Have you ever wondered why your dog is exhibiting a certain behavior, are they being naughty or could it be that they are bored? Has someone told you that dogs don't get bored and you disagree? Read this article to find out exactly what dog boredom means.

Dogs are highly intelligent and social creatures. Without sufficient mental and physical stimulation, social interactions, novelty, and variety, they can become bored. Each dog will have their own limits as to how easily they become bored but some, especially high-drive breeds, can become bored very quickly if they are not worked and entertained.
A bored dog is a stressed
dog. Behavioral issues can result from boredom and they are normally
destructive. When dogs
are bored they make their own entertainment. Unfortunately for you, this tends to involve digging up your garden or chewing your
favorite pair of shoes.
If your dog suddenly becomes lethargic or depressed do not assume that they are bored. In fact, this can be a sign that they are not feeling well and you will need to take them to the vet.
For bored dog solutions, read my article, '5 Brilliant Ways to Prevent Dog Boredom'
1. Stealing
A dog
that steals food off the counter, random objects from around the
house, and items from the bin may be bored. They may be feeling
a little lonely and they are seeking some attention. The last time
they ran off with your shoe you chased them around for hours, which
was great fun! Of course, when stealing food, they may also just be
opportunistic.
2. Excessive Barking
A common
reason for a dog to bark excessively is to get their owners' attention
because they are bored. However, barking doesn't automatically mean
that your dog is bored as they will bark for a variety of reasons,
including:
- They become excited during play
- It is a learned behavior; for example, if your dog barks at you because he wants to go on a walk, and you take him on one, he will learn that barking gets you to take him out
- They are in pain
- They have obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Alerting their owners to visitors
- Timid dogs may bark at strangers due to fear
- Distressed barking due to separation anxiety (more about separation anxiety later on)
However,
'nuisance' barking may develop when a dog is bored, for example, when
they are left on their own for an extended period of time. When a dog
has nothing to do barking can become the default behavior. They may
bark because they are attention seeking and they want you to interact
with them. If they are excessively barking then it's important to
determine the reason for their behavior, but boredom is certainly a
valid cause.
3. Hyperactive
Dogs that
are very excitable and have lots of pent-up energy may be bored and
in need of some extra mental and physical stimulation. Although
exercise is important don't forget that dogs also need to be mentally
challenged, such as via training.
4. Digging
Although
digging is normal behavior, it can also be a sign of a bored dog
that is trying to busy itself. As well as boredom, dogs dig because
they are trying to escape, bury objects, they are hot and want to dig a cooling pit, or because they are predisposed to digging due
to their breed, such as terriers. If your dog is excessively digging
it is important to try and understand the reasons why, and establish whether or not you should be concerned.
5. Chewing
Like
digging, chewing is also normal behavior. However, it can easily become
a problem if they are excessively chewing or chewing items not meant
for them. There's a difference between enjoying a dental chew stick
now and again, and chewing the cushions every time you leave them on
their own.
Many dogs chew because they are bored, but again, it's not
a conclusion you can jump to straight away. Dogs also chew because
they are teething, they are exploring their environment, due to
separation anxiety (more on separation anxiety later), or because they
enjoy it. Many dogs chew as a way of relieving stress and anxiety,
which can certainly be a result of boredom.

6. Separation Anxiety
A dog who
has separation anxiety will often be extremely vocal, chew, and may
inappropriately eliminate while you are gone. Some of the signs are
similar to a dog who is bored.
However,
separation anxiety is a dog's version of a panic attack. If you set up a camera and film them while you are gone you will see that they are
extremely anxious, whereas a dog who is bored will probably destroy
your home in a more relaxed manner. A bored dog usually knows that
their behavior was wrong and they will look guilty on your return,
whereas a dog who has separation anxiety is less aware that their
behavior was inappropriate. They are so wildly excited when you
finally return that they are unaware that you might be angry. Dogs
who are generally anxious and nervous are more likely to suffer from
separation anxiety, rather than those who are generally calm in
nature.
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