How You Can Give Your Dog Room To Play While Being Safe
While keeping your dog in one room qualifies as ‘confinement’, it’s actually where your dog will enjoy more, be safer and be more comfortable. The key consideration here is that you structure the room creatively and make it a playful space for your dog.
Leaving your dog home alone is hard — both for you and the dog. Sensitive and anxiety-ridden dogs are even harder to deal with. But don’t worry, as long as you set up a safe and playful space for them, leaving them for a short period should be no problem!
We’ve curated a perfect plan of action for such a scenario — minute to the last little detail. Follow the following tips to create a secure and enjoyable room for your dog:
CHOOSING THE ROOM
Dogs don’t require large rooms to feel comfortable. In fact, enclosed spaces are equivalent to their quiet and comfortable ancestral dens. Any spare room in your house can be used as a dog room. Even just a laundry room or a walk-in closet would do. Just make sure there’s no window in the room or your dog might end up barking at every passer-by.
If you have a small house or an apartment with limited space, you can make use of a dog fence. Install it at the room’s entrance to create a partition while you’re away and fold it back once you’re home.
DOG-PROOFING THE ROOM
The second most important step? Making the room safe for your dog! You’ll have to consider abandoned sockets, water taps, wires, or anything that your dog might chew. Some anxious dogs might end up scratching your doors or walls if they aren’t well-trained. Make sure you’re leaving the space safe for them. Don’t leave any possibility for your dog to create a mess.
ADD THE COMFORT ZONE
Install a dog bed or at least a place where your dog can lay his head. Your dog isn’t going to spend all day sitting on his bed but he’s not going to spend all day jumping around and playing either. It’s important that you cover all these aspects so your pooch stays comfortable in your absence.
SOOTHING LIGHT AND SOUNDS
Dogs love TV! While they won’t always understand what’s going on, they’re going to appreciate the moving pictures and it’ll keep them glued to the screen. Perhaps you can turn up the animal planet before leaving in the morning.
Dogs will also appreciate soothing and calm music. You can also build up an automated system where you can play it for them for a little while.
DON’T FORGET THE TOYS
Our dogs need mental exercise as much as they need physical exertion. Following are some of the toys you can buy for your dog:
- Seek-a-treat puzzle toys that are safe and enjoyable
- A treat ball toy to chase around and later enjoy the reward
- Kong toys filled with treats and kibble
Avoid leaving toys like a tennis ball or anything that they might end up chewing and choking on.
PET WEBCAMS
Is it an offense to spy on your pets? We don’t think so. So consider this a go-ahead to spy on your dog. Install pet webcams and preferably the ones with two-way communication. It’ll keep you worry-free and help you comfort your dog in emergencies.
USE YOUR CREATIVITY: GIVE IT A FINAL CHECK
Don’t forget to double-check everything. You can install a cute little dog den inside the room. If you’re crafty, you can come up with DIY toys. Just make sure that your dog has enough things to do while you’re away — your dog will sleep 50% of the time. You just have to take care of the other half-time.
FINAL THOUGHTS
You don’t need anything fancy. Dogs don’t really have a sense of luxury. You just need to make sure they’re safe and relaxed while you’re away. All they’re going to do is sleep, pass the time and wait for your return.