Tips and Tricks To Fight Dog Boredom

As a human, if you get bored you have a number of options to combat it right at your fingertips. Perhaps you flick on the television to find your favorite show as a distraction or flip open a book to kill some extra time. When a pup gets bored, however, her options are a bit more limited. A dog without a distraction can quickly start causing destruction. If you've ever come home to find a favorite pair of shoes completely destroyed, couch cushions chewed to shreds or maybe even a hole chewed through drywall, you may have experienced the outcome that can arise from a bored pup left to her own devices.

Obviously ensuring a bored and busy dog remains entertained and out of trouble when you aren't available to oversee her activity is important for protecting your home and possessions from becoming damaged or destroyed, but this isn't the only reason why pup distractions are necessary. Chewing, eating or playing with some items not meant for canines can also pose a great threat to the health and safety of your dog. It can certainly be frustrating or distressing to come home to a favorite object that's been ruined by a furry family member, but it's a tragedy to arrive home to find a sick or severely injured pup due to destructive chewing. The key to entertaining a pooch prone to boredom is ensuring there are interesting dog-friendly distractions always within easy reach of her paws and mouth. Read on to learn more about and discover toys and ideas that will keep your pup entertained and busy when your watchful eye isn't present.

Interactive Toy Solutions

Interactive puzzle toys can not only keep a busy mind entertained and distracted for longer periods of time, but they also stimulate and challenge pups to get their brain juices flowing. These types of toys do more than simply provide something for your dog to chew on. They challenge your pup to solve a problem and often allow for your treat-loving doggo to receive immediate rewards for finding the solution. This keeps the dog interested and keeps puppy minds from wandering off to find a new shoe to chew on. Choose a beginner-level interactive toy like this one from ThinkRageous to get your dog started with exploring and solving puzzles. These toys feature spots to hide favorite small treats or bits of kibble that are revealed as your pup masters how to solve the puzzle. Once your pooch has mastered the toy, choose a more advanced puzzle option for continued play and challenges.

Hide-and-seek type toys often combine two doggie favorites: soft, plush characters and an element of hunting to find something fun. This hide-and-seek toy from Outward Hound is a perfect example of such an item. Fun, plush toys hide inside and wait for your pup to discover them and pull them out. Stick the plushies back into their hiding spot and let the fun begin all over again.

Busy Buddy Boredom Solutions

Busy Buddy is a brand known for creating toys and chewables that come in a number of interesting shapes meant to hold the attention of discerning canines. An element that sets Busy Buddy dog toys apart from the rest is the company's Gnawhide treats that were created to be incorporated into your pup's favorite Busy Buddy toy. Some of the brand's toys twist apart for Gnawhide treats to be placed into it before twisting it all back together and giving it to your pet. Busy Buddy Gnawhide is loved by pups because it's made from real, natural rawhide. Not only are these a safer option and alternative to traditional rawhide bones, but when partnered with Busy Buddy toys, they create a chewing experience that lasts up to ten times longer than a standard rawhide bone.

Busy Buddy toys incorporate an added layer of puzzle-solving and fun with the ability to hide extra treats within the toy. One such popular option is this jack-shaped, treat-holding toy . The toy features an interactive shape that keeps dogs interested in exploring it rather than your personal items sniffed out around the house. Small, nubby pieces massage the gums and gently clean off teeth. The pieces can easily be unscrewed to attach Gnawhide treats or replace already-chewed pieces for an extra level of play. Other Busy Buddy toys, such as this barnacle-shaped one, incorporate both a hearty bounce and tasty treats to keep pups entertained. Fill it with favorite nibbles and your doggie will love bouncing it around to randomly knock tasty tidbits out.

Solutions for Power Chewers

Pups who love to chew need ample pup-appropriate options to ensure household and personal items, such as your favorite shoes, don't become their new favorite thing for gnawing. Classics, such as KONG rubber toys , are dog-safe, fun to chew and even allow for filling with favorite treats to satiate doggy cravings. Durable Nylabones come in a range of hardness perfect for puppies to dogs with super-aggressive chewing tendencies and are often a longer-lasting and safer alternative to traditional bone varieties. There are even cooling dog toys perfect for helping your pup chill out or for providing soothing relief to teething puppies.

No matter if you want to test your pooch's problem-solving skills, provide them appropriate items for chewing or leave them with treats they have to work for while you're away, there's a perfect toy to distract your pup from partaking in destructive behaviors. These interactive and durable options could just be the solution that keeps your home and possessions safe from the jaws of a bored dog, while also keeping your beloved furry family member safe.