Did your dog just chew up your brand new loafers or tear down those new drapes your mother bought you? Chances are your dog doesn't hate you and does not want you to own nice things. Don't worry, your pupper is likely just bored. Dogs look for their own entertainment when they are bored, resulting in destructive behavior. So what can you do to help keep your dog entertained, while at home or away?
Food/Treat Dispensing Toys
A dog toy or ball stuffed with a nice healthy treat is a great way to keep your dog entertained for hours while you are away! Pisces recommends: KONG Classic. Before you head out for the day, fill a Kong Classic or any other with some treats or some frozen peanut butter (hardwood floors only, just in case)! The Kong Classic is rubber and virtually indestructible, so no need to worry about your dog accidentally consuming chunks of the toy. This is a great method of providing some fun, unsupervised and safe entertainment for your dog.
Tug - of - War!
I have never known a dog in my life that doesn't LOVE to play a game of tug-of-war! It is a fun and easy game to engage in with any size dog, and does not require a ton of space so it can typically be played inside and outside. Contrary to some belief, tug-of-war will not cause aggression in your dog. It is a harmless game to play between the two of you. Utilize the "teeth to hand" rule, where if your dogs teeth touch your hand, by accident or on purpose, the game is over.
Tug-of-war can even be played solo! The Tether Tug Backyard Interactive Toy is a flexible rod that drives into your yard with a rope tether attached to provide endless playtime until your dog has been tuckered out!
Rotate Your Dog Toys
If you have given your dog all of his toys, he will inevitably get bored of them all. The best way to keep your dog excited about his toys is to rotate them every month or other month. This will keep old toys feel new and exciting when he has lost interest in his current selection of play things. There will always be new and different toys being developed for dogs. As toys wear out, you can throw out old ones and replace with an exciting new toy! Click Here for our wide selection of available dog toys!
Train Together
Spending time with your dog training is the most mutually beneficial way to keep your dog entertained. Not only will this keep your dog (and you) entertained, you will be teaching your dog useful skills and good behavior. Start with simple commands like "sit", "stay", "lay down" and "come", then move on to more advanced commands, like "leave it!" or "go now!". It is important to not rush your dog, the experience should be a stress-free activity for both parties to enjoy. Click here to view instructions on how to train simple commands.
Go For Regular Walks
This one seems almost too obvious, but still necessary. Many small dog owners believe that they do not need to take their dogs for walks if they can run around the house or backyard. We recommend that you always take your dogs for walks! Dog walking is a great way to bond with your dog as well as exercise your pups socialization skills with other dogs and pedestrians. For a great pet leading leash, Pisces recommends Rogz Control Lead. Walking with your dog partner has a number of benefits, including:
- Increases mental and physical health of your dog and yourself
- Decreases loneliness
- Helps with weight control
- Improves socialization skills
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