Of course, you love your dog. But its behaviour may at times leave you wondering:
Is it that they are quirky?
Is there something more?
Maybe your dog is not getting adequate activity throughout the day. This lack of stimulation can lead to undesired behaviour.
Watch out for these signs:
It can’t sit still
Common indicators include:
- Your dog keeps pacing around the house
- It keeps following you around, even in different rooms
- It appears to be restless even after a meal
This means that your dog is not spending excess energy. Lack of exercise often causes dogs not to settle.
Destructive behaviour pops up
You may start noticing:
- Scratched furniture
- Chewed shoes
- Ripped pillows.
These habits may not necessarily indicate poor training. It is how your dog lets out its pent-up energy.
This happens with dogs that are either:
- Under-exercised
- Bored.
They will look for other ways of entertainment. Typically, they turn to your items.
Trouble sleeping at night
Your dog may tend to get agitated in the evening. You may find them:
- Tossing and turning
- Getting up all the time
- Being unduly alert at night.
Inactivity during the day is the cause. It may directly affect their sleep patterns. Morning and evening walks are important. But they’re often not enough for high-energy dogs. That’s where professional services like doggy day care help.
It barks or whines too much
You might have noticed that your dog is making noise everytime even when you are:
- Working
- During phone calls
- In a different room.
It is expressing its anger. Unstimulated dogs may:
- Bark
- Whine
- Howl.
It is their way of saying that they need something to do!
Mood changes you can’t ignore
Unstimulated dogs also exhibit temperament changes. Red flags include:
- Irritability
- Lack of tolerance toward other dogs
- Overexcitement during short-term walks.
The dog might become overly sensitive to minor triggers. It might simply be feeling too energetic.
Attention-seeking
Common signs are:
- Jumping
- Pawing
- Pushing toys when they should not
- Making frequent intrusions during work calls.
These signs mean that your dog is attempting to establish some activity of their own. It could be because it is not receiving sufficient activity throughout the day.
Boredom
This manifests in the form of lethargy. It is contrary to hyperactivity. Dogs can either:
- Sleep too much
- Does not appear to show interest in toys
- Not enthusiastic about activities they are usually attracted to.
This does not necessarily imply that your dog is relaxed. It can indicate mental fatigue from monotony.
Constant attention seeking
This manifests when your dog keeps:
- Nudging you
- Pawing for interaction
- Distracting you.
This is a possible indication that your animal is not receiving enough activity throughout the day. Dogs inherently require action and attention. If they are deprived of them, they tend to create their own opportunities to pass the time.
The takeaway
You do not need to change your dog’s routine overnight. Incorporate some physical activity throughout the day:
- Additional walks
- Play-based toys
- Brief training periods.
Consider day care or frequent group walks if your dog is sociable.
Regularity matters. When mental and physical needs are met, you are able to avoid undesired behaviours. You can maintain a healthy dog.
