How to keep your dog entertained at home

Whether you’re working from home or trying to get chores done around the house, you might find your dog following your every move, looking for something to do. Here’s how to keep them entertained.

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If you’re a dog owner, days at home can be a great way to spend more time with your pet. But if they want to play fetch during an important meeting or can’t seem to relax when you’re in another room, it can become difficult.

If you’re at home during the day, you might be wondering how to entertain a dog while working from home. Here are some of our favourites.

Make time for afternoon walks

Regular exercise helps your dog stay physically healthy but it also relieves stress. Making time for an afternoon walk can help your dog get rid of their excess energy and it’s a great way to make sure you get some fresh air and exercise, too. Take them somewhere they can sniff around or play ball games for mental stimulation.

Tailor your dog’s daily exercise to their breed. For example, French Bulldogs need around one hour of exercise, while Labradors need two or more.

Short training sessions

Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate – so if it’s pouring down with rain or too hot for a midday walk, switch to an indoor activity instead. The kind of mental stimulation offered by training is just as important as physical exercise.

Work on refreshing some basic commands like sit and stay, before moving onto more advanced tricks such as high-five and speak. These sessions don’t need to be long; 10 to 15 minutes is plenty to keep them entertained.

Teach your dog to settle

Whether you need your dog to sit quietly while you work from home, have visitors over or visit a busy pub for a weekend lunch, helping your dog to settle is a great skill. It’s also not too difficult to teach.

Start by rewarding your dog using positive reinforcement when they’re naturally relaxing at home. Watch for behaviours such as lying down and resting their head. Drop a treat by their head. You don’t need a specific command, but you can use something simple like ‘settle’ – the goal is for your dog to learn how to relax themselves.

Once your dog starts to settle, add in distractions and new locations. Continue rewarding them in the same way when they don’t react. Teaching your dog to be quiet on command is also a valuable exercise – especially on those days when you have lots of online meetings.

Make time for play

If it’s too hot or cold to go out for a walk, play a quick game with your dog. Create an indoor treasure hunt or play a game of tug-of-war while the kettle’s boiling for your next cup of tea.

You can even teach your dog to play hide and seek, getting them to sniff out hidden treats or toys for mental stimulation. Try a few different options and see which your dog enjoys best. Leaving out some of your dog’s favourite toys, or a long-lasting chew, also means they can keep themselves entertained when it’s time to go back to your desk.

Offer food-based toys and puzzles

If the weather isn’t cooperating for outdoor play – or if your dog is bored while you’re working from home – try giving them a toy or game that involves food. Try introducing the idea using a KONG toy stuffed with pet-safe peanut butter or soft dog food. Once your dog has worked out how to get the food out, you can freeze the KONG first to make this more of a challenge.

There are also plenty of puzzle toys and feeders you can buy, which have levers or flaps your dog needs to move to get at each treat. Start with puzzle toys or snuffle mats designed for beginner levels, before progressing onto ones designed for expert canine puzzle-solvers. They all provide great mental stimulation, but be careful not to overfeed.

Helping your dog adjust to a new routine

If you’re having to head out for longer during the day, you might be worried about how your dog will cope.

Try leaving the house for short periods at first, to help your dog build up to being alone for longer. Using a pet camera can reassure you that they’re OK, but it’s also a good way to check for any signs of separation anxiety or stress while you’re gone. If your dog does seem anxious, working with a qualified trainer or behaviourist is a good idea, so you can get some tailored support.

Hire a dog walker

If you can’t schedule a long lunch break, hiring a dog walker is a great way to make sure your dog still gets enough exercise. You’ll need to spend a bit of time finding the right dog walker but once you do, you can work easily knowing your dog will be having plenty of fun.

Some dog walkers may offer additional activities such as daycare or a session at one of Petplan’s Dog Adventure Parks, which include agility equipment in a safe and secure enclosure. Before your dog heads off for their adventures, make sure their dog insurance policy is up to date and that anyone looking after them also has their own business insurance.