Make Fluffy’s Life Exciting Again! Enriching Our Dogs’ Lives

 I saw a headline in a veterinary magazine the other day that said, “The Backyard is Not a Babysitter.” I thought it was an interesting phrase. I hoped it was wrong. My dogs have a backyard, and I hope it is keeping them entertained while I am at work, entertaining other dogs and cats. Well, not entertaining necessarily. I am treating them medically. I hope I am entertaining them. Anyway, back to the subject. Am I entertaining?
The article went on to say that pet owners cannot provide a house and a backyard and expect that to meet our animals’ needs for enrichment. We need to provide them with things to keep them satisfied and not bored. Bored dogs tend to amuse themselves, often with behaviors we don’t like, behaviors like chewing, digging, barking, and running away.
So, what can we do? I could quit my job and spend all my time entertaining my dogs. But then we would have no house, no backyard, and no food. Cancel that. Here are some more realistic options:
1. Treats. As a food lover, I’m a big fan of treats. It’s also my downfall in keeping pets at a healthy weight. So, we need to be smart about treats. I like to freeze a small amount of canned dog food or peanut butter in a Kong toy or other plastic toy. This means that my dogs will have a few minutes of distraction while I leave in the morning for work.
2. Toys. There are a vast number of chew toys, balls, stuffed animals, and anything else you can think of to have your pup play with. Rotate toys so Fido doesn’t get bored with the same ones.
3. Time with you. There is nothing more important to your dog than interaction with you. Go for a walk. Go to the park. Go to the backyard and play. Teach them tricks. Any time with you is a premium for dogs.
So maybe I can’t rely on the backyard to provide all the stimulation for my dogs, but we’ll play after work tonight!
Stevenson Ranch Veterinary Center is located at 25832 Hemingway Avenue in Santa Clarita. For more information, please call 661-799-0655 and visit www.srvc.com.