Do Dogs Need Constant Entertaining?

Canines in the wild spend much of their days hunting or scavenging. They chew on plenty of stuff as a matter of survival. If your domestic dog chews inappropriately, he needs to spend more time doing things with you. If he gets enough time on the right activities, his need for attention -- his chewing -- will probably subside.

  1. Exercising

    • Dogs that constantly demand attention might have excess energy. Adult dogs need about three hours' daily exercise, varying from breed to breed. This is roughly the amount of time dogs spend active in the wild. Catching up on walking the dog on the weekend doesn't meet his needs. Hire a dog walker if you're away during the day if you don't have enough time to give long daily walks. Frequent walks help a dog use up excess energy and provide some companionship and socialization time.

    Socializing

    • A dog's needy or destructive behavior might simply be an expression of loneliness. The dog is a social animal who needs close contact and interaction with his owner and family and with other dogs. It's important not to punish a dog who misbehaves when he's left alone, or who fusses for contact whenever his owner is home. Dogs need social interaction in addition to time spent playing and exercising. Having more than one dog will help; if you can't take on another pet, arrange play dates with a friend's dog.

    Playing

    • Playing is entertainment, plain and simple. It fulfills important needs. Playing with an owner or the family, or with another dog, helps meet a canine's need for play. Playing with your dog -- such as throwing a ball for him to retrieve, playing tug with toys, teaching him tricks, or undertaking any other form of playful, stimulating interaction -- helps your dog bond closer to you and helps him feel more secure. Dogs who don't spend any time playing can become depressed and manifest destructive or attention-seeking behavior.

    Chewing

    • A dog chewing on the sofa might not be seeking entertainment as much as he's simply fulfilling his need to chew. But boredom will cause a dog to chew inappropriate things. In the wild, a canine would get plenty of chewing while working over a carcass. Domesticated dogs don't get that much time gnawing on their kibble, so they chomp on other things, too -- particularly young dogs. Puppies tend to chew a lot as they explore their new world. Dogs of any age who are left alone for long periods will benefit from things to chewing on such as toys, large uncooked bones and commercial dog chews.