How to keep Fido happy while you're away at work

If you’re a dog lover and are lucky enough to have a canine friend sharing your home with you, you’d no doubt like to hang out with them all day rather than have to head off to work.   But since most of us unfortunately have to work for a living that’s probably not an option.  A bored dog can create havoc though and if you’ve ever come home to find the stuffing from the couch is spread across the lounge room floor or the phone ringing from a neighbour complaining about your dog barking all day then you’ll know how important it is to keep your pet occupied during the day. 

The fact is that if your dog is lonely or bored, they need something to keep them busy.  The good news is that it’s actually pretty easy to keep them entertained while you’re away at work – they’ll still be just as excited to see you when you get home, but your favourite pair of killer shoes will make it through the winter without getting the heel chewed off. 

Here are our top 10 tips to keep your dog happy and entertained: 

1. Get them a new brother or sister. Ok so this might not be for everyone because owning a dog can be expensive, and as we all know, they’ll be a part of your family until they cross over the rainbow bridge.  But if your dog likes other dogs then a furry friend will be a welcome addition.  There are so many unwanted pets in animal shelters all over the country, so why not bring your dog along with you and see if they’d like to pick out a new companion. 

2. Send your dog to doggy day care. If you want to find a pooch-minding service near you, Pawshake is a good place to start.  The site also links you with dog walkers in your area who will pop in and take your pooch for a stroll each day to give them some exercise and keep them busy. 

3. Invest in some new toys and chews. Dogs love toys and a new one will add some excitement during the day when you’re not around.  To keep things seeming like new, just rotate the toys every few days and make sure you have enough to last a few weeks.  That way the next time you bring that toy out it’ll seem like a brand new fun thing to play with.  A word of caution though – make sure you buy toys that are built to go the distance other wise Fido may end up stuffed with stuffing.  Dental chews are a good option too, and while your dog is busy chewing on them, they won’t be chewing on any of your stuff. 

4. Turn on the telly. Yes your dog can be just as entertained by the goggle box as you are, especially if you tune into Animal Planet.  The sounds of other animals will keep your dog interested and entertained while you’re away. 

5. Fill a Kong with peanut butter. Most dogs love the taste and smell of peanut butter so if you load some of it into a Kong toy it can keep them busy while they try to lick out every last morsel.  You can even try freezing them overnight for a longer-lasting challenge! 

6. Give them a great bed. Believe it or not, most dogs sleep for 12 – 14 hours each day so an inviting bed will give them an awesome place to do some serious snoozing.  Try your dog out with a few options to see which type of bed they feel most comfortable on. 

7. Give them some morning exercise. This is a great option because not only will your little tail-wagger use up some of that pent-up energy, you’ll burn off some extra calories too. 

8. Give them a view. Dogs can keep themselves occupied just by watching what’s going on around them. Open the curtains so they can see the cars driving by, birds flying around and all the stuff that goes on in your street while you’re away at work.   If your dog is an outside dog and you have a solid fence, give them a little peephole so they can watch the world go by. 

9. Arrange a play date. If you have a friend close by who has a dog that interacts well with your own, share some doggy play dates with them so both dogs can spend time together while you’re away at work. 

10. Make an icy treat.  This is definitely not one for inside dogs (unless you want to spend an hour cleaning up doggy drool when you get home) but your dog will love it.  Just pour some chicken or beef stock into an old ice cream container and add some of your dog’s favourite treats and a few vegetables.  Freeze until it’s hard and then pop out of the container in the morning and let your dog enjoy.  If you don’t want slop everywhere it’s a good idea to put it into a large bowl and hope that it stays there. 

Having a doggy companion brings loads of benefits but it can also mean loads of unbudgeted expenses too. If your pooch needs a little extra financial attention we’re here to help - just check out our flexible mini-loans from $1K - $5K to find out how quick and easy it is to get your hands on some extra funds. Once a loan is approved, the cash is generally deposited into your bank account within a few hours.