Do Dogs Get Bored of The Same Walk


do dogs get bored of the same walk

Dogs are very adaptable animals that benefit from routines, but there can be misconceptions about one of the most important parts of their day, the daily walk.

Dogs can get bored of the same walk, especially if there are no variables added to it. This is an essential element of their daily routine that helps with their energy level, mood, and fitness, and as such should be a happy one. Introducing new details to the routine can make all the difference.

If you’re wondering whether your dog is getting bored of the same walk, read on to find out more about how this can affect them and what to do about it.

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Is My Dog Bored On Walks

Although versatile and easily pleased, your best canine friend can experience routine tiresome like the rest of us. Dogs thrive on receiving new signals and information from walks, and if this becomes too repetitive, they can become apathetic. Trying to tell if your dog is bored of their walk can be the hardest part and so looking more closely at why your dog gets bored can help.

How to Tell if Your Dog Is Bored

Here are some signs you can be on the look-out for if you’re worried that your dog is getting bored of the daily walking routine:

  • Apathy, or a general lack of excitement and energy
  • Constant stopping or even refusal to walk
  • Staying close to you at all times, even if not on the leash
  • Showing no interest in exploration even on the leash
  • Reduced socializing
  • Increased overall frustration.
  • Potential destructive or compulsive behavior

Why Can Dogs Get Bored of the Same Walk?

There are many reasons why dogs can get bored of the same walk. If you notice any of the signs of boredom, you should try to understand which reason prevails in your dog’s case so that you can eliminate it as much as possible.

The main reason behind boredom in this instance is a lack of stimulation. Dogs thrive on receiving as many stimuli as possible. It is how they interact with the world and how they react to it. The daily walk is one of their main ways of stocking up on external information, as well as socializing and working off their energy.

Daily walks will be implemented into your routine and adapting to what you have to do during the day. But regardless of time, if your dog receives no new input from walks for an extended period, they will get bored. 

The same smells, sights, people, and other dogs will make them feel like there is no new information to be received, especially if you do the exact same route a few times a day. Even though dogs benefit from an established routine and from having familiar paths to tread during their walks, they need to have at least something new to experience.

Other than a lack of stimuli, dogs can also get bored if there are no new learning or playing opportunities. Daily walks serve many purposes, chief among them being working off a dog’s excess energy for their overall wellbeing, especially if they will have to be left at home for most of the day while you are at work.

do dogs get bored of walks

Spice Up Your Dog’s Walk

Here are some tried and tested tips for improving the quality of your dog’s walks that you can start implementing immediately once you’ve noticed that they’re bored and the reason behind it.

Respond to Where the Dog Wants to Go

When you’re walking your dog, pay attention to what they are responding to and to whether they’re trying to lead you somewhere they might find more interesting, even if it’s an entirely new area down a road you’ve not yet explored. 

You don’t have to go very far or spend more time than you usually do, but even the minimal effort of exploring a new tree or alley will make a big difference to your dog.

In most cases dogs will sniff out the scent of other dogs, marking their territory along the way. Your dog will love the opportunity to get one over on their neighboring dog communicating through marking. Sometimes watching where other dog walkers go can unlock a whole new area you didn’t know exist.

Pack Some Treats

Treats are always welcome, and they can also be a highly useful tool. Training treats, in particular, are perfect for walks, when you can use them to trigger new interactions with your dog that will stick in their mind as memorable, which will be highlighted to them by the treat reward.

Because dogs use so much of their brain for processing smells, setting down some treats along your usual route will give some exciting targets to sniff out. Scent walks can be a very positive experience for your dog and they will be excited to explore that same route again to see if they can find anymore treats. Check out our article on “How Long Can A Dog Follow A Scent”, for more information on understanding your dog’s nose. Another article I produced discusses “Why Your Dog Smells Everything On a Walk”.

Explore New Places on Days Off

It’s normal to go on the same walk during the week when you have work and other responsibilities to attend to, but take advantage of your days off to drive to an entirely different location with your dog and let them explore it. This will depend on what you have available nearby in your area.

You could go into the woods, to new parks, at the beach, on hiking routes, and many other options. This will be a great bonding opportunity and will have the bonus of making you feel like you’re enjoying your days off in a different setting too.

Getting a hiking map can be a great way to explore new places. I tend to scroll through hiking maps for my local area finding places I didn’t even know I could walk, these areas then lead to even more walking. Depending on your country you may have access to national park maps or other areas of natural beauty, contacting the council or organization can get you some great information on local routes.

walking dogs together

Let Your Dog Run Off Lead

There are so many benefits to allowing your dog to run off lead. If you feel confident enough in your dog’s recall then allowing them to be off lead can help stimulate them more than usual. They will also run around a lot more meaning you can either drain more of your dog’s energy or cut your walk short with the comfort that your dog has been given the same amount of exercise they would have had if they were on the lead.

One issue dog owners have is finding a good place for dogs to run. Exploring public footpaths or bridleways can be a great place, however, you need to make sure your dog does not run out onto fields and ensure they stay away from livestock. Sometimes it is common to find areas which have been fenced off specifically for dogs to free run around, if you don’t have this in your town, maybe suggest something for dog walkers to use exclusively, it would be up to the council to find some appropriate land to turn into a free-running area.

Check out our article on “Walking Your Dog Off Lead” and why it is so important. If you have a young puppy and want to know the best age for letting them off the lead, have a look at this article “What Age To Let A Puppy Off The Lead”

Do Some Training

Considering you’ll already have training treats with you, the daily walks can be a great opportunity also to stimulate your dog’s mental abilities through some training. Your dog will associate training with having fun at the same time, and they will learn quickly while enjoying their walk too.

Introduce Fun New Games

Speaking of fun, if you don’t have the opportunity to switch up the areas for your daily walk, you can always boost the excitement of it by adding new games to the routine. This is another option that doesn’t have to add too much extra time to your usual walk. Here’s an article I wrote on “9 Games To Play While Walking Your Dog”. 

Taking one of your dog’s toys along will boost their mood, and even just throwing a ball around a few times will have a huge impact on them and ensure that their boredom levels are low. Dogs love spending time with their owners, especially while playing and bonding at the same time.

Share Dog-Walking Duties

If there’s more than one person in the household, you should alternate dog-walking duties. Even if the walk route remains the same, the change in the person doing it will affect the entire activity and feel new to the dog, even if it’s just the same two people alternating.

If you have a dog-walker while you’re at work, make sure they’re not the only ones doing the walk at all times to keep the action from becoming too repetitive. Most likely your dog walker will have other dogs with them and will tend to take them somewhere exciting like woodland or parks. The attraction of open spaces and the many dogs they will meet along the way will reduce the likelihood of boredom.

Have Group Walks

Check your area to see if there are any dog group-walking events in your neighborhood. These can bring many new stimuli in the shape of new people and new dogs to socialize with, and with the bonus of not always being the same, depending on when you can join them. With group walks, you get to facilitate new stimuli while exploring your surroundings.

These vents will usually be posted on Facebook or other social media sites. You can even find advertisements for these events inside your local vet’s office. Sometimes they are breed-specific meet-ups or just a small local group walking some of the local trails.

Combine Activities

When you’re walking your dog, maximize the excitement factor by doing other errands at the same time. For shortstops that don’t require your dog to wait outside too long, you can go to a grocery store or a pharmacy, or even a pet store, where you can purchase more treats.

You can also stop at a friend’s house or grab some coffee on the way, which will have the added benefit of streamlining your day too.

Conclusion

Dogs can get bored of the same walk unless new factors are introduced to them. If you have suspicions that this may be the case, make sure to change the routine, even if it’s only a few details. try thinking about what dogs like, this includes smells, seeing other dogs, water, mud, and open spaces. 

Dean Lissaman

As a child I grew up around dogs and have loved them ever since. I now have a beloved Golden Retriever who enjoys exploring the outside world. Being an outdoor enthusiast has inspired me to create the ultimate resource on relating both dogs and the outdoors. For more information on me check out my about page.

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