A Guest Post By Peyton King
It’s been a long day at work. No, it’s been the longest day at work. You have been bombarded with assignments and clients all day long. The phone never stopped ringing, and your to-do list never got shorter. Actually, I think it got longer. Yup, definitely longer.
But the time is here, the time is now. It’s the time of day you have been yearning for since you sat down at your desk. Finally, it’s time to go home.
Walking triumphantly out to your car, you’re practically salivating at the thought of being able to lay down on your couch and binge watch Game of Thrones for the fourth time through. Popcorn, a cold drink, the works, and not to mention your adorable pooch to curl up next to you to mourn another work day.
You bust in the door only to find beloved Fido darting into their kennel, white fuzz creating a trail behind them. You’re so shocked you stand there in the open doorway for a few moments just taking in the sight before you.
Shreds of paper from the junk mail you left on the counter are sprinkled around the room like a multi-colored snowfall. Plastic bits from a hanger, sharper than legos, are scattered and almost appear to be embedded into the carpet. Your favorite DVD has been ripped in half because you forgot to put it back in its case. And every book off the bottom shelf of your bookcase has been pulled off and earnestly destroyed cover to cover.
Ah, the working dog blues.
You know what I’m talking about. The blues that encase you when your loving baby decides to destroy your home while you’re away.
The thing is that they don’t do this on purpose. Wait what? Yes, I said it. Your working dog doesn’t want to do these things. Working breeds are called working dogs for a reason. They need a job to do.
When we leave for work or school, or to go out, and they’re home alone, they don’t have a job to do. When they don’t have any work, they get bored. This natural burst of energy must be expelled somehow, and they HAVE to do something about it. This energy release results in the lovely scene depicted above, which ultimately results in an over-energized dog who feels guilty for something they had almost no control over.
The beautiful thing is, even as hopeless as this seems, there is an answer to the madness. You have to give that working dog a job.
Here are thirteen ways to occupy your working breed while you are away from home:
- Exercise your dog. This may seem like the most obvious answer, and that’s because it is. Most of us work at least 6-8 hours each day, making it 6-8 hours that your dog is cooped up inside with all that energy we talked about. Try taking your dog for two walks. One walk in the morning and one walk in the afternoon should do it. These don’t have to be long walks but think about it. Your dog is going from you sleeping and not occupying it, to you leaving and not occupying it. By engaging with your pup first thing in the morning, you’re allowing for a release of that energy. Then, he can anticipate another when you get home. This can be beneficial for both of you getting a little more exercise and getting a routine in place.
- Let your dog watch some TV. You might be thinking, excuse me? Television? Do you actually think the dog is going to watch television? Yes, actually. Turn on Animal Planet or Chromecast DogTV from YouTube onto your screen. The sounds of other animals and music will occupy and engage your dog’s attention in an otherwise silent household.
- Pull back the curtains! Consider this the live play version of television. Allowing your dog to watch what’s going on around him or her will help to bring them some joy from seeing other people. If you have a premier barker, this may not be your best option as they try to chase the mailman through the window.
- Find a hollow toy and fill it with peanut butter or other dog treats. This one is a winner for sure. The energetic pup will focus on the toy and getting every tasty morsel from its hollowed clutches. Luckily, this type of brain stimulation takes a lot of work. Try and put a soft substance like peanut butter or squeezable dog treats (they should have them at the pet store) and put pieces of dog food or small treats inside to stick to the soft treat. This will add an extra challenge.
- Give your dog something that smells like you to play with. A sure-fire winner at my house is a tied up pair of old lacrosse socks. Something about the well-worn socks makes them ideal toys for my working dog. Forget the $20 toy we got at the store, give her the socks all day, every day. For an added boost of distraction, tie the clothing to something stable (and I mean VERY stable) like a pillar to allow them to play tug o’ war with.
- Try a puzzle toy! A puzzle toy will quite literally give your job a job. Some of them can actually be quite difficult. There’s a ton of them out there on the market. Go to your local pet store to see what they have or check them out online.
- Freeze toys, bones, or treats in a block of ice. I’m sure you can picture it now… your working dog going IN on a block of ice with a tasty treat sticking just barely out of the top. This is a job that could absolutely last for at least an hour or two. Be cautious of any toys or treats that may have dye that could stain carpet or flooring.
- Schedule a walk with a dog walker! A dog walker may just be a solution for you, and it works for many others. There are several apps out there now where pet lovers come out to walk your working dog for reasonable prices. They also have all types of coupons out there. It’s kind of like Doggy Uber, helping your dog go out and expend some energy on a walk instead of your furniture.
- Create a space just for them. Giving your dog their own space makes it something special for them. Pick a space that feels safe and comfortable, and add upon it. Pick a corner or a space that will be almost like a den for them. Fill it with toys, blankets, and a few things that smell like you. This will no doubt become a favorite spot for your dog.
- Play a passive game while you’re away. To occupy your dog, occupy his nose. Before you leave in the morning, or afternoon, set up a game of hide and seek. In each corner, nook, and cranny, hide a treat in a sock, a treat toy, or something you quite honestly don’t mind being destroyed.
- Get a bubble machine. While this may not be ideal for some households, on tile or laminate flooring, this is an easy cleanup for guaranteed fun. Your pup will be jumping, tumbling, and lunging for each bubble as they emerge.
- Check out orthopedic pet beds for your dog. The comfier the mattress the more enticing it will be for your dog. However, if you have a regular destroyer of stuffed animals, this may not be the option for you.
- Get a Doggy Cam. You know the ones I’m talking about. The doggy cams that almost slightly remind you of a baby monitor? Yeah, that one. You can see them, hear them, and more. With some of the more expensive, technical models, you can even talk to the dog and eject treats from the camera. Now, that’s for sure one way to check-in and make sure your ficus plant isn’t being scattered around your home.
Do you have a working dog? How do you keep him occupied? Please share your secrets for keeping him out of trouble in the comments below!
