Is my dog bored or overstimulated?
Alexie Beahan
2025-07-23 01:42:43
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To determine whether your dog is overstimulated or bored, consider the context in which these behaviours are occurring. If your dog is exhibiting signs of overstimulation in a chaotic or unfamiliar environment, such as a busy park or during a loud thunderstorm, it's likely that they are overwhelmed by the stimuli around them. On the other hand, if your dog is displaying these behaviours when there is a lack of mental or physical stimulation, such as during long periods of inactivity or when left alone for extended periods, boredom may be the culprit. Another way to differentiate between overstimulation and boredom is to observe your dog's body language. Overstimulated dogs may appear tense and agitated, with a stiff body posture and dilated pupils. In contrast, a bored dog may have a more relaxed body posture and display behaviours such as yawning or sighing. These can include many signs that can also be indicative of boredom, so it's crucial to determine the underlying cause of these behaviours to effectively address the issue.
Jada Fritsch
2025-07-23 01:03:27
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Dogs are very clever animals and like to use their brain or they can get bored. Just like us, dogs can get bored if they don’t have much to keep their brains engaged. Bored dogs often create their own games as a way to have fun, resulting in certain tricky behaviours. Good news is, once you provide a worthwhile activity for your dog, they’ll happily keep themselves entertained and out of mischief. Activity toys are great for when your dog is left home alone and also useful for when your dog needs some time out or a chance to calm down if they’re over-excited. The process of playing and thinking about activity toys will help tire your dog out. Most dogs still possess the desire to perform the behaviours they were bred to do, even if they’re just a family pet. Finally, remember to give your dog plenty of toys and chews to help keep them occupied. Rotate these regularly to keep them interesting and try different activities each week.
Meda Tillman
2025-07-23 00:21:39
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Decrease exposure to stimuli can prevent sensory overload in the short term. Socialization is crucial for dogs who get overstimulated around other pets. Socialization should occur in a controlled setting under close supervision, ideally with a handler for each dog. It's important to keep interactions calm and low-key since high-energy interactions can cause can intensify a dog's response and increase the likelihood of sensory overload. A simple way pet parents can reduce the chances of sensory overload is to ensure their dog gets plenty of exercise and mental stimulation throughout the day. Mental and physical stimulation help dogs relax and may make them less likely to become overstimulated when exposed to external stimuli.
Many behaviorists suggest counterconditioning, a form of behavior modification, to address overstimulation in dogs. The idea behind counterconditioning is to create new mental associations that encourage the dog to respond positively to their triggers. Dogs with severe reactivity or very low thresholds for external stimuli may benefit from Behavioral Adjustment Training (BAT), a more advanced behavior modification method. BAT encourages dogs to ignore sensory information that typically elicits a negative response.
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