Tips to entertain your puppy and encourage him to play with his own toys when he's alone...
Most dogs will not play alone. Dogs are social creatures and find it better to engage with other dogs or their owners. However, if you would like your puppy to play on his own, start incorporating an interactive toy into your puppy's feeding regime.
Rather than putting his meals in a boring bowl where the food quickly vanishes, stuff the meal into an interactive toy like a Kong. Your puppy will then entertain himself by chewing, shaking, and dropping the toy in order to eat.
To make a chew toy more appealing for your puppy, you can store it in your their dry food bag/container. The chew toy will smell of his food and be more likely to be chewed. The toy will also appear newer because it has been stored out of the dog's sight. Dogs are drawn to novel items!
If you find your puppy is chewing or playing with more household items than his own toys when he is left alone, this could be a sign that he's anxious about being along or something in his environment is unsettling him. Take a look at our tips on encouraging your puppy to chew and play with activity toys.
Other articles you may find useful:
- What types of toys are best for dogs?
- My dog is obsessed with toys!
- Why doesn't my puppy play with toys when he's alone?
- Tips to help a nervous dog
- How can I help my pup to settle?