You just got a cute, little, not to mention, adorable pup for you to love. First of all, congratulations, you are now officially a dog parent.
Having a dog around to play and love is one of the best stress-relief therapies. Also, you get to share your space with a furry companion who loves you no matter what.
According to psychologists, playing with your pup helps in elevating dopamine and serotonin levels in your body. These hormones are associated with pleasure and tranquility. All in all, you won’t ever be in a bad mood around your doggos. In a nutshell, dogs make your life awesome and really, really fun.
And now that you’ve got one for yourself, there’s something you should know. Bored pups can be troublesome creatures. If they are not happy or entertained, then they might even go out of their way to sneak into areas that are off-limits for them. They might even start chewing on your stuff to get attention.
That being said, if you don’t want your new branded shoes to get ruined and succumb to pup boredom, you need to introduce your dog to a brand new playroom. Here’s everything you would be needing to create a playroom for your furry friend.
Puppy-proof the playroom
First of all, you should know that we don’t mean allotting a whole new room to your pup that serves as a playroom. Because that’s not practical. Puppies prefer and feel comfortable in smaller enclosed spaces rather than big ones. You can use a walk-in closet or look around for a pet playpen in a nearby pet store.
You need to make sure that the playroom is safe enough for your doggo to play all day. What if your pup slips on the floor and ends up hurting himself? Believe it or not, that’s going to hurt you more than him. So, suppose your home’s flooring is made up of vinyl, tiles, hardwood, or any other smooth material. In that case, you can consider covering the entire play area with rubber mats. Using anti-fatigue mats is also an excellent option to keep your dog’s play area safe. All you need to do is cover every inch of the playroom area so that there’s no space left for your dog to slip.
Also, you need to ensure that there are no hazardous elements present in or near your pup’s playroom. Such stuff can be a huge threat to your pup’s health. It would also be a really good idea to keep all your cleaning supplies and chemical stuff in an entirely different room. This way, your puppy won’t be able to get easy access or get tempted by them. And lastly, you would need to secure all the loose electrical cords and wires with duct tape.
Add a lot of entertaining stuff
Bored pups tend to seek attention from their parents. They start whining, which is not very pleasant. That’s exactly why you need to meet your pup’s entertainment needs. But how?
One of the best ways to keep your pup entertained and happy is to distract him with a lot of toys and games. So, you need to add such things in your doggo’s playroom to keep him occupied all day long. Not to mention, it’ll help in preventing unwanted dog behaviors such as barking and excessive chewing on your stuff.
Plus, adding your dog’s favorite stuff in his playroom will make him feel safe. So, provide plenty of exciting dog toys in your pup’s playroom so that he doesn’t feel bored whenever you leave the room. You can also add toys that your dog would love to chew on.
For instance, suppose your pup loves to attack your sandals or purses whenever he is bored. In that case, you can give a chew toy in the shape of a sandal or a handbag so that he spares your stuff. You can also add a seek-treat puzzle to keep your pup occupied for more extended periods.
Stock up on dog entertainment stuff and keep on rotating them in the playroom so that he doesn’t get bored of his toys and puzzles. You can also spruce up the entertainment level by filling hollow toys with your pup’s favorite and nutritious treats. This way, he’ll learn how to surpass challenges to get his favorite treats.
Keep the essentials within reach
The whole point of having a playroom for your pup is that you create a comfy sanctuary for your doggo to enjoy when you aren’t around. But what if your pup needs something or wants to do his business and you are not there to attend to his basic needs? Don’t worry- there’s a solution for that too.
First of all, you would need a comfy bed where your pup can sleep and relax. The mattress should be soft and easy to access so that your puppy can have a good night’s sleep every day.
Place a drinking bowl in your pup’s playroom so that your dog can use it whenever he is thirsty. Also, you would need to get a potty mat for your puppy to do his business and prevent any accidents inside the house. The mats are trays with substrates on the top. All your dog has to do is go to the substrate, do his business.
And while placing that, you need to keep in mind that the potty mat should be as far as possible from your pup’s bed. You would also need to clean those trays every day to prevent any unpleasant odor in the house.
Final Words,
Lastly, you can consider installing a safety camera in the playroom to keep an eye on your pup. It’ll help you keep track of your pup’s movements so that you can figure out how your pup is adapting to his brand new playroom.
So, if you do not want to raise a clingy or attention-seeking dog, then start training him from the beginning. Use a playroom and add his favorite stuff along with essentials to keep him occupied for longer periods. This way, you won’t ever get stuck on dog-sitting duty, EVER.
