Bored?

[Taylor & Huff]

Huff seems to always be bored. When we are at the the shop,  he sleeps because most of the time we are too busy to play with him. We can't walk him because he goes to the shop everyday and I am hardly allowed outside by myself and my parents are too busy. We come home pretty late and have dinner around 9pm. He sleeps before dinner, plays a little after dinner, sleeps, then he goes to bed. I think he sleeps too much. He never used to be like this before. Is he just getting old? He is only 1 and 1/2 years old. He has been like this for a while. Do you think he is sick? He still eats and does everything else normally. Is he just in the doodle doldrums? What can we do to help? I don't want to have to adopt him out......

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Could you get a dog walker to come get him at the shop and have him walked during the day?  These doodles really need their exercise.  It does sound like he might be bored.  Could you play some training games with him or get a few new toys that require him to figure it out? 

[Taylor & Huff]

The only thing about a dog walker is, I am afraid that he might let go of Huff and Huff will get hit by a car. We bought a toy that you can put treats in and he kicks it around and they fall out but my mom says that it will probably cause cancer because it is made in China and it kind of smells rubbery. That is the only puzzle toy we can give him because he kind of ignores Kongs and he makes too mush noise with the hard plastic puzzle toy.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

My guys are definitely bored because it's been very hard to get them the exercise they need with our snow and freezing weather.  I doubt that he is sick.  I've been trying to play inside a lot more with my guys....that seems to perk them up for a while, but they are definitely sleeping more than normal.  How about some good chew toys or bones (safe ones)?

[Taylor & Huff]

Do you have any chew toys or bones you recommend? We got him a filled knuckle bone (the meaty ones are kind of too messy) and he kept breaking pieces off and we are worried he would swallow them.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

The same thing happened with Tara around this age or a little earlier. I think part of it is probably boredom but also he is growing up and out growing some of the wild puppy behaviors that you are accustomed to seeing.  I remember being concerned about Tara seeming lethargic and not playing as much too. But she actually was just calming down and becoming more mature.

 

 

 

 

[Adina P]

I think he sounds like a normal dog.  Adult dogs don't typically bounce around all day, they just chill out and hang out with the family as he is doing.  That doesn't necessarily mean he's bored.  Boredom comes from realizing what you could be doing or what you'd rather be doing.  It's more likely a bored dog that WANTS more to do will find something to do.  I think he's content.  Now he may still need more exercise for his health ... but I don't think he's thinking about needing more exercise. In other words he is not bemoaning his fate..he's content.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Adina, when they can't get out for as many walks, do you think that they're "missing that" or not?  I keep wondering about this....probably because I'm feeling a little frustrated because we aren't able to walk like we used to.

[Adina P]

Maybe but I don't think a dog is nearly as frustrated as you feel about not taking them on walks.  Rosco lays around all day and sleeps and then at night he and Boca  get into loud, outrageous, zooming through the house wrestling matches.  If he got more walks he'd probably spend MORE time napping when he's inside.  In other words a dog who does nothing all day isn't going to feel like doing more after a walk.  He'll probably be even mellower.  So napping lots isn't an issue of boredom as much as 'there isn't anything going on so I'll relax and nap''

[F, Calla & Luca]

I don't usually take my two on as many walks as I have been! Usually they run around the yard more and have their mock battles. But since the yard is knee high in snow that's more difficult. I'm trying to find new and different parking lots we can explore. If they are large enough we don't even have to go around in circles too many times. The dogs seem to like it and it's good for me, too. The parking lots seem to be in better shape than the sidewalks, we don't have any right where I live anyhow. Then too you don't come across huge blockages forcing you out into the road.

[Frances Pendrous (Horan)]

This happened to my Frankie Girl around this age too, even thought we walked her twice a day because we live in a place that hardly has any bad weather. Then.....the miracle happened...we rescued "Johnny" and her playful puppy self came back. They play and romp constantly. She has actually lost some weight (which she needed to do) and we have our old puppy back again. It makes my heart good to see the old puppy play come back...the lawn looks like puppy kindergarten with all the toys scattered around and the grass is no longer there, but it is a small price to pay to see her leap and jump around once more. So the solution to you problem is.....ha ha...get another dog for Huff to play with :)

[Taylor & Huff]

I want to do that but my mom and dad won't let me. I don't think we could get away with taking two dogs to the mall and other places like that.

[BG and Gavin]

I think Huff is very lucky because he gets to be at your shop and around his people all day long as opposed to many of our doods who have to be home alone most of the day while their humans earn money to buy them expensive kibble.  Maybe you can talk with your parents about a safe time and place for you and your sister or another friend to take Huff for a walk.  Maybe you could take him to a dog park or a fenced in ball diamond and let him run.  Also maybe you could try to meet a friend with a dog and walk them together - that might make your parents feel more secure.