Keep Your Dog Entertained
                       and Happy

What's the secret to a happy dog?  The short answer is entertaining your dog or, in short, time with you.  Expensive toys and soft beds can't compete.  "We're their best toys," says Stephanie Shain, director of companion animals outreach for The HSUS. 

Unfortunately, many of us make the mistake of assuming our pets will entertain themselves or sleep all day.  That assumption can lead to trouble.  "Boredom is a major cause of behavior problems," says Shain.  Here are some simple tips from owners and experts that can help you keep your bored dog at bay.

Run 'Em Around  Pets, like people, need exercise.  For some dogs, that means two long walks every day plus games like fetch or chase to expend some of their energy.  Barbara Middleton of Big Sky, Montana, says her Shetland sheepdog, Smokey, gets a kick out of chasing bubbles.  Middleton even found some that are flavored for dogs.  I guess he's not the only dog who enjoys biting bubbles," she says.

Cats also need some high-energy activity.  Ann Sackrider of Brooklyn, New York, plays hide-and-seek twice a day with her younger cat and dangles a string on a pole for the older one, who, at 17, still likes to jump and pounce.

The payoff for you?  Besides having fun with your companion, "a tired pet is a well-behaved one," explains Shain.

Give Their Brains A Workout  All dogs need some mental stimulation, and some breeds, like border collies, shepherds, and dalmatians, need even more, says Bonnie Beaver, DVM, professor of small animal clinical science at Texas A&M University.  Toys that offer dogs a chance to use their problem-solving skills are a good way to challenge them.  Kathleen Sublette's two boxer-shepherd mixes enjoy playing with a rubber ball that has treats hidden in its holes.  "It takes them some time to work the treats out," says Sublette, who lives in Port Hueneme, California.

Leave Entertainment Behind  If you're gone during the day, your pet needs something to do.  You can hide treats or food for your dog or give him or her a safe chew toy to play with; cats like to have a perch by a closed window and toys to bat around--a Ping-Pong ball, a crumpled piece of newspaper, a large paper bag.  Just make sure the toy is safe; your pet shouldn't be able to bite off a piece or ingest it.  And try to rotate the toys every week so your pet doesn't tire of them.

Put In The Time  That's the bottom line, says Shain.  But before it becomes a chore, think of all the benefits you get out of it.  When Fernanda Moore's lab, Caddy, was younger, she would take her on two long walks a day.  "Walking the dog was a great thing for our family, especially in the afternoon," says Moore, who lives in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.  "It got us out of the house at a time when the kids were getting squirrelly and gave us all a change of scene."

Spending quality time with your pet also strengthens your bond.  "Your interactions tend to be more positive than negative," says Beaver.  "Plus," she adds, "the better you know your pets, the more you'll appreciate them for all the wonderful things they can do."

Sackrider agrees.  "We think our cats are a hoot.  And they pick up on that.  They know we love them, and they reciprocate."

                                               HSUS Magazine Spring 2006 Edition