It always seems that your dog gives you "the look" when you're about to leave. You know the one I mean. The look with the longing, sad eyes, a bit of whimpering and even a sad bark for good measure. You feel guilty, but you can't have Fido with you all the time! Well, here are a few tips to keep your dog entertained while you are away for the day!
Instructions
1. Hide snacks. Dogs, like many humans, are extremely food motivated. You're eating dinner, they don't want to eat their dinner, they want yours! You know how it goes when you're trying to enjoy a nice roast chicken or a juicy steak. Well, when you're away, hide some snacks to keep them active. Behind a cabinet, under the bed, anywhere and everywhere you allow your dog to roam in your house. It will be like their personal little scavenger hunt! And just because you're gone all day doesn't mean Fido has to chow down on fatty snacks like meats and cheeses. Dogs can eat apple, carrots and other fruits and vegetables, just like humans. Just no onions or chocolate!!! Also at Petco, Petsmart or even on Ebay you can purchase something called a treatball. The treatball is a round toy that you can hide food in. As your dog bats it around, he is rewarded by little treats coming out.
2. Leave the TV or radio on. Dogs, just like humans can get lonely if they're just poking around the house all day. Especially if you are departing from the scheduled routine. By leaving the TV or radio on, you help keep your dog entertained with the stimulus of sight and sound. Some dogs have been known to have favorite channels; Animal Planet, perhaps!
3. Lay out a selection of toys. Toys are a very important thing for your dog. They allow him indoor exercise when the weather is bad or you are going away for the day. One idea is to keep a separate selection of toys hidden away that your dogs does not see regularly. Then when you leave for the day, give Fido those toys. It will be like a bountiful bevy of presents has just been bestowed on him. With so many "new" things to play with, he won't even know what hit him! Also, Petco, Petsmart and even Ebay sell voice recognition toys. These are toys that record you and your families' voice. Then when you're away and your dog plays with them, your voice can be heard as your dog activates it.
4. Have a friend or neighbor stop by. Obviously dogs are not like cats and don't like to be left for more than 16 hours at the most. An overnight to a dog can be traumatic while a cat's psyche is better equipped to handle it. So if you are going to be out all day, have a friend or fellow dog lover stop in, to make sure everything is ok. Maybe they can even feed your dog to keep the feeding times regular. And if they are a really great friend, maybe they'll even take the dog for a walk or to the dog park.
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