Keep Home Alone Time Fun For Your Dog

  Posted on November 12, 2012  by Joy of Living  No comments

Many pet owners work long days, leaving early in the morning and returning late in the evening. That can make for a long, lonely day for your dog.  There are some things you can do, though, to make the time alone for your dog more enjoyable.  Check out these suggestions from Your Dog magazine:

• Play music.  I’ve suggested this for several pet sitting clients and it works pretty well.  Being in a house filled with silence can be unnerving, but music can be soothing, especially classical music by Mozart or Brahms.
• Turn on the TV.  Individual tastes may vary, but try leaving the TV tuned to Animal Planet.  Dogs may prefer watching other dogs and scenes of the outdoors.
• Leave toys for them to chew on.  Hard rubber toys work well, especially if you add scents to them like vanilla or anise.  Dab some cooking vanilla on the toy’s surface to stimulate his sense of smell.  Anise on a rope toy can seem almost like flavored chewing gum, making the toy more attractive for chewing.
• Dog walkers.  Dogs like routine and knowing that the dog walker will come each day at approximately the same time give your dog something to look forward to each day.  A 20-minute walk gives your dog much needed exercise and the opportunity to explore his surroundings.
• Make sure your dog can see out the window.  Try adding a bird feeder in your dog’s field of vision from the window.  It will give him something to watch that will hold his interest.
• Must work for food.  One thing that works very well for many dogs is an interactive toy such as a Kong.  Fill the toy with peanut butter, spray cheese or plain yogurt and freeze it.  Give the toy to your dog right before you leave in the morning and it will keep him busy for quite some time trying to get the goodies out.

What works to keep your dog occupied when he’s home alone?  We’d like to hear from you.