Boredom & Destruction in Dogs: Why It Happens and How to Help

Sriranga VN
Aug 8
3 min read

🐶 “I’m Bored!” Said the Dog, Before Eating the Sofa

Why Boredom in Dogs is Real — and How to Fix It Holistically..

Picture this.

You step out for groceries.

Twenty minutes later, you return to a crime scene: shredded cushions, a decapitated slipper, and your innocent-looking Lab lying upside down, tongue out, as if saying —“Sofa? What sofa?”

We’ve all been there. Welcome to the very real world of canine boredom — where your beloved pooch, left unstimulated, turns into a 4-legged demolition squad with fur and flair.

🧠 But Wait — Can Dogs Really Get Bored?

Yes. In fact, studies show that boredom in dogs triggers stress hormones, disrupts sleep patterns, and leads to neurotic behaviours — chewing, digging, barking excessively, pacing, and even aggression.

A 2020 study published in Animals (MDPI Journal) confirmed that mental enrichment is as crucial as physical exercise for a dog’s well-being.

In simple terms:A tired dog isn’t a happy dog. A mentally satisfied one is.

🐾 The Root Cause? We Treat Dogs Like Furniture

Dogs were never meant to just “exist” in homes.They were bred to work — herd, guard, sniff, hunt, search, serve. When we strip them of a purpose, they invent one:

Destroying the broom = hunting.
Digging the garden = foraging.
Barking all day = guarding the kingdom (your balcony).
Dragging your socks under the bed = treasure hoarding.

It’s not misbehaviour. It’s misdirected energy.

💡 7 Smart (and Srirangavn-approved)

Ways to Manage Boredom Holistically:

1. Mind Meals: Ditch the Bowl, Embrace the Brain

Instead of plonking food in a bowl, make meals into a game. Use:

Snuffle mats (DIY with old towels)
Puzzle feeders
Hide-and-seek with treats

Feeding time becomes thinking time.

2. Scent Work: Tap Into the Superpower

A dog’s nose is 40x stronger than yours.

Create “sniffari” zones at home: scatter treats, hide toys, play the “find it” game.

Scent-based play satisfies their primal need to track.

3. Jobs, Not Just Walks

Assign small jobs:

Carry a newspaper
Bring slippers (one at a time!)
Learn simple commands daily (touch, spin, ring a bell)

You’ll be amazed at how fulfilled they feel when given responsibility.

4. Rotate Toys like Toddlers

Keep only 3–4 toys out at a time. Rotate weekly.Suddenly, the squeaky squirrel becomes “new” again.

5. Sensory Enrichment Stations

Think “spa day for the senses”:

Safe herbs (tulsi, lavender, lemongrass) in pots
Frozen carrot chew
Music for dogs (YouTube’s full of it!)
A box of safe items to shred

6. Nature Time (Even in Small Doses)

Sunlight, soil, and fresh air are healing — for all species.A slow walk to sniff trees, a patch of grass to roll in, or just 10 minutes lying on the terrace with you can deeply calm them.

7. Talk, Touch, Time

Never underestimate the power of:

Gentle grooming
Daily “chats” (yes, really)
Silent companionship

Your presence is therapy.

💬 A Note from Sita & Mylo

"Humans go to therapy. We eat shoes. Help us out, won’t you?"

Signed,– Sita (Lab, CEO of Srirangavn Bark Squad)– Mylo (Rescue, Mood Manager, CMD)

🌿 Final Woof

Boredom is not a flaw — it’s a feedback signal from your dog’s intelligent, emotional, energetic self.

You don’t need to hire a canine psychologist or buy 37 new toys. You just need to engage the heart, head, and senses of your dog — with the same warmth you’d offer a child or elder.

Because in the end, all they’re asking is:“Will you play with me?”

And that… is where true wellness begins.