Alright, guys, so I’ve been wrestling with this whole “keeping my dog entertained while I’m at work” thing for a while now. It’s a struggle, right? You feel guilty leaving them home alone all day, but, you know, gotta pay the bills. So, I started experimenting with a few different things, and I think I’ve finally cracked the code, at least for my pup, Buster.
The Trial-and-Error Phase
First, I tried the whole “leave the TV on” trick. Yeah, that didn’t really do much. Buster just kinda glanced at it occasionally and then went back to staring forlornly out the window. Tried leaving a radio on, tried dog tv channel on youtube. Total failure.
Next, I went the toy route. I bought a bunch of those regular chew toys, you know, the ones that are supposed to last forever? Buster demolished them in like a day. Money down the drain, and he was still bored. I went to the pet store to buy a lot of toys, wasted a lot of money.
The Breakthrough
Then, I stumbled upon these things called “puzzle feeders.” They’re basically toys that you hide treats in, and your dog has to figure out how to get them out. Game changer! It kept Buster occupied for a good chunk of time. He was so focused on getting those treats, he barely noticed I was gone.
I also started incorporating a longer walk in the morning before I leave for work. I figured, a tired dog is a happy dog, right? So we do a solid 30-minute walk, sometimes even longer if I have time. It seems to have made a big difference.
The Winning Combo
Here’s what I do now, and it’s been working like a charm:
- Morning Walk: A good, long walk before work. We explore the neighborhood, sniff all the things, and just generally tire him out.
- Puzzle Feeder: I fill up his puzzle feeder with his favorite treats. I sometimes even freeze it overnight to make it last longer.
- Interactive Toy: I also leave out one of those treat-dispensing toys. You can control them remotely with an app, which is pretty cool. I can even check in on him with the camera.
- Chew Toy: Just in case he gets bored with the other stuff, I leave a durable chew toy out. Not the cheap ones, though. I learned my lesson there.
It took some experimenting, but I think I’ve finally found a routine that keeps Buster happy and entertained while I’m at work. He still greets me at the door like I’ve been gone for a year, but I think he’s a lot less anxious during the day. It’s a win-win for both of us! If you’re struggling with this, give these things a try. You might have to tweak it a bit to find what works for your dog, but it’s definitely worth the effort. They will love you more, trust me!
