Are your pets bored? [Adjective, bored--feeling tired and irritable
because of constantly being exposed to the uninteresting or because of
having nothing interesting to do]
Our pets get bored and experience cabin fever just like we humans. If this boredom becomes intolerable your pet will get into trouble. The drapes might get torn, the stuffing in pillows might get scattered about, and the trash might be dragged throughout the house. Not a pretty picture. So what can we as pet owners do to help our pets fight off boredom and cabin fever?
Lots of people with fenced in backyards assume that if they put the dog out in the yard he will find interesting things to do, but most dogs will simply find a spot and nap. If there are two or three dogs that get along and are in the yard together, they are more likely to play and amuse themselves, but a single dog in the backyard is too often lonely and bored. The same will be true if the single dog is left alone in the house for 8 or more hours everyday while his owner is at work. Remember that dogs are social pack animals that need interactions with humans and/or other pets. Nevertheless, I am not suggesting that pet owners must run out and adopt a playmate for their dog. Further, I am not encouraging pet owners to stop working full-time, but there are some things pet owners can do to make life a little more interesting for the pooch.
Cesar Millan, National Geographic Channel's The Dog Whisperer, makes the case that the most natural pastime for dogs is to walk in a pack. Walking the dog is good exercise for both you and your dog, but it is much more than just exercise. Taking the dog for a walk lets him smell new smells, see new sights, and bond with his owner as the pack leader. From a dog's point of view, a pack can be just one dog and one human. If you will be leaving your dog in the yard or in the house all day, it helps if you can walk the dog before you leave. The walk will tire him and a tired dog is a good dog!
You can also leave the radio on and prepare some "time consuming" toys with treats. I like to take two Kongs (rubber, practically non-destructible toys), smear the inside with a little peanut butter and fill each Kong with some kibble. I put these Kongs with kibble and peanut butter in the freezer the night before and present it to my dogs on my way out. My dogs are so excited about the Kong; they do not even notice I am leaving them. If you get the proper size kibbles, it can take the dog considerable time to lick the peanut butter clean and get the treats out of the center. When you feed the dog next, cut back on their food so the Kong treat does not put unwanted weight on your dog.
But dogs can also get bored even when you are home with them, especially when the weather is nasty outside and walks are difficult. When this happens, I have a few inside games I play with them. These are mental games that can sharpen their sense of smell and their memory skills. Moses' favorite is the shell game. To play the shell game you need three small opaque cups, a handful of kibble, and a slick low tabletop that the dog can reach with his nose. Start with one cup. Show your dog a piece of kibble and then place that kibble underneath the cup turned upside down. Encourage your dog to touch the cup with his nose. When he does, praise him and give him the treat. After a few repetitions, your dog will begin to realize that if he touches the cup with his nose, he will get the treat. At that point, add a second cup. Only one cup should have a treat under it, and to make the game fun, slide the cups around to se if you can trick your dog. If he noses the wrong cup, lift it up to show him it is empty, put it back down and let him try again. To teach your dog to use his nose to win this game, always place the treat under the same cup (put a small inconspicuous mark on one cup so you can tell which one it is), so that only one cup has the scent of the treat.
There are lots of other games you can play with your dog. Check out www.dogwise.com/
index.cfm. You might also consult a book entitled Fun and Games with Dogs by Roy Hunter. Another book you might consult is Hip Ideas for Hyper Dogs by Amy Ammen and Kitty Foth-Regner.
What about cats? The key with cats is to get them involved with you interactively. A simple fishing pole with a feather tied to the line can give you and your cat lots of playtime together. By moving the pole and feather, you can get your cat to jump and turn. You might also tear off a piece of tin foil, roll it into a small tight ball and play hockey with your cat. The tin foil becomes the hockey puck. Use your imagination and through play you can help your pet stay mentally sharp, focused, and interested in their world.
Lots of people with fenced in backyards assume that if they put the dog out in the yard he will find interesting things to do, but most dogs will simply find a spot and nap. If there are two or three dogs that get along and are in the yard together, they are more likely to play and amuse themselves, but a single dog in the backyard is too often lonely and bored. The same will be true if the single dog is left alone in the house for 8 or more hours everyday while his owner is at work. Remember that dogs are social pack animals that need interactions with humans and/or other pets. Nevertheless, I am not suggesting that pet owners must run out and adopt a playmate for their dog. Further, I am not encouraging pet owners to stop working full-time, but there are some things pet owners can do to make life a little more interesting for the pooch.
Cesar Millan, National Geographic Channel's The Dog Whisperer, makes the case that the most natural pastime for dogs is to walk in a pack. Walking the dog is good exercise for both you and your dog, but it is much more than just exercise. Taking the dog for a walk lets him smell new smells, see new sights, and bond with his owner as the pack leader. From a dog's point of view, a pack can be just one dog and one human. If you will be leaving your dog in the yard or in the house all day, it helps if you can walk the dog before you leave. The walk will tire him and a tired dog is a good dog!
You can also leave the radio on and prepare some "time consuming" toys with treats. I like to take two Kongs (rubber, practically non-destructible toys), smear the inside with a little peanut butter and fill each Kong with some kibble. I put these Kongs with kibble and peanut butter in the freezer the night before and present it to my dogs on my way out. My dogs are so excited about the Kong; they do not even notice I am leaving them. If you get the proper size kibbles, it can take the dog considerable time to lick the peanut butter clean and get the treats out of the center. When you feed the dog next, cut back on their food so the Kong treat does not put unwanted weight on your dog.
But dogs can also get bored even when you are home with them, especially when the weather is nasty outside and walks are difficult. When this happens, I have a few inside games I play with them. These are mental games that can sharpen their sense of smell and their memory skills. Moses' favorite is the shell game. To play the shell game you need three small opaque cups, a handful of kibble, and a slick low tabletop that the dog can reach with his nose. Start with one cup. Show your dog a piece of kibble and then place that kibble underneath the cup turned upside down. Encourage your dog to touch the cup with his nose. When he does, praise him and give him the treat. After a few repetitions, your dog will begin to realize that if he touches the cup with his nose, he will get the treat. At that point, add a second cup. Only one cup should have a treat under it, and to make the game fun, slide the cups around to se if you can trick your dog. If he noses the wrong cup, lift it up to show him it is empty, put it back down and let him try again. To teach your dog to use his nose to win this game, always place the treat under the same cup (put a small inconspicuous mark on one cup so you can tell which one it is), so that only one cup has the scent of the treat.
There are lots of other games you can play with your dog. Check out www.dogwise.com/
index.cfm. You might also consult a book entitled Fun and Games with Dogs by Roy Hunter. Another book you might consult is Hip Ideas for Hyper Dogs by Amy Ammen and Kitty Foth-Regner.
What about cats? The key with cats is to get them involved with you interactively. A simple fishing pole with a feather tied to the line can give you and your cat lots of playtime together. By moving the pole and feather, you can get your cat to jump and turn. You might also tear off a piece of tin foil, roll it into a small tight ball and play hockey with your cat. The tin foil becomes the hockey puck. Use your imagination and through play you can help your pet stay mentally sharp, focused, and interested in their world.
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