Pet boredom affects many domestic animals, especially dogs, when they are left home alone without any company. However, given our responsibilities and daily chores, most of us have to leave our pets alone for various lengths of time each day.  Being cooped up all alone at home is especially hard on dogs, who are basically social animals. If due attention is not paid to the early boredom signs in your pets, it may lead to destructive behavior that becomes difficult to control. Take a proactive approach to understanding the early signs of boredom in your dog.

Boredom Signs in Your Dog

There are many tell-tale signs that can give you an indication of boredom in your dog. Some of the common signs are:

• Constant barking that does not stop despite of your best efforts to calm your dog down.
• Excessive chewing and biting on things, such as carpets, garden equipment, flowers, soft toys and household furniture.1
• Continuous digging or scraping on floor tiles or in the courtyard.2
• Destructive biting and extra rude behavior towards strangers and neighbors.2
• Scratching at the doors and curtains.
• Urinating and leaving feces in the house, despite house training.

All these negative behaviors are a clear indication that your dog is suffering from continuous boredom or depression. Once you confirm this fact, the next step is to take action to solve the problem. Give some toys to your dog to play with when he is alone. Dogs love play ducks, play rats or other baby toys. They also love to play with balls and are amused to see these balls rolling. Always make sure that you are giving high quality food to your pet. Although your dog cannot speak, it expresses its dislike for specific foods through various ways.3

Also consider taking your pet to the veterinarian if you suspect some serious behavioral problem. A little attention to this problem can bring back that joy of coming home to an ecstatic pet without fearing what he might have destroyed at home today.

References:
1.    http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2021508/boredom_versus_separation_anxiety_in.html?cat=53
2.    http://www.dog-owner.net/how-to-tell-if-your-dog-is-bored.html
3.    http://ezinearticles.com/?Dog-Boredom---Easy-Solutions-and-Tools&id=5245904