Tampa Bay Pet Expo

Do you know how to entertain a dog? This seems like a rather simple question, but believe it or not, if you don’t know how to entertain a dog when you’re not home, this might cause health problems, both for your and your pet. 

How to Entertain a Dog

This article will explain you the importance of entertaining your dog and the benefits of keeping it busy while you’re away. It’s important that you read this article without the erroneous idea of feeling obliged to hire a sitter, but rather to understand why somebody – be it you, your brother, your children or even a pet sitter – needs to keep an eye on your pet and know how to entertain it.

What’s an Alternative to Doing it Yourself?

Many pet owners decide to hire pet sitters to do this job for them because they don’t have time to do so, especially because they’re aware of the health benefits of walking your dog every day, and that neglecting such simple healthy routines might affect severely their pet’s health… But wait, what do pet sitters do, exactly? Do they entertain and take care of your dog, and that’s it? Those are the sole benefits of pet sitting? Well, yes and no. Being a pet sitter means many things – a dog nanny, a pet nurse and even a reliable house caretaker – but the reason you should consider one goes beyond that: a pet sitter know how to entertain a dog or any other pet for sake of their health, and this is why you should consider one.

What Happens if Your Dog Gets Bored?

Simply put, they become destructive machines. In their quest to entertain themselves, dogs can chew your furniture, bark incessantly, dig holes in your yard… You know, become a headache.

The reason behind this destructive behavior is simple. Our dogs were raised to work with humans, so, just like us, they can easily become bored without proper stimulation. However, since dogs can’t exactly maintain a job or a hobby like us, they’re left with an energy overcharge by the end of the day. And in their hopes to keep their minds distracted, they start entertaining themselves through the only ways a dog knows: mindless destruction.

Benefits of Keeping Your Dog Busy

Studies have found that dogs that don’t stimulate themselves exhibit more behavioral issues, such as anxiety and aggression, while those who do show a more obedient demeanor.

Although you could simply hire an obedience trainer to deal with an angry dog, it’s still important that you keep your pet entertained and happy in order to keep it healthy. An active, mentally challenged dog will become content and more obedient, and needless to say, less destructive.

How to Entertain a Dog

Here are some tips in order to keep your dog entertained:

• Hide some treats and let your dog find out where they are.
• Tug war is a mental and physical interactive challenge for every dog.
• If you can’t afford a pet sitter, create a walking routine to take your dog out for a few minutes. Allowing them to smell their surroundings adds mental stimulation.
• Interactive dog toys, such as treat dispensers, are excellent boredom relievers.
• An obedience training and learning new tricks burns lots of mental energy.
• Although it might take a while to teach them, giving your dog as simple job and teaching them to work for their food is something they’ll love.
• Again, if you can’t afford a pet sitter, arrange a special playdate for your dog. Although, make sure that your pet has all of their vaccinations before doing so. 
• Consider building a digging box to entertain your dog (and to save your yard).
• Make it possible for your dog to swim. Either use a small pool or take your dog to a lake every now and then.
• Any toy, particularly balls and chewing toys, will keep your dog mentally balanced.

Summary

How do you mentally stimulate a dog?

Make your dog work for its good, let it socialize, give it some puzzle toys, teach it some new tricks and make obstacle games for dogs. These are excellent tools for mental stimulation.

How can I stop my dog from being bored?

Give some exercise routines for your dog, as only then it will become physically and mentally occupied. If you can’t arrange playdates, training classes or puppy dates, then consider hiring a pet sitter to do the job for you.

Bottom Line

As you noticed, you can do most of these activities by yourself without a pet sitter, as long as you commit yourself to a regular play schedule with your dog and if you know how to entertain a dog when you’re not home. The benefits of walking your dog, playing with it and spending some time with it are multiple, and affect not only your dog’s mental and physical health, but yours as well. However, keep in mind this keyword: commitment; if you can’t set a schedule for you and your dog, you should also consider the benefits of pet sitting from pet sitters who know by experience how to entertain a dog and stimulate it physically and mentally. Because, again, what do pet sitters do? Basically, what other pet owner can do…when they have the time for it.