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While we love the relaxing effect dogs have on our lifestyle, sometimes relaxing is the last thing on your pup’s mind. With a busy modern life, it can be hard to keep a young or energetic dog entertained. If you are finding your dog showing signs of boredom while you are trying to work, here are some bite-sized, coffee-break boredom busters you can fit into every day.


Dog’s were bred to work with us. Each breed had a specific job to do.


But while humans have extended their work hours, most dogs have been given a holiday. We might think a modern pet’s luxurious life is a blessing, but for a lot of dogs being a couch potato just doesn’t fulfill them. 


If a dog is understimulated it can often lead to them finding their own entertainment. The symptoms of boredom in dogs can range widely, but usually means them finding their way into something we’d rather they didn’t, excessive digging or barking at every passer-by!

So how to stop dog boredom? Exercise is, of course, the best way to entertain your dog. A good long walk will work wonders for creating a calm canine. 


But if your dog needs more than a walk to keep them quiet while you get some work done, here are a heap of quick boredom busters that you can fit into a coffee-break. 


1) Go Fetch!

Fetch is such a simple and classic game for a reason. It works! Fetch gives your dog a purpose, a job, and is a super simple way to burn that mental and physical energy quickly. If you have a small yard or nearby, use your coffee break to get 10 minutes of fetch in, a sure-fire way to a happy pup. 


2) New Tricks

Dog’s love food, but they also love learning. In fact, research shows dogs prefer working for their food. Why not learn a new trick a week or a new one a month? Keep score on a chart, and add 10 minutes a day. A short time like this is ample for building up to a new skill. You could try rollover, stall, paws up, or even work towards our next tip…

3) Do Your Chores

While we may find chores a drag, your dog might just love them. Teaching your dog to help out can be a great stimulation exercise and less work for you! You could teach them to tidy their toys into a box, to help you carry laundry, or even collect sticks for your firewood. Get creative!


4) Nose Games

A dog’s nose is a thing of wonder and a great way to draw your dogs’ attention. Hide treats around the house or garden for a drawn-out treasure hunt. Or play a quick game of guess which hand the treat is in! 


5) Puzzle Toys

There are lots of great boredom-busting toys on the market that are aimed at helping with stimulation. For example, Kong’s can be stuffed with peanut butter, to make for a tasty hour for your pooch spent reaching it with their tongue. Snuffle mats are a way to get your dog searching and scratching around happily for a while. Dispensing toys are also a great option for energetic pups. Rotating toys to keep them fresh is a great idea to keep the excitement factor high. 

3) Do Your Chores

While we may find chores a drag, your dog might just love them. Teaching your dog to help out can be a great stimulation exercise and less work for you! You could teach them to tidy their toys into a box, to help you carry laundry, or even collect sticks for your firewood. Get creative!


4) Nose Games

A dog’s nose is a thing of wonder and a great way to draw your dogs’ attention. Hide treats around the house or garden for a drawn-out treasure hunt. Or play a quick game of guess which hand the treat is in! 


5) Puzzle Toys

There are lots of great boredom-busting toys on the market that are aimed at helping with stimulation. For example, Kong’s can be stuffed with peanut butter, to make for a tasty hour for your pooch spent reaching it with their tongue. Snuffle mats are a way to get your dog searching and scratching around happily for a while. Dispensing toys are also a great option for energetic pups. Rotating toys to keep them fresh is a great idea to keep the excitement factor high. 

6) A Little DIY 

Homemade toys are sometimes the best! Make your own snuffle mat with a muffin tin, a Kong from an old tennis ball, or allow your excess cardboard to become a play fort! Just remember to make sure your dog doesn’t start eating your DIY creations…


7) Garden Activities

If you have an enthusiastic digger, creating a sandpit is a great way to offer endless fun that won’t ruin your lawn. Or if it’s a hot day, get out the paddling pool and give your dog a make-shift trip to the beach.  


8) Chews

Chews are a great way to occupy your dog, and help teething pups from using your furniture instead! Dental chews can have the added effect of cleaning those teeth at the same time and tend to have a soothing effect on your dog. 


9) Play Dates

Dogs love being social. As pack animals, they thrive on interaction. If you have any friends or local dog owners they’ll probably be grateful for a playdate too! Meet up for a quick coffee or in the local park and you’ll see just how happy your dog will be after some puppy playtime. If you are yet to meet any, try a flyer in your supermarket or park.

10) Affection

Neuroscientist Dr. Gregory Burns did an experiment to find out what dogs really feel about us. The result? The vast number of dogs responded to praise and food equally. Some even had a higher positive response to praise. Meaning dogs love us at least as much as they love their food. Which is a lot if most dogs are anything to go by…

So one of the simplest ways to have a calm happy dog is just with a little fuss. A 10-minute cuddle will fire up the positive parts of their brain and get them feeling super chilled. 


With these tips on how to stop dog boredom, you can add small enrichments to your pup’s life every day. Sure to keep them happy, healthy, and able to settle when you need them to. So you can both relax and relish each other’s company even more.