and turns and chews the toy to get to his kibble.

Puzzle Toys

These are toys that challenge your dog’s brainpower and help stimulate it. They can be physical toys for dogs or electronic games. They teach your dog coordination, as well as help, develop his instincts.

Chewing helps your pets relax and control their anxiety. These pet products help them keep calm and away from destroying your belongings. When your pet is in a very playful mood and making puppy faces, you know it is time to play with rope toys. You can have a nice Tug of War play session with your pet. Playing with rope toys are a great way to have a good bonding session between you and your beloved pet. Another advantage of a rope toy is that rope and tug toys can help redirect nipping or biting behavior. Some dogs and puppies simply get nippy when they want to bite something. These ropes can provide them with a biting and chewing outlet.

Play The Which Hand game

If you’ve been thinking about teaching your dog some scent work games this is a great game to get you started. The only thing you’ll need is some dog treats, and if don't have any on hand then you can use some chopped up fruits and veggies or make your own homemade dog treats.

How to Play the Which Hand Game:

  • Place a treat in one of your hands.
  • Close your fists and hold them out in front of your dog.
  • Let the dog choose which hand it’s in.
  • When your dog sniffs or paws the correct hand open it up and give them the treat.
  • If he chooses incorrectly don’t discourage him, it takes a few tries to catch on.
  • A gentle “touch” command will be helpful.

Tip: Chopped up carrots make excellent treats for scent work games and training. They’re low in calories, easy to prepare, and (most) dogs absolutely love them.

Play the Shell Game

The shell game is a simple problem-solving game for dogs. To play the shell game with your dog let your dog watch as you place a treat under one of three cups. You then shuffle the cups around and encourage them to ‘find the treat.’ The shell game gives your dog plenty of mental stimulation and helps them work on their problem-solving skills.

Play a Game of Hide & Seek

Playing a game of hide and seek is by far one of the pets’ favorite games. Hide and seek might not seem all that complex or entertain to us, but a lot of dogs get a real kick out of it.

If your dog doesn’t have a good stay command down you can ask a friend to help by having them distract your dog as you go and hide (or you can practice your “stay” before you get started.)

The main intention behind all these games is to spend some quality time with your pet and that’s exactly what they strive for. It’s not just about buying loads of toys for your furry friend but engaging yourself in activities that involve them and their all-time favorite friend,‘You’.

Pet + You = Joy Pet + You + Toys = Happiness & Crazy Fun

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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/eulsc7/is_your_dog_getting_bored_while_you_are_busy/

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