Bored dog at home: what can you do?

How do you know if your dog is bored?

A bored dog goes looking for something to do. They keep asking for attention, chew or wreck things that aren't theirs, and struggle to settle. The LICG, the Dutch national information centre for companion animals, puts it simply: a dog who has nothing to think about will soon get bored.

Boredom doesn't look the same in every dog. According to the LICG, a dog who doesn't get what they need, and brain work is part of that, can become sluggish, start behaving badly or get cross quickly.

Signs to watch for:

• They're always looking for attention and acting restless. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), chances are they're bored and want something to do.
• They chew furniture and shoes, or shred cushions and paper.
• They won't lie down. According to Dogs Trust, a UK dog welfare charity, boredom can make it hard for a dog to settle.
• They mope around and don't seem interested in anything. If that came on suddenly, ask your vet to take a look first.

Is my dog bored, or is something else going on?

Not every restless dog is bored. The same restlessness can come from too much stimulation and too little sleep, from pain, or from stress about being alone. The difference matters. With boredom, doing more helps. With over-tiredness, doing less helps; pain calls for the vet, and stress about being alone for a calm, gradual build-up.

It seems obvious that a very busy dog needs more to do, but that isn't always right. The LICG warns that such a dog is sometimes getting too much activity. A dog who has had too much exercise and is overtired also struggles to rest.

It can work the other way too. According to Dogs Trust, some dogs get overexcited easily when they don't get enough exercise or brain work. That is common in working breeds, because they were bred for busy, active jobs, but it can happen with any dog.

What can you do at home when your dog is bored?

The simplest fixes use what dogs do naturally: sniff, chew and solve small problems. Dogs Trust lists training, food puzzles, safe dog chews, toys or sniffing games as ways to exercise your dog's brain. Below are ten ideas, from easy to a bit more effort. Most of them cost nothing.

1. 1Let them search for part of their meal. Scatter a handful of their own kibble across the floor or in the grass. Take it from their daily ration so they don't get extra. If they find everything at once, hide the pieces in trickier spots.
2. 2Play a search game with boxes. Put out a few empty boxes and place something tasty in one of them. Let your dog work out which one it is. It's close to the nosework in the study further down.
3. 3Choose a food puzzle at their level. According to the LICG, a puzzle that is too hard can lead to a lot of frustration. A puzzle should also suit the shape of their muzzle: a dog with a short, broad nose needs something different from a dog with a long, narrow one.
4. 4Give them something safe to chew or lick. Chewing is a basic need: having something to chew on is one of the things every dog needs, and chewing and licking also help them relax. Choose a chew that doesn't splinter and is too big to swallow, and stay with them the first few times. For licking, spread a thin layer of some of their own wet food on a lick mat.
5. 5Make a paper puzzle. Roll a few pieces of kibble or treats in a paper bag and let your dog tear it open. The idea comes from the AKC. Stay with them, though, and check they aren't eating the paper.
6. 6Rotate their toys. Put some of their toys away for a while and swap them back in later. According to the AKC, an old toy seems new and exciting when your dog hasn't seen it for a few days.
7. 7Train for a few minutes. A new trick, or an old cue in a new spot, is brain work. Exercises, dog puzzles or food toys keep their brain busy too. Keep it short and stop while it's still going well.
8. 8Build breaks into exciting games. During any fun, exciting game, such as tug or chasing a ball, a dog winds up fast. Dogs Trust recommends a short break every 5 to 10 minutes, so they find it easier to settle afterwards.
9. 9Give them work that suits their breed. Breeds were bred for a job. In terriers, digging is in their genes, and gundogs have an urge to use their nose. A sandpit with hidden toys, or a search game for a gundog, gives that urge an outlet.
10. 10Teach them to entertain themselves too. Not every moment has to be an activity. Make clear when you have time for attention and when your dog needs to entertain themselves for a while, for example with a chew in their own bed.

Why does sniffing help with boredom?

Sniffing is work every dog can do. The LICG counts exploring and sniffing their surroundings among the things every dog needs. A search game gives your dog a task and lets them choose where to look. One study suggests dogs come out of it in a more positive frame of mind.

In that study, by Duranton and Horowitz (2019), dogs first learned that a bowl in one spot always held food and a bowl in another spot never did. Then they were shown a bowl exactly in between. How quickly they ran to it was read as a measure of how optimistic the dogs were. Next, one group did two weeks of heelwork, where dogs were rewarded for walking close to their handler. The other group did nosework: searching for treats in boxes. Both groups were rewarded with food.

After those two weeks, the dogs in the nosework group ran faster to the middle bowl than before; the heelwork dogs did not. The researchers conclude that nosework put the dogs in a more positive mood. It's a single study, and we read it through a summary on Fear Free Happy Homes. So it doesn't prove that every dog gets happier from searching, but a search game costs nothing. For more on sniffing during walks, read how often to walk your dog.

Does your dog get bored when home alone?

They can, but check first that it isn't anxiety. A dog who finds being alone hard may start barking, wrecking the house or having toilet accidents, according to the LICG. The AKC advises you to rule out separation anxiety if your dog destroys things and is also very clingy. Things to do help with boredom, not with anxiety.

Have a dog with anxiety about being alone checked first: the LICG advises you to see a vet first to rule out physical problems. A qualified dog behaviour therapist or a veterinary behaviour specialist can then help with a plan. Never punish your dog for what they do while they're alone.

Either way, don't leave them with nothing to do. When you practise, leave out a toy they can chew safely. But a puzzle won't bridge a long day. As a guideline, the LICG says to leave an adult dog alone no longer than 4 to at most 6 hours at a stretch, and not 6 hours every day.

If you're away for long days, a midday walk or a day at dog daycare breaks up the time alone. For building up time alone calmly, read how long a dog can stay home alone.

Frequently asked questions about a bored dog