08/30/2026
Your dog might not need MORE exercise… they might need to learn how to do absolutely nothing.
We hear it all the time: “A tired dog is a good dog!” & that’s absolutely true, HOWEVER, constantly trying to tire your dog out can actually create a dog who expects to be entertained all day long.
Walks. Fetch. Daycare. Puzzle toys. Training. Playtime. Another walk. More fetch.
Then the second nothing is happening… they’re pacing, whining, shoving toys into your lap, following you from room to room, barking for attention, or getting into things.
Sometimes the answer isn’t more stimulation. It’s teaching your dog that being bored is okay.
Dogs need to learn how to turn their brains OFF just as much as they need physical and mental exercise.
Try to incorporate things like:
• Place while you’re busy: Cook dinner, clean the house, watch TV, or work while your dog learns to settle nearby.
• Tether time: Keep them near you without constantly interacting with them. They can watch, relax, and eventually realize there’s nothing they need to be doing.
• Structured downtime after activity: After a walk, play session, or training, give them an opportunity to decompress instead of immediately finding the next activity.
• Crate naps: Especially for puppies or dogs that have serious FOMO and won’t voluntarily put themselves to sleep.
• Go somewhere and do… nothing: Sit on a park bench, hang out outside, or bring them somewhere dog friendly. They don’t need to greet everyone or constantly explore. Let them practice simply existing around the world.
And one of the easiest things you can do?
Stop feeling guilty when your dog is bored!
You are not your dog’s cruise director. They don’t need an activity planned for every waking minute.
A dog who knows how to run, play, train AND then come home and peacefully do absolutely nothing is a much easier dog to live with.
Calmness is a skill, and just like obedience, it has to be practiced.🧡🩵
