Bored Doodles...what do they REALLY look like?

[Adina P]

Every now and then I read about others getting the impression that their doodles are bored because they are lying around, doing nothing, looking 'sad', or something akin to that.  To me a dog laying around, relaxing is a dog that is perfectly content. 

 

Bored to me looks like Boca the second we sit down on the couch and if she were to instruct another dog to mimic her the instructions would look like this (substitute your brother/sister for "Rosco"):

1.  Poke Mom and Dad a few times asking for petting.

2.  When petting ceases poke them again, especially if laptops are on their laps.

3.  You will probably be told to 'back up' because they can't see their keyboard if your head is there.

4.  Pace back and forth through living room.

5.  Go ring the bell* to go out.

6.  Walk back to living room.

7.  Circle around Rosco whose being boring by lying on the floor at their feet.

8.  Ring bell again

9.  Return because bell is being ignored.

10.  Poke Mom and Dad

11.  Walk over Rosco a few times

12. Poke Rosco

13.  Keep poking Rosco (occasionally this will result in some wrestling so keep at it!).

14.  Ring bell

15.  Ring bell

16.  Pace back and forth from bell to living room a few times.

17.  Ring bell

18.  Stare at Mom and Dad and if possible, poke again.

19.  Ring bell.

 

THIS to me is the picture of boredom.  NOT Rosco who is laying there perfectly content to warm our toes. So to me when I see dogs/doodles laying around and chillaxin' I think 'Ahhhh, what happy content doggies!"  When I see Boca I feel bad because I'm DONE for the day and she's just caught her second wind...I also feel bad for me because her energy at that time drives me a bit bonkers...okay a lot bonkers.  Time to buy some new bones for her to chew on, I think!

 

*At this point in the night ringing the bell is 99% simply for the purpose of being outside, possibly digging, possibly finding her favorite ball and digging with it or if she's lucky getting a game of fetch.  Said activities are generally 95% of the reason she rings the bell through the day. 

[Michael Gurley]

Sunny does this with absolutely every toy she can shove under the entertainment center. Right now there are 3 tennis balls, 2 bouncy balls, a kong, 2 small rabbit toys (from a magic hat I stuff 3 rabbits into as a game) and a blue fuzzy toy under there. She'll play bow and "try" to get a toy out, then stare back at me until I get one of them and throw it!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

What if it is our dogs that think we are bored?

 

It goes like this:  So long as you look busy (on your feet and not on the phone) they are fine.  The minute you sit down they think you are bored.    For Tigger, it is "Here I will bring Mom my piggie, I am sure she is bored, she is sitting down".  Roo climbs in my lap which means I cannot see the TV, my Ipad or my book.  I can,  however, pet him, therefore I am not bored.  Or alternatively one of them will bark a single bark to see if that will spark any interest,  if not bark and run outside, because Mom is a slow learner, just a bark is often inadequate to get her moving.  Also it will get the brother dog moving, then we can all play.

 

Dogs rarely sit for any lenght of time.  They stand, walk, run and lay down.  My dogs ( even my son's three huskies who I am dog sitting right now) understand perfectly well when I lay down.  "Oh, mom wants to rest, let's rest too." And they all lay down.  But let me sit and the fun begins, because clearly I am bored. Really who would sit when they could play or sleep?

[F, Calla & Luca]

Excellent points!! So nice to know the dogs are thinking of our well being.

[Bonnie and Kona]

That is so clearly stated. I'm grateful for this new insight. The only issue though is my 4 year old guy is a sleeper. My 11 month old is bored spitless and really ready for trouble regardless of my body position.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I am soooo glad I never did the bell thing.  We get the poking all the time but we know exactly what Gracie wants.  I never have to have that nagging in the back of my mind "does she really need to go out?" because she has a doggie door that takes her to the patio part of our yard!!!!  I would go crazy with bells!!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I have to agree Adina! At our house a flat doodle is a resting doodle. A bored doodle is an annoying doodle. :)

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

But you gotta love them!!!!  ha ha  What would life be without them :(

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I love Tara even when she is annoying!!  :) I don't even want to THINK about life without little TaraBear!

[Donna K & Quincy]

So what you are all telling me is that this is not a bored doodle. The bored doodle is the one stealing shoes, cushions, toilet tissue, dish towels, eye glasses and socks.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Exactamundo!

The above photo is an illustration of the word contented.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

That is not a bored Doodle...there is a huge difference.  But he is a clean Doodle for sure!!!

[sandy b]

Yes, clean and contented!!