My dog pulls toys from the box when I'm at work. Is he bored?

Have a few toys at home but only give 1-2 at a time. Change it out every day for a different set to prevent boredom. You can try kongs or the type of toys that are puzzles and release food every time they figure it out. Instead of bones, invest into water buffalo horns or elk antlers, they are much more durable

This question is a little difficult to answer since every pet is different but yes, you may want to try one of the more advanced puzzles. Keep in mind that any puzzle you purchase he will likely figure out and then learn the pattern quickly. You may try finding a group of other dog lovers and ask about rotating puzzles which will help stimulation. You may also try using a kibble dispensing ball which will keep him busy moving it around to get the kibble to come out. If you haven't tried stuffing the Kong with kibble, then smear peanut butter (xylitol free) to seal the end and then freeze it, try that. It will last a little longer. Smart dogs often benefit from daily exercise and advanced training. Here is a link with some helpful ideas to fight boredom: https://www.petcoach.co/article/10-ways-to-stimulate-your-dog-s-brain/ I hope this helps.

Puzzle toys that she has to solve in order to get a treat will keep Banba occupied while you are gone at work. They require that the dog has to use their mind to solve this puzzle, and they do get a reward at the end of it. There are some great ones available, but the best ones are by Nine Ottosson. Check out her website to see about getting some of these for Banba: http://www.nina-ottosson.com

Some dogs just don't care for toys, and this is ok! You could try puzzle toys where you put treats or dog food inside and they have to figure out how to get the food out. This is great mental stimulation and can provide some exercise. I do not recommend leaving soft toys or rawhide at home while you are gone just in case your dog decides to pull it apart or swallow large pieces - these can be a choking hazard. There are lots of options here: https://www.drsfostersmith.com/dog-supplies/dog-toys/interactive-and-treat-toys/ps/c/3307/3/3287

I certainly understand and sympathize with your situation. I have a young dog as well who is always bored. One of my cats will play with him occasionally, but it has not helped his overall energy, so I doubt adding a kitten will help you. I have a few suggestions for you that have helped me. One thing that people think of first is treats that keep them busy for a longer period of time. This does seem to help. You can use long lasting treats like a Kong filled with peanut butter, yogurt, treats, etc and frozen so it takes longer for him to eat. My dog also really like Bully Sticks which I also freeze to make them last a little longer. Keep him mentally and physically busy during meal times. I love using a feeding balls like a Buster Cube or Tricky Treat ball to feed meals in. It keeps him busy for at least 5-10 minutes at each meal and requires him to work. And speaking of working. I have found that my dog is the most tired after we have done a good round of training. Even if you have done a basic obedience class, I would consider trying an advanced class, a nose work class, a tricks class, etc. And if taking a class isn't an option right now, work on training at home. When he goes on walks, make him sit at each corner before he crosses the street. It sounds simple, but additional mental stimulation can go a long way. Playing with other dogs is a great outlet for energy. If you haven't tried it yet, look into your local dog park or doggy daycare center. Sending my youngest dog to daycare once a week has made a huge difference. There are a number of interactive dog games and toys available now. Outward Hound makes a number of toys that your dog has to figure out a puzzle of some type before they get a treats. Here are some ideas for those. https://www.petco.com/category/dog/dog-toys/interactive-dog-toys/dog-puzzle-toys-and-games I have not tried the Clever Pet yet, but it is an electronic interactive toy that am intrigued about. https://clever.pet So, I think the key is to vary his activities daily and include a wide range of physical and mental stimulation. Be sure to be creative to tire him out on a regular basis and help everyone keep their sanity. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Yes, I do! I love the Nina Ottosson puzzle toys for dogs. The dog has to solve a puzzle to get a treat, and there are varying levels of difficulty. Something like this would be great for Conan. I hope this helps.

Personally, I love interactive toys. I recently had a trainer work with my dog who focuses on brain games vs. physical activity, and he's done very well with that! One thing you can easily do, is when you get home, take handful of kibbles or small treats and just toss them into the back yard. Then he has to go and find them. This is very easy to do, and will tire him out of sure. Toys that I like are the kong wobbler, feeder balls or treat dispensing balls, the pickle pocket, the everlasting treat, and even a good old kong toy stuffed with some frozen fresh ground peanut butter (avoid any peanut butter with xylitol of course), greek yogurt, or pumpkin. My one dog doesn't really like the kong wobbler or the treat dispensing toy because he gets frustrated very easily. You'll just have to do a trial and error with Leny. My puppy really likes the treat ball and the kongs, as does my older guy. The older, more frustrated guy, really likes the everlasting treat ball as well. I order a lot of things from chewy.com because the prices are great, and if the dogs don't like the toys, it's not a huge waste of money, and I can just give them away. There is also something called a "snuffle mat" that you can purchase or make, that I think is a great idea for dogs after they've finished teething and don't chew things up anymore. (Of course if Leny winds up just being a chewer, I'd be careful with this too so he doesn't ingest any pieces). The snuffle mat is basically a mat with pieces of long fabric that you toss the food on. Then brush the pieces back and forth to hide the food, and let Leny sniff around and look for the food. I actually have this on my 2019 bucket list to make for my dogs. Of course, just to mention, there's always a huge benefit to working with a trainer, to help you streamline Leny's daily routine, so that he gets rid of the most energy and is calm and content. I hope you find this answer helpful! Best of luck!