One of the most enduring problems a dog owner who has a day job to do has to deal with is his dog?s boredom. When left alone, and especially in closed doors, your dog is bound to feel lonely, inactive, and bored to the point of dog insanity.

That is why you always find your house completely trashed when you come back from home. Your dog is essentially not wired to stay put for long hours without doing anything. Therefore, you have to find a way to help your dog (and yourself, in the process) overcome his boredom.

Here are 5 tips to overcome dog boredom:

Tip #1: A Morning Walk

Every dog needs exercise although for different lengths of time. However, if you are going to work, you should make sure to walk your dog before leaving. That helps him relax and takes away some of his morning energy. You may find him asleep when you make it back home.

Of course, the longer the walk the better chances of your dog being relaxed when you leave for work.

Here are 6 tips to master a dog walk.

Tip #2: Puzzles and Nose Games

You can reduce your dog?s boredom by playing with his favourite treats. Hide them around the house and let him sniff them out. When he gets too good at that, you can purchase a few dog puzzles and ask him to solve them. This way keeps him mentally busy and not looking forward to making a mess around the house. You can also use Tip #3 as a bonus.

Tip #3: Build a Digging Box

I think a dog?s favourite thing to do in the world is digging for something, and sometimes for nothing. If you can find a way to build a box and have your dog?s favourite toy hidden deep in there, he won?t be digging anywhere else around the house. In fact, after a few treats and positive feedback, your dog will understand that the box is the only acceptable place to dig. Digging Problem Solved.

Tip #4: Train to Relax

You definitely have to teach your dog the five basic commands, but you should do more. Try following a relaxation training protocol where you can teach your dog to do nothing and just relax. It is hard both in theory and practice, but it does help a lot.
Many dog owners have said that after months of training and unsuccessful attempts, their dog can be as lazy as possible when they are away. However, that means your dog has a lot of energy you need burn out when you come back home.

Tip #5: Hire Someone

Until your dog can master all of the 4 tips above, you will have an active dog ready to trash the house. That is why you should consider leaving him with a dog walker or simply at a friend?s house where he can play with them all day.
That is both good for relieving his boredom and socialising him with other humans and pets if possible. In other words, it is a win-win situation.

Conclusion

It is important to keep your dog entertained. You may be at work, but his mind is always at work. That?s why having him doing something relaxing while you are away is the best way to overcome his boredom.

About the author:
Sam is a proud dog owner and writer. He has his own pet blog DiamondPup, where he publishes articles about dog breeds, training, and more. He aims to help make the world a better, safer place for all dogs by helping dog owners understand their dogs and their needs.