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June 27th
Dogs are some of the smartest pets around. They’re curious, active animals that need a lot of stimulation, and they tend to get bored if they have to sit around all day.
Many of the most common behavioral issues seen with dogs are a result of boredom. Dogs will try to keep themselves busy when bored, which may lead to barking, chewing, or jumping up on people.
Training is one of the most effective ways of getting rid of these behavioral problems. But you can also deal with them by making sure that your dog always receives enough mental stimulation.
Here are some easy ways of keeping your dog happy and engaged.
Is your dog running around the house, jumping up on you, or bouncing on and off furniture? These are all signs that your dog has a lot of energy that they need to burn off.
One of the best ways of getting your dog exercise is to take them on daily walks. If you like to run, you can take your dog along to let them blow off some steam.
Playing with them in the yard is also one of the best ways of keeping them engaged and letting them run around. Just make sure that they are behaving as they play, and not digging or biting.
Training burns off a lot of energy. It takes a lot of concentration and focus for a dog to pay attention while training. Regular training can help your dog stay sharp, while letting them expend a lot of energy at the same time.
Use positive reinforcement to keep things lighthearted as you train. By staying positive, you’re much more likely to keep your dog engaged. Even if you just train for a few minutes a day, you can make a lot of progress, and use up a lot of your dog’s energy.
Dogs like to use their mouth to explore the world around them. By giving them toys to play with, you can keep them engaged and active without any risk of your furniture being destroyed.
Try to pick toys that will mentally stimulate your dog. Toys that dispense food are a good place to start, as they force your dog to solve a problem if they want to get a reward. These toys use up a lot of energy and may keep your dog entertained for hours.
You can also choose chew toys, which are often the most popular toy type for dogs. Just be careful when giving your dog rawhide treats or bones, as they can break and get lodged in their digestive tract.
It’s important that you keep your dog stimulated by rotating their toys every so often. This will keep them from getting bored and acting out. Switching toys is also good hygienic practice, as bacteria can quickly grow on toys.
Nothing engages a dog quite like playing with their friends. Dog play dates are a great way of stimulating your dog and letting them use up some energy.
Dog parks are one of the best ways to find playmates. A trip to the dog park every week or so is a great way of ensuring that your dog doesn’t get bored, and also teach them how to properly socialize.
If you want to challenge your dog and keep them stimulated mentally, consider enrolling them in a training class. They can learn basic obedience commands, as well as interact with other dogs. By the time they get home, they’ll have used up just about all of their energy.
Dogs that sit alone at home all day tend to get bored. Although some may be able to cope with this solitude, many will start acting out by barking and chewing.
If you notice that your dog is having issues during the day, consider taking them to doggy daycare. This is one of the best ways of keeping your dog active throughout the day when you’re not around to entertain them. They’ll also get to spend more time with other dogs, which is one of the healthiest ways for them to burn energy.
You can also hire a dog walker to take your dog out a few times a day. Although not quite as engaging as doggy daycare, dog walkers are an excellent way of keeping your dog from getting stir crazy.
Just make sure that you do plenty of research before picking a dog walker or a doggy daycare center. Many discount options will try to sell their services at a low price, but won’t take proper care of your dog. Try to find as many reviews and testimonials as you can, and consider doing a few short trial periods to find the right fit.
If you still haven’t found the perfect canine companion, head over to our puppy finder. At Uptown Puppies, we work with some of the best breeders and companies around to connect you to the right dog.
Every breeder and company we work with follows the strictest ethical standards when raising their dogs. That means no puppy mills and no backyard breeders.
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