Tv/Radio: Many dog owners leave a radio playing while they’re away from home for the dog’s sake: to make the dogs feel less lonely, to provide stimulation so they won’t get bored or to prevent them from barking excessively. Background noise, like radio or TV, can filter out other sounds that might distract a dog.

Enrichment toys: Dogs need enrichment to reduce stress, give them some control over their environment, and keep them occupied in constructive, non-destructive ways. Enrichment improves and enhances your dog’s mental state using a range of activities designed to challenge and exercise their brains. These activities encourage your dog to problem solve, learn new skills, and become more confident.

KONG toys are excellent for keeping your dog busy and mentally stimulated. Taking a few minutes to stuff a Kong toy with food or treats can occupy your dog for a few minutes, or even a few hours. As your dog works to remove food or treats, he’s expending excess energy. This can help alleviate boredom and anxiety.

Scavenger trails: Doggy scavenger hunts benefit pets and their parents too. Any game between pet parents and their fur-babies encourages bonding and mutual respect. Scavenger hunts also help your dog learn scent work and gives them practice obeying commands like “find it” and “drop it”. Engaging young dogs in games can help expend some of that endless puppy energy.

Another pet for company: They can help keep each other company, easing separation anxiety and keep each other entertained and exercised.

Long lasting chews: Chewing is a natural behaviour for all dogs. It allows them to explore the world around them, exercise their jaws, and even clean their teeth. Most of all, it engages them mentally and alleviates boredom.

Pet Camera: having a pet camera can benefit you and your pet. It can help with separation anxiety, by keeping you connected to your furbaby and even help them to continue training when you are not at home.

Day care/ walking or visiting services: like Friends for Pets:

  • Safe socialising, we provide groups of pet care,
    whether that be day care groups or group walks in a safe environment with
    trained, experienced pet care. This is a good way of allowing your pet to have
    furr friends and be comfortable around other pets.
  • Physical exercise: Friends for pets offer services
    tailored to each individual pets and will discuss with the owner what is best
    for the pet, regarding how much or how little exercise they may need.
  • Day care/pet visits/dog walks can all help with
    separation anxiety, it allows the pet to bond with other pet lovers and with
    regular visits or day care the pet will soon understand they won’t be left for
    a long period of time without being comforted by their owner or a loving pet
    carer.
  • Pet care also maintains routine and structure for
    pets. Pets soon get to know their routine from week to week and by trying to
    keep the same pet carer for the same pet where possible this allows the pet and
    the pet carer to bond and build up the trust.
  • Having pet care also gives the owner a peace of mind that
    their pet/pets are in safe hands with all our pet carers that are DBS
    checked and carry many years of experience caring and loving for all the
    animals here at friends for pets.