Pencil in Your Pet for Some QT

Your dog is bored. Your cat is even more bored, during the brief periods that he bothers to rouse himself from napping. Most of us are gone from our homes (and our pets) for large portions of the day, five to seven days a week. In many households, these valuable family members are spending the bulk of their daily lives in solitary confinement. What is that like for them? Have we done the right thing, trying to shoehorn these intelligent, sensitive creatures into our full-time high-pressure lifestyle?

For dog and cat owners, perhaps especially for those who spend long hours away from home, pets are the linchpin of our existence. They’re not going anyplace. They thrive on interaction and stimulation, so what can we do to make their lives more rewarding within the confines of our human responsibilities?

The short time we are able to spend with them should be mindfully employed. In doing so, we hope to counteract the long day alone in an otherwise empty house. Petting the pet is enjoyed by human and animal, but it’s important to energetically interact if we’re to deliver a concentrated dose of mental and emotional stimulation. Training sessions and learning games should be a scheduled part of our animals’ routine, particularly for highly intelligent individuals and varieties that were bred to work (like herding dogs, for example). Successfully training your pet to do anything, absolutely anything, new is a healthy workout for his intellect and yours. Some highly respected trainers recommend simply putting down a cardboard box and training your dog or cat to do “something” with it. Jump in when you say “in”. Push it along the floor when you say “push”. Fill it with toys when you say “hoard”. And so on. Physical exercise with your dog as a workout partner is also an excellent way to mindfully interact. Go out and throw a disc or a ball. Play keep-away or fetch, or some more complicated game that you invent together. Cats like it too!
For the hours that you’re absent, leave something behind to keep your pet engaged, and I do not mean the TV. Puzzles for pets, including (but not limited to) toys with concealed treats, are available for purchase; toys in general are more engaging if they are rotated in and out of use on a regular basis. Cats may enjoy a scratching post, even if they have no claws. Just about every cat has an inherent desire to climb; you’d make your little pal pretty happy by providing a cat tree or penthouse. Both dogs and cats enjoy the challenge of scouring the house for tiny hidden caches of food.

If you’re open to a bigger commitment, doggie day care is an option, as is the adoption of a second pet. Don’t forget, the second pet needs your attention too! Most of us can not quit our jobs to care for our animal companions, but that doesn’t mean they have to spend lengthy, lonely days filled with boredom.

Dr M.S. Regan