My Dachshund Puppy, Eko, is 8 months old and he loves to play constantly.  Our 14 year old dog, Bastian, doesn’t really care for playing or socializing with Eko.  He just enjoys napping.

At an early age, I set up several puppy play dates for little Eko, because socializing a puppy is very important and can determine how puppies will behave as adult dogs.

We had several play dates with a spry Labrador puppy, named Buddy.  Buddy and Eko were best friends.  They loved to romp around the house together like a couple of wild children. 

But, Buddy got way to big and rambunctious, so unfortunately we couldn’t continue having play dates.  I was growing more concerned about Eko’s fragile spine, to avoid dachshund ivdd.

Without Buddy around, I knew Eko would eventually become bored at home without a playmate…and I was right. 

Eko is still a young puppy and not really ready to start the adult dachshund routine of being content with random naps throughout the day.  We can’t have another dog right away, so I had to find alternatives to help burn off his puppy energy.

Here is a picture of Me and Eko.  He is looking pretty bored with this Puppy Photo Session…haha.

Signs That Your Dog Is Bored

Seeking Attention:

How did I know that Eko was feeling bored?  When I sit at my computer, Eko will paw at my feet and let out a small “woof”, which is adorable and I put him on my lap. 

My lap must not be comfortable enough, so he gets down.  This happens a few times every afternoon.  This isn’t a behavior that necessarily needs to be stopped.  He was being polite about asking for my attention, so no real issue there.

But, one day… I was working on the computer, and I turned around to find Eko spreading bits of paper everywhere!  I could just hear him saying “Look at me!” 

He had gotten up on a table, grabbed an envelope filled with papers (my son’s homemade paper puzzle), and quickly spread them all over the floor, right in front of me.  Now you are coming in Crystal Clear, Eko!

I actually took a video of my Bored Puppy (on our YouTube Channel).  Although this video is cute, Eko was being very clear that he was bored and needed attention.

Destructive Behavior:

After a long day at work, the last thing you want to come home to is a BIG MESS from your dog.  I am not talking about some paper being spread around, more like furniture being ruined. 

Chewed up pillows, peed on couch or carpet, garbage tipped over… does any of this sound familiar?  Your pup is home all day and he is bored.

Bored Dachshunds Are Destructive.  They tend to get themselves into trouble just to entertain themselves when home alone.  Unfortunately, this is a Common Dachshund Behavior Issue. 

Many doxies tend to get upset when you leave and they want you to know about it.

Note: If your puppy is under the age of 5 months old, they may exhibit similar symptoms: barking, whining, chewing, and going potty indoors.  They are babies, this is normal puppy behavior.

Barking:

Why do dachshunds bark so much? Excessive Barking can occur when they are bored.  Barking at the window, barking when he is supposed to go potty outside, or barking when he just wants some attention.

Dogs that constantly bark in the evening may be doing so out of boredom. They need to have some playtime and more walks during the day to tire them out and help promote a good night’s sleep.

Digging:

Why do Dachshunds dig?  It could be one of two reasons: out of sheer boredom or out of instinct.  Dachshunds were Bred to Hunt.  During the hunt, they had to do a lot of digging to help track down their prey.

Escaping:

Your dachshund may try to constantly escape the house or fenced in yard if he is bored. Being in the same space day in and day out can be tough on a dog that is left alone. They may also try to jump, climb, or dig out to escape.

Hyper Greetings:

When you arrive home and your doxie explodes with over-the-top energy, they are bored at home without you there.  This may also be coupled with submissive peeing in your presence.

Obsessive Behaviors:

Does your pup constantly chew on his paws or chase his tail round and round?  Your pup is bored. 

When you walk around the house, do you feel like you are being stalked by a short-legged shadow?  I admit, dachshunds are famous for following us around, but they also love to explore and sniff. 

If they are always at your feet with no rest, that is considered obsessive behavior.

How To Stop Dog Boredom

Ok, so, we discussed several symptoms of Dog Boredom, now how can we fix it before it gets worse?  Because it can get worse! 

Dogs become bored or extra anxious when they lack daily mental and physical stimulation.

All dogs need exercise and playtime every day.  Even if it is just a few minutes, this can help your dog have something to look forward to and properly tire them out.  How can we prevent dog boredom? I have some ideas for you to try.

Exercise:

Routine Exercise is considered physical stimulation which not only prevents boredom, but also helps lower your dog’s anxiety and stress level. 

Take your dachshund on a 20 minute walk before heading out the door for the day.  This will give your doxie the one-on-one time he craves.

Take your dachshund on some nature hikes.  My dachshunds LOVE hiking with me and my family.  They keep up just fine, they even try to sprint ahead of me at times. 

I always use a dachshund harness during our hikes and walks to protect their spines and avoid collar choking.

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Mental Stimulation:

Keeping your Dachshund occupied with Interactive dog toys and puzzles can help them stay mentally stimulated so you don’t have to worry about them getting bored while you are gone. 

Dachshunds are hunting hounds.  They love to use their brains to search for hidden items, run, and play.

Solving puzzles develops your dog’s intellectual skills.  Using a puzzle or IQ dog treat toy will increase their excitement to learn by including yummy treats with playtime. 

Help keep your dachshund occupied for longer periods of time and reduce destructive behavior or Separation Anxiety.

Dog IQ Puzzle Box:

The Dog Activity Poker Box is so much fun!  It is labeled a level 2 dog puzzle.  My Dachshund, Eko, took a couple of days to be able to get through all of the boxes.  He gets so excited when I bring this puzzle toy out to play.  I use small pieces of chicken to hide in each box.

Dog Hide and Seek Toy:

Dachshunds love to dig, search, and find hidden toys.  The Squeaky Hide and Seek Plush Dog Toy (from Amazon) will definitely lower your doxie’s boredom levels by far.

Bob-A-Lot:

Our Absolute Favorite Dog Treat Dispensing Toy is the Bob-A-lot (from Amazon).  This toy makes it easy to keep Eko happy, busy, and rewarded with doggie treats.

It helps reduce anxiety and provides hours of mental stimulation for pups that get bored easily.  This toy dispenses dog food or small treats slowly to prevent over-eating and dachshund obesity.

Dog Snuffle Mat:

Little Eko and his Big Brother, Bastian, both Love this doggy activity mat! They want all of their meals on this mat now, it is too cute! This dog activity mat is a great way to keep my pups busy using their brains and having fun hunting for their dog food or hidden treats.

I found this colorful Dog Snuffle Mat on Amazon. It is a great price, easy to wash, and keeps both of my dogs busy!

Note: My dog’s snuffle mat in the picture is an older model, the one on Amazon looks different, but just as fun.

DIY Dog Brain Games:

Dachshunds naturally love to forage for food and treats.  This is a really fun game you can play with plastic Easter Eggs: DIY Brain Games for Your Dachshund Video.
It’s a really easy way to mentally stimulate your Dachshund right in the comfort of your own home.

Licki Mats:

Offering tasty frozen treats on a lick mat can effectively divert your doxie’s attention. Try smearing it with banana and dog-safe peanut butter, yum!

Note: Don’t leave your pup alone with chewable items.

How Do I Keep My Dog Entertained While At Work?

Even though I don’t travel to work anymore, I still could use some help with Eko’s constant need for playtime.

The Wicked Ball is my #1 Choice for keeping your Dachshund occupied whether you are home or away.

The Wicked Ball is an interactive toy that responds to your dog’s touch. It rolls around the floor and lights up to keep your dog (or cat) engaged in play.

It is charged through USB, so no batteries to worry about. I believe it is reasonably priced considering all it can do! You can find the Wicked Ball on Amazon.

Check out the “Toys For Bored Dachshunds” Video at the top of this post for Eko’s Dog Toy Review on the Bob-A-Lot, Snuffle Mat, and Wicked Ball.

You can find some more entertaining Doggie IQ Puzzles, Boredom Buster Activity Mats, and Interactive Tech Dog Toys on our Dachshund Gift Post. They will definitely help keep your pup occupied for a while.

Calm Environment:

Leave a radio, tv, or a fan on before you leave for the day to help your dog listen to familiar sounds while you are gone. 

Creating a calm environment can be a big help when it comes to keeping an anxious dog relaxed.  You could also try TV for Bored Dogs on YouTube.

Hired Help:

If you work full-time or are unable to let your dog out during the day, get some help.  You can ask your friendly stay at home mom or retired neighbor if they want to earn some extra money for letting your dog out.

You can also search for local dog walkers in your area.  I have used the Rover.com app to look up local caregivers to let my dog out when I’m gone for the day or evening.  It comes with lots of reviews and is super easy to use. 

Hiring some help during the day while you are away can help lower your dog’s anxiety and give you peace of mind.

Doggie Daycare:

If your dog is bored, he may just need some extra playtime to tire him out.  There are a lot of doggie day cares that will allow your dog to come play for a couple hours or for the whole day, giving you a break. 

If your dog is alone all day, consider taking him to a dog daycare, at least a couple times a week.

Dog Day Cares require all dogs to be up to date on their shots.  As an extra bonus, a lot of the dog day cares have cameras that you can watch from your cell phone or computer while you are at work, so you can check in on your furry friend any time.

Dachshunds can go play too!  When we had play dates with Buddy, he was playing really rough with Eko as he grew, so I was becoming more concerned about Eko’s back.  So, I really like to take Eko to doggie day care once in a while to play with other small dogs that are his size.  This is an awesome way to give my dachshund some exercise and keep him socialized with other dogs.

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If Dog Boredom continues, overtime, it may develop into something much worse.  Dog Velcro Syndrome and Separation Anxiety are a more severe form of Boredom and Acting Out.

What is Velcro Dog Syndrome?

Velcro Syndrome is definitely more of a severe case of clinginess that some dogs can develop.  Dogs with Velcro Syndrome must be with their humans in order to feel happy and content. 

When their owners leave, they really panic.  This syndrome usually isn’t something that your dog is born with, but can develop as they grow older.

What Causes Velcro Dog Syndrome?

Some believe that Velcro Syndrome is mainly caused by a dog’s owner!  That may be ‘partially true’, because we all treat our Dachshunds like babies, don’t we? 

I believe the dachshund dog breed tends to be more dependent and clingy (especially the males).

Others believe that this syndrome could be caused by a lack of proper training, too much stimulation during the puppy phase (not enough down time by themselves), or if they were weaned too early. 

Being weaned too early can also cause Dog Separation Anxiety.

Top Velcro Dog Breeds:

Believe it or not, Dachshunds did not make the list of Top Velcro Dog Breeds.  I have checked google in and out, and the list remains the same, no doxies listed. 

After owning and loving Dachshunds for the past 20 years, I can tell you, they are pretty darn close to being a Velcro dog breed.  When I get a chance to sit down, there is always Dachshund on my lap in seconds.  When I cook, clean, sleep…there is always a Dachshund at my side.

The Dachshund dog breed may be missing from the Velcro dog breed list because Female Dachshunds are so much more independent than their male counterparts.

When I was a child, our female family Dachshund, Heidi, could remain in our home without being gated when we stepped out.  As an adult, I’ve learned that male Dachshunds do need to be in a puppy playpen or gated area when I leave the house because they always go looking for trouble.

Separation Anxiety

Separation Anxiety is a condition that causes dogs to freak out and act out when they are left alone.  Symptoms of Separation Anxiety include barking, going potty indoors, chewing and causing mass destruction on household items, escaping, pacing, and drooling.  Here is some more in depth information and Separation Anxiety Solutions For Your Dog.

Do You Have A Bored Dachshund At Home?  What helps them stay occupied when you are away?

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