How to Give Your Lonely Dog Some Company

Playing with Your Dog

Schedule playtime. Play is an important part of a dog's life. It gives a dog the chance to get some physical and mental exercise that will help keep its body and brain healthy. In addition to playing with your dog in the evenings, try to schedule a few minutes of playtime in the mornings before you go to work. Try to fit in some extra playtime on the weekends.

Play different games. Make playtime fun and interesting for your dog. When you notice your dog is lonely, play some interactive games with it to give it some company: Fetch: If your dog is healthy enough to run and jump, play fetch with it. Have your dog fetch a dog-specific Frisbee or favorite toy. Hide and Seek: You can play this game inside or outside. Hide some of your dog's treats, a favorite toy, or even yourself! Chase: Chase your dog around the house or outside in your yard or dog park.

Reward your dog when you play. Dogs love to please their owners. When you play with your dog, let it know you're happy with it by giving it verbal praise (Good dog! Great job!), extra petting, and some extra treats. Don't give a lot of treats, though—those extra calories could cause your dog to gain too much weight.

Exercising with Your Dog

Run with your dog. All dogs need daily exercise. However, some dog breeds, like Huskies, Golden Retrievers, and Dalmatians, need an hour or more of daily exercise. If you have a high-energy dog, loneliness can lead to destructive behavior. Give your dog some company by taking it for a run. Running can be hard on a dog's joints. Have your vet examine your dog to make sure its joints are healthy enough for running.

Walk a new route with your dog. Walking can be good exercise, too. Rather than taking your dog along the usual route, take a different route. This will let your dog see new sights, sniff new smells, and maybe make some new friends along the way.

Go hiking with your dog. If you live near a nature trail, consider taking your dog for a hike. Not only will this give your dog some company, it will allow your dog to get some exercise and experience something new. Bring some water, plastic bags to pick up poop, and a doggie first-aid kit. The first aid kit should contain some basic supplies, such as absorbent gauze pads, scissors, and tweezers. The website https://www.humaneworld.org/en/search?keys=pet+first+aid has a helpful list of first-aid kit supplies for dogs. Check the weather before you go hiking so you don't get stuck in rain or other unpleasant weather.

Take your dog to the beach. The beach is another great location to give your lonely dog some company. You can play fetch at the beach and even chase your dog in the sand. If your dog likes the water, you can play or swim in the surf.

Doing Other Activities with Your Dog

Teach your dog new tricks. Teaching your dog something new will allow you to give your dog company when it's lonely. If it's been a while since your dog has learned some tricks, now would be a perfect time to teach it something new. Ideas for tricks are: Playing dead Giving you its paw Rolling over

Visit different areas near your home. If your dog is lonely, taking it to a new area can be just what it needs to perk up and enjoy its time with you. For example, if there's a dog park you've never been to, take your dog there. Go to music or art festivals that allow dogs. Keep your dog on a leash at the festivals.

Spend quiet time with your dog. Giving your lonely dog some company doesn't require a lot of physical activity. Consider just sitting quietly with your dog and petting it. Your touch could be all your dog needs to not feel so lonely. Your dog may just want to be close to you. Consider sitting down beside your dog and reading a book. When you are not home, you can put puzzle games and things out for your dog to keep them entertained. Usually, they figure them out in 10 – 15 minutes, and a lot of time is left. It is better to exercise your dog if you plan to leave them alone for a long time. For example, if you leave them for four hours, give them at least an hour-long heavy walk. Make sure they are tired. Then they will sleep and wait for you to come home when you can entertain them in person.

Finding Good Companions for Your Dog

Set up playdates with other dogs. What if you're not able to spend a lot of one-on-one time with your dog? Consider exploring other options to give your dog some company. For example, if you know your dog is friendly with other dogs in your neighborhood, consider setting up doggie playdates. Here are some tips for doggie playdates: Choose a dog that's the same sex and about the same size as your dog. Have the playdate in a safe, enclosed area. Watch how your dog plays with the other dog. If your dog growls or tries to get away, start searching for another playmate. If the play becomes too rough, you and the other dog owner should separate the dogs. Allow the dogs to take frequent breaks and rest in the shade.

Adopt another dog. If your dog gets lonely during the day when you're not home, adopting another dog may help lessen that loneliness. Don't just adopt any dog, though—you will need to find one that is compatible with your dog and will provide good companionship. Before going to your local pet adoption center, ask yourself some questions: Can I afford to take care of another dog? How does my dog like to play (wrestling vs chasing)? What is my dog's personality (mellow vs high strung)? Does my dog tend to guard its food or belongings? What if the two dogs don't get along?

Hire a pet sitter. If getting another dog isn't feasible, consider hiring a pet sitter to give your dog companionship during the day. The pet sitter can take your dog for walks and play with your dog so it doesn't feel so lonely. Visit https://petsitters.org/ to find quality pet sitters in your area. When you interview different pet sitters, ask the following questions: What type of services do you provide? What type of animal training have you completed? Will you take notes about my dog, such as routines, medical conditions, and what it likes to eat? Do you work with a particular vet that you take dogs to if they get sick? Can you provide me with references so I can speak with some of your other clients?