Is my dog bored?

What boredom looks like in a dog

The AKC’s list is familiar to most owners: chewed furniture and shoes, shredded pillows, unrolled toilet paper, holes in the yard, tipped-over trash, a dog who keeps asking for attention, jumps on people and barks too much. Merck makes the important point: chewing, stealing, raiding the trash and digging are normal things dogs do, and they become “destructive” when a dog is unsupervised with nothing better to do. So boredom is less about a bad dog and more about a day that doesn’t use the dog up.

Boredom or separation anxiety?

They can look alike, because both can show up as damage while you are out. The differences sources point to: bored dogs usually don’t look anxious (ASPCA); young dogs often chew and dig whether you are home or not (ASPCA); and dogs with separation anxiety chew only, or most intensely, when left alone, along with other signs of distress like pacing, drooling and trying to get out. The AKC suggests ruling out separation anxiety when destruction comes with a clingy dog. If that sounds familiar, the separation anxiety test checks it.

How much exercise does a dog need?

There is no single number that fits every dog, and none of the sources I trust gives one. What they do say: high-energy breeds such as Labradors and Border Collies need at least an hour of intense exercise most days, while flat-faced breeds like Pugs and Bulldogs may be content with a few short walks (AKC). Humane World suggests walking a dog at least twice a day. And steady beats occasional: VCA favors a short daily walk over one long weekend outing. Puppies have plenty of energy but need it in short bursts (AKC).

Enrichment that works

• Sniffing. Unhurried walks where your dog gets to sniff (VCA), and scent games with treats hidden around the house (AKC).
• Food puzzles and snuffle mats instead of a bowl for one meal (VCA).
• Training. Five to ten minutes of commands or tricks every day (Humane World); mental work tires a dog out too (VCA).
• Chewing. Plenty of the dog’s own toys and inedible chews (ASPCA).
• Play. Daily walks and outings, play with other dogs, tug and fetch (ASPCA).

The free 30-day enrichment calendar gives you one activity a day, and my enrichment guide has more ideas, with safety notes.

Breed and age matter

Working, herding and terrier types were bred to work, and VCA says they need a job, or play that gives them as much to do; terriers and other diggers may dig because they were bred to (Humane World). Puppies of 3 to 6 months chew because they are teething (VCA). But dogs of every age and ability benefit from mental stimulation (VCA), including seniors.

What not to do

• Don’t punish after the fact. The ASPCA advises against showing your dog the damage and scolding; VCA notes it only adds anxiety.
• Don’t crate for hours to prevent chewing. The ASPCA says not to crate a dog for lengthy periods, more than six hours, for that reason.
• Don’t muzzle to stop chewing (ASPCA).
• Don’t reach for a bark collar first. The ASPCA calls anti-bark collars punishment devices, not a first choice, and AVSAB advises against tools that work through pain.

When it is something else

A dog on a calorie-restricted diet may chew and destroy things out of hunger (ASPCA). A behavior that repeats the same way again and again can be a sign of a deeper problem; Merck notes repetitive behaviors can develop when an environment keeps failing to provide outlets. In either case, talk to your vet.