I feel like our dog is bored

[OnlyBaBaBiss]

We have a 3 year old CKC, she is a lovely natured chilled out dog on the whole, but I can’t help feeling like she’s bored
All she does when in the house is sleep, maybe mooch around people in the kitchen hoping for food, have a roll around the rug, then back to sleep
She generally sits up on the back of the armchair looking out of the window too

When we do play I generally just throw a ball for her and obviously we do sit/lie down/paw etc but it’s the same every day
The only toys she really has are teethy things that she likes to chew and a fox that she humps plus obviously balls but they’re put away otherwise she’d beg me to throw them all day

I’ve taken to giving her more treats than she really needs just because I feel sorry for her
She must be dying of boredom - what else can I do for her? Does anyone have any recommendations of more stimulating toys and/or games to play?

[Whisky2014]

Well, are you walking her?

[OnlyBaBaBiss]

obviously we walk her

[BiteyShark]

I’ve taken to giving her more treats than she really needs just because I feel sorry for her be careful that she doesn't become overweight.

My dog only has a few select toys to play with as he isn't bothered much with toys other than playing ball. His days do vary though. Some days it's daycare with walks, other days it's road walks with lots of sniffing and others it's ball play or agility in the garden.

Do you get out for walks, both on and off lead?

[Ginger1982]

Could you send her to a doggy daycare for a couple of hours to run around after other dogs?

[BiteyShark]

Just seen your post about walking. If she's getting a wide variety of walks and enough exercise then it sounds like she is happily chilling in the house or watching the world go by.

If you want you could teach her some new tricks. Make games where she has to work or find her treats etc.

[Whisky2014]

Well you didnt mention it once in your OP so thought id check. How many walks a day and for how long?

[TropicPlunder]

Maybe a bored dog would be chewing up your stuff and trying to grab your attention? I thought (correct me if I'm wrong, please) that a bored dog makes mischief, and a content one lazies around.....unless there was anything else going on like missing a passed on dog friend or person who's not around....But if you play, walk, do training/mentally stimulating things, then I would think your dog is happy!

[Thismum4]

I have a CKC too, and she’s exactly the same. I took her to a doggy day care place as I was worried she was bored, but after 5 sessions, I was told how much she hated it! She would sit at the door and whine and cry til I got back!! So I now just let her stay home. I fill a kong for her and have a little camera so I can see her and she’s much happier.
I also give her a bit of breakfast in a slow feeder ball so that keeps her busy for a bit.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

There are lots and lots of ideas for enrichment activities here www.facebook.com/groups/canineenrichment/ A kong is always a good place to start - that way she has to work for her food rather than just eating out of a bowl - but there are loads of ideas on there.

Teaching new tricks is a good way to keep them entertained too. In addition to the sit / lie down / paw, my dog has been taught roll over, sit pretty, hand targeting, leg weaves, up (jumping up onto things - from fallen trees to trains), off, out [of the room], go to bed, spin, wait (aka stay) and probably a couple of other things I've forgotten at this moment in time. The less practical ones were all taught as a way of keeping him entertained! There are lots of YouTube videos which show you how to teach such things.

[OnlyBaBaBiss]

Sorry I just thought it went without saying that we walk our dog, obviously not always though
During the week I do the ‘nap time walk’ (babies in the pram to sleep while dog gets a walk) which is generally around an hour and a half at lunchtime, then DP takes her for a quickie walk when he’s home and all babies are in bed so around 8:45/9pm for 20-30 mins just to get her last wriggles out before bed
Weekends are a bit more ad hoc
Her weekday walks are a bit samey though tbh, I should look at taking her to different places, although it can be hard with the double pram, she only goes off lead with DP too

Tropic you’re right an I walked dog would be an annoying naughty happy thing, it’s just more in the house I was worried about, I feel like she should be rolling around d with her toys all over the floor but she spends a lot of life curled up asleep on the top of the chat near the radiator (we always say she’s half cat)

Thismum that’s reassuring to hear, I don’t think she would cope at daycare, she’s quite a timid little thing (shes only tiny, plus she was the runt of her litter and the only female and she was quite badly abused by her brothers, i don’t think she’s ever really got over it)
I did try a kong and she just brought it to my feet crying because she couldn’t get anything out 🤦🏻‍♀️

...maybe I’m overthinking and she’s just fine snoozing the day away?

[OnlyBaBaBiss]

Oh that looks brill avocados that’s the kind of thing I was thinking, thankyou

[billybagpuss]

You could try a snuffle mat or lick mat again things that she has to work for her food, thats a bit easier than a Kong you could then try a kong later when she starts to get the idea.

Sorry if I'm being daft but what is a CKC my first thought was Canadian Kennel Club.

[OnlyBaBaBiss]

I’ve just seen a snuffle Mat/lick mat on the FB page linked above, I’ve never seen one of those before I will definitely give one of those a go
A CKC is a Cavalier King Charles billybagpuss

[OnlyBaBaBiss]

Just noticed my typos too - an unwalked dog would be a yappy thing and she sleeps ontop the the chair 🙄 this phone hates me

[Thismum4]

I think daycare is a brilliant idea, but doesn’t suit every dog.
We had a snuffle mat too but she just slept on it and left the biscuits in til I got home and shook them out for her! We hide treats round the house too if we are going to be out for longer than normal.
She’s currently snoring her little head off while we’re here with her so I think she’s happy enough!

[billybagpuss]

Ah thank you, so a small working dog. The snuffle mat will be perfect to develop her 'flushing out' instincts. Also if you are giving her treats break them into small bits and throw them a little away from her so she has to find them.

[tabulahrasa]

Dogs are only awake about an hour a day more than cats you know, they really do sleep a lot...

I mean I’m sure she’ll be more than happy to do enrichment games and have a snuggle mat, but she’ll still sleep most of the day

[OnlyBaBaBiss]

Ha tabulahrasa I suspect you’re right

Thankyou for the ideas though, I’m sure she’ll enjoy some new things to do even if only for a few minutes

[RandomMess]

Our dog sleeps loads!!! She's knackered after the weekend and practically cheers Monday morning when we go off and she can catch up on her shut eye!!!

[OnlyBaBaBiss]

I wasn’t really expecting a dog to sleep so much tbh, thought we’d bored her to sleep, obviously not and my expectations may have just been a bit skewed 🤔

[RandomMess]

Ours clerks 8am - 4pm with a 20 mins awake at lunch time (DH works from home) then usually by 7/8pm she's asleep for the night! So she's awake 5-6 hours per day?

She'll happily walk all day if we take her out but she will refuse if it's wet or cold and put herself to sleep instead.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

Dogs do need lots more sleep than us, but I think they can sometimes sleep because they have nothing better to do.

DDog is sleeping at my feet now, but I can guarantee that if I put my shoes on, produced a tennis ball or otherwise made it look like something fun was going to happen, he'd be up and raring to go.

[BiteyShark]

Agree Avocados if I am busy doing house stuff like cleaning he sulks off for a sleep as he knows it's 'boring time'. If I am doing unusual house stuff he is there trying to 'help' as it's more interesting