My dog gets bored easily when left alone. She will start chewing her hair, metal railings (I've found glittering powder in her pee before), chasing her tail or eating her own poo. Is there anything I can give to her to keep her occupied for 5-6 hours. She already has a lot of chew toys, but she seems to enjoy chewing something harder. I gave her raw hide bones to chew before but she almost ate the whole thing, which worried me. By the way, she is 5-month old and very tiny (3.6 pounds).
2006-12-04 12:43:30 · 14 answers · asked by Bui Bui 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Okay, obviously your pooch needs a hobby -- wouldn't you if you were left alone for 5-6 hours at a time with nothing much to do?
She chews not just because she's bored, though -- she's a puppy, still growing teeth, which itches and hurts like crazy. Puppies have to chew!
So you have two reasons for chewing, and need two approaches, but both have one thing in common-- first, exercise!
Before you leave, play with her for half an hour. She's small, so running around your house or apartment is like jogging in the park for her. She definitely needs to burn off her puppy energy, and dogs are social animals, so she'll do it best with you.
After the play session is when the two-pronged attack comes in. For the boredom, toys that take some work. A rawhide chew is just there, and while they are great (if you're there to supervise), they don't offer much mental stimulation. There are rubber balls with holes that dispense food (so you could give her breakfast kibble in her ball when you leave), other balls that let you record a message AND dispense treats, or rubber bones you can squeeze Kong Stuffin' into (basically meat-flavored cheez whiz for dogs). All of these provide entertainment.
For the painful teething, you can either buy "teether bones" that can be placed in the fridge or freezer and given to your dog, or tie a knot in the middle of an old (clean) washcloth, soak in water, wring out, and freeze - give it to her frozen, then rinse, wring and refreeze when it thaws.
The biggest thing is you want to make sure that any toy is big enough so that she can't get the whole thing in her mouth at once, and strong enough so that she can't shred it.
When you get home, time for another play session!
2006-12-04 12:54:46 · answer #1 · answered by peculiarpup 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have a couple of suggestions. First of all, try those rubber balls that you can hide food inside of. Kong balls I believe. You can also try to play with her allot and run her outside and tire her out before you leave. It sounds like she has way too much energy for the amount of time that she is alone. What about also taking her to a place that will watch her and give her attention while you are away. like a doggie babysitter? or doggie daycare?
2006-12-04 20:58:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should have thought of this before buying a dog. It's unfair to leave a dog alone in the house for long hours. They become boered and chew everything in sight.Any chance of getting someone to take the dog for an interesting walkies while you are out?
2006-12-04 20:50:11 · answer #3 · answered by Boris 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
She's a puppy. That's what they do. She'll eventually outgrow it, but for now you can try one of those rubber chewing things they sell at petsmart. They have holes in the middle so you can put treats or peanut butter in the middle and it takes them forever to get it out. That will entertain her for awhile. Also I don't think it's bad for her to eat a whole rawhide.
2006-12-04 20:53:37 · answer #4 · answered by roci 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
how to keep your little 5-month old dog to be occupied,at that age they are very active little dog.first of all your doing things alright for what i am reading.at that age they try to eat every things they see even glittering powder,appease of paper,little rocks and even more things.but for me what most in portent is to see a vet because she is eating her poop.but i am not sure why she eating her poop,maybe i said maybe she is messing like kind of vitamin,there maybe not an-ought in her puppy food.take her to the vet he will no something about it.
2006-12-04 21:13:36 · answer #5 · answered by cilia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A. she needs to be crate trained and left in the crate anytime you can't have eyes on her
B. fill a Kong with cream cheese and freeze it, that will take a while for her to clean out
C. never leave your dog with rawhide unsupervised.
Crate training is really your answer. Your dog is feeling insecure being alone in a large place by herself. She needs a small den (crate) to feel comforted and alleviate her stress.
2006-12-04 20:46:01 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
give her a kong filled with mince meat packed in tightly or a toy that allows you to put biscuits in the middle and leaves a small opening for them to try adn get the biscuits out, make sure you hide the toys in strategic places so she finds them by surprise....maybe hide them where she chews things most often.....good luck!
2006-12-04 20:47:08 · answer #7 · answered by doofynic 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
well it sounds like she has separation anxiety like my dog! with my dog we keep her in the crate but she still will chew everything she gets near her cage! but if it really becomes that much of a problem u can take her to the vet and they can give u meds for her to calm her down! or if u goto petsmart they have a liqiud u poor into their water and it calms them down! but i hope i helped! so good luck!
2006-12-04 20:51:00 · answer #8 · answered by ☮Dano922☮ 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No rawhide! IT GIVES MY DOG PROBLEMS< SHE" A BIGGER DOG TOO! yOUr dog is very little! Do you play with the dog? Let the dog have outside time. Maybe she needs some walking.
2006-12-04 20:51:13 · answer #9 · answered by regwoman123 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sound like my dog lol. try and see if your neighbor has a dog that yours doesnt really mind and see if they can have fun together. and dogs love football. i taught mine how to play football and it is amazingly fun. (this works with just about any sport.)
2006-12-04 20:56:40 · answer #10 · answered by Beefy Noodles 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋