Boredom is a common problem for many pet owners, but some may not always recognize the signs. When dogs are bored, they don’t watch TV or wander around the mall looking for a good sale on shoes; they bark, chew, dig, and generally make pests out of themselves. My youngest dog has learned that nothing livens up a quiet afternoon more than trying to grab yarn from my knitting basket and run off with it, while I’m knitting! Rather than punish our dogs for just trying to entertain themselves, we can help them find more acceptable outlets.

Walks: Taking a dog for a walk certainly isn’t a new concept, but it may surprise some to learn that walking for exercise may not actually be what your dog needs. Turid Rugaas, a world renowned trainer and author suggests that what dogs really need are 30 to 60 minute walks during which they can stop and sniff whatever they’d like, for as long as they’d like. Sniffing for dogs is the human equivalent of reading the newspaper, or watching the news. I challenge you to try this for a week. Yes, your dog will stop and sniff everything, and it will seem like “forever”. Take a deep breath, and relax. If the walk is supposed to be exercise for you, considering taking a brisk walk in the morning to get your heart rate up, and more leisurely walk in the evening for Fido’s benefit.

Throw ‘em a bone: Giving your dog something to chew on can keep it entertained for hours. Cooked bones are always a no, no, but large, raw bones from your butcher or pet store can be a treat. If you don’t like the idea, or mess, of actual bones, there are plenty of eatable alternatives at your local pet store. Figure out what your dog likes and try giving him one the next time you want to settle in for the night with your favorite TV show or book.

Make meals more interesting: Wild dogs and their relatives spend more than a few minutes, or a few seconds if we’re talking about my dogs, gobbling up their meals from a bowl. They use up a lot of physical and mental energy foraging and hunting, which we can simulate for our domesticated friends. A great toy for this is a red, rubber toy called a Kong. A portion of your dog’s dry kibble soaked in water, canned, or raw food spooned into a Kong and frozen overnight becomes a tasty dog popsicle. Some of my other favorite toys to make mealtimes fun are the Treatstik and the Buster Cube.

All dogs can benefit from these sorts of activities, but for some their “bad” habits are too ingrained to disappear so easily. If that is the case for your dog, it might be time to enlist the help of a professional trainer. Make sure to pick a trainer who uses positive methods. After all, it’s unfair to punish our dogs for just trying to make their own fun.