Having a pet is a lot of work. You must be sure that you feed them, schedule vet visits, give them water, let them exercise, and give them plenty of attention. However, if you have a dog who has bonded well with you, it can feel like they are with you 24 hours a day.
Nobody wants to be with someone else that consistently. Even our loved ones would go crazy if we were together every second of the day. Yet, it seems like dogs don’t see it that way when it comes to us. That’s why it’s great to find ways for them to entertain themselves.
Can Dogs Do that?
Dogs can absolutely entertain themselves. Have you ever been busy with school, work, or other things and noticed your dog chewing on something? That is a prime example of a dog entertaining themselves while you’re busy.
Don’t confuse a calm dog for a bored dog. Although you might see one dog toss a toy up in the air and catch it while the other is simply chewing on a bone, they’re both having the same amount of fun. Dogs have different interests, just like we do.
Toys that Can Entertain Dogs for a Long time
If you want your dog to entertain itself, it’s best if you can provide some resources for them to do so. If you buy plenty of toys for them to use, your dog will be more likely to pick something up and play with it for a little while.
Below is a list of toys that can entertain your dog for a long time:
Smelly chew toys
Pet stores will sell chew toys that smell and taste like cheese or bacon. However, toys that incentivize your dog to chew on them are great for keeping them occupied for a long time.
Dog IQ Treat Puzzles
These toys work by placing treats behind little doors your dog has to figure out how to open. Be sure to get a toy that’s difficult enough but easy enough where they don’t give up.
Fetch Machine
Fetch machines are great if you have the space to keep them. However, you also have to train your canine to put the ball into it to shoot it out.
Do You Have to Keep Buying Your Dog New Toys?
It depends on the dog toy that you’re buying. Dogs generally don’t get bored of toys for a long time, so you would only need to replace them if they become damaged or lost. Toys like the fetch machine would not need to be replaced for a long time.
However, if you buy a smelly chew toy, the smell or taste will disappear as your dog continues playing with it. So those need to be replaced more often. Also, once you see that your dog is solving the treat puzzles too fast, it’s time to upgrade to a harder one.
Games for Dogs
There are many options if you want a game for a dog, such as an IQ treat puzzle toy. Their level number indicates the difficulty of dog puzzles from 1-5. The closer to 10 that their number is, the more complex the puzzle will be.
Here is a list of dog puzzles. As the list progresses, the games become higher in difficulty.
- Dog Ball IQ Toys
- Smart Composite Dog Puzzles
- Button Press Dog Puzzles
- Slider Dog Puzzles
- Drawer Pull Dog IQ Toy
How Long Does it Take a Dog to Learn it?
All dogs are different. When it comes to toys where they just bop their paw on it, they can figure it out quicker than IQ puzzles that are more involved. So it makes sense that level 1, 2, and 3 puzzles are easier for dogs to figure out.
Level 4 toys can also be a little easier for dogs to learn because it still involves pawing at the toy until the slider moves. Level 5 toys are the hardest and will take dogs longer to learn because it consists of a two-step process.
Final Thoughts on Getting a Dog to Entertain Itself
Sometimes it feels like our dogs want to be with us 24/7, and nobody should have to be with someone else consistently. Fortunately, dogs can entertain themselves, and an excellent way to help is to provide toys for your dog to entertain themselves with.
If you want to purchase a toy that will keep your dog occupied for a while, then an IQ puzzle toy is a good choice.
These toys are ranked 1-5 on difficulty and depending on how complicated the puzzle is, and dogs will take different amounts of time to learn how to solve them.