Do Dogs Get Bored When They Are Home Alone?

We are certain that the question posed in the title has occurred to every owner at some point, perhaps even regularly.

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Below, you can find out when dogs get bored, what the signs of boredom are, and how you can compensate them for the hours spent apart.

If you engage with your dog sufficiently and in a high-quality way when you are at home, they will not be bored during the hours spent alone, but will simply rest.

Can dogs get bored?

Most definitely, yes. Although our four-legged companions spend a significant portion of their day resting and sleeping – altogether up to 12-16 hours – if, during their waking hours, they have to live in a stimulus-poor environment, meaning without interaction, stimulation, and opportunities to express their natural behaviours, they will become bored. Over time, boredom causes stress and anxiety, which place serious negative pressure on the dog’s immune system, making them more susceptible to illness. And we haven’t even mentioned the mental consequences yet!

As we know, dogs are extremely intelligent animals who require both mental stimulation and physical exercise in order to remain balanced. If a dog has little or no opportunity to express their natural behaviours, lives in a monotonous environment, has limited opportunities for exploration, does not receive sufficient social interaction or exercise, you can be sure that boredom will be part of their everyday life.

It is also important to emphasise at this point that dogs are social animals and extremely relationship-oriented – a trait inherited from their wolf ancestors who lived in packs. Of course, this characteristic exists on a spectrum: some dogs may require more companionship, others less. Whether from humans, members of their own species, or other animals. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that even if a dog does not particularly seek the company of other animals or people, they still need a deep bond with their owner and immediate family.

What are the signs that a dog is bored?

• Excessive self-grooming, licking of the paws;
• destructive behaviour;
• increased vocalisation (barking, whining, yelping, etc.);
• lack of interest in toys;
• sleeping more than usual;
• the appearance of new, attention-seeking behaviour patterns;
• increased or decreased appetite;
• aggression towards other pets and people.

It is important to note that the behaviours listed above may also indicate illness, so first and foremost you should definitely take your companion to a veterinarian!

Do dogs get bored when they are home alone?

That depends! If, when you are at home, you engage with them in the appropriate amount and form, and you also ensure that during the hours spent alone they have something to occupy themselves with, then no. However, if they already live their everyday life in a stimulus-poor environment and you still do not spend quality time with them even when you are at home, it is guaranteed that they will be bored. We can also state that the latter case clearly falls under the definition of animal cruelty, as according to the principle of responsible ownership, the keeper must ensure appropriate living conditions for the animal (food, water, exercise, rest) and must also take into account the species-specific needs of the animal.

What can you do to prevent your dog from getting bored?

Experts define 1.5-2 hours as the minimum animal welfare baseline – this is the absolute minimum amount of time an owner should spend with their companion on play, exercise and shared activities. However, it is critical to emphasise that, in general, for a dog to remain emotionally and physically balanced, more than this is needed. To determine the ideal amount of time, it is essential to be familiar with both the breed’s needs and your dog’s individual requirements. For example, while a Pomeranian may be satisfied with four 15-minute walks a day, this does not mean that this alone fulfils your responsibility to engage with them. Beyond this, it is also important that the dog receives stimulation. But what kind of stimulation? Fortunately, you have plenty of options!

On the pages of our magazine, we regularly report on tips and techniques that allow you to spend quality time with your companion. Therefore, in this article we will only list ideas briefly. We recommend that time spent outdoors should not consist solely of walking: play ball, practise tasks, learn tricks, and explore new walking routes. Trick training and task-based activities should ideally be continued throughout the dog’s entire life, as they are very important for maintaining brain health. You can even teach new command words as the years go by. If your companion has a higher-than-average need for physical activity, we definitely recommend taking up a dog sport together. In addition, if your dog enjoys the company of other dogs, you can attend dog school, and occasionally take them to dog daycare as well. What’s more, if your workplace and your companion’s temperament allow it, bringing them to work with you on a few days of the week can also be a great idea.

Time spent outdoors is important even in cold weather, in winter / Photo: welovedogz.hu

It is important that your dog has something to do even when you are not at home. In addition to the above, we recommend getting food puzzles and lick mats, or even making a sniffing mat for them. They can play with these even when you are not there. If your companion likes watching TV or reacts positively to the sound of the radio, you can leave it on for them during the day. In many cases, this also helps with separation anxiety.

And finally, but not least, you may consider getting another dog, or perhaps a cat, so that they never have to be alone. This is, of course, a major and extremely responsible decision, which requires that you know your own dog and their preferences, as well as your own possibilities and limitations.

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