Imagine this: You are at your work with full focus and suddenly you fall into a spiral of thoughts what is your dear dog up to? Is he sleeping?💤 Eating? or missing his favourite human?
Well, you can stop thinking now and let’s go on a fun quest of what dogs do all day.⛅ Here we will explore all the napping, eating, playing, and above all what makes up a day in the life of a dog. So, without further ado let’s dig in…..
What Do Dogs Do All Day?
After a long day at work, when we come home and our dear dog is standing at the door to greet us and takes us inside the house while wagging his tail all the way, we sometimes wonder if he was waiting all day?🚪🐶 or just sleeping around.
Many times when dogs are bored they run around, sleep, or sometimes chew things to pass their time, since you are not there to stop them so it is all more fun for them.
According to the American Kennel Club, dogs spend around half of the day asleep,💤 30% awake but relaxing and about 20% being active. So, it is normal for your dog to sleep or rest for the majority of the day.⌛ However, excessive sleep can be concerning for any pet owner.
There are dogs that can take naps all day on the other hand some dogs are as fast as light. Many breeds are more active in general, they need to engage in physical activities more to keep their brain🧠 occupied and not get bored.
In general, when dogs are alone they spend their time doing various activities like sleeping, eating, playing, and so on. So to quench our curiosities we asked our few friends to see in their home cameras📷 what dogs do all day when pet parents are away. Let’s see what we found:
Dog 1: Buddy
Buddy is an energetic golden retriever who spends his days joyfully at home while his owner Sam is off at work.💼 Buddy is standing at the door, looking at Sam as he leaves:
- 12:10 – Still standing at the door, looking at the door.🚪
- 12:15 – Running around the house happily.
- 01:30 – Eating snacks and finding some more in the kitchen.
- 02:30 – Trying to find out what is inside his chewing toy.
- 03:00 – Looking at the toy from far away what secret must that toy be hiding?🧸
- 03:45- Finding some more snacks while looking at the door again.
- 04:00 – Taking a nap.
- 05:00 – Still taking that nap.💤
- Evening – Waging tail in joy as he sees Sam pulling his car🚗, greeting Sam with hugs!
Even though Sam works long hours, Buddy happily keeps himself busy throughout the day, napping, playing with his toys, and looking forward to Sam’s arrival. At the end of a long work day, Sam cherishes coming home to his happy Buddy.
Dog 2: Oscar
Oscar is a cheerful dog who spends his days at home while his dear pet parents Harry and Amelia are at work, let’s see what Oscar does after they leave:
- 11:00 AM – Sitting patiently by the door as his owners leave for work, Oscar wonders what fun the day will bring!
- 12:10 PM – Oscar looks around the house for any forgotten treats.🍬🍭
- 1:00 PM – Finding a tasty bone, Oscar settles in for some hard chewing and daydreaming.
- 2:00 PM – Oscar grabs a quick drink and checks the yard for squirrels.
- 3:00 PM – A nice nap on the couch recharges Oscar’s batteries.🔋
- 4:00 PM – Oscar wakes up ready for playtime. He brings all his favourite toys to the living room.
- 5:00 PM – Watching out the window, and thinking if it is wise to chase after that squirrel.🐿️
- Evening – Oscar joyfully greets his returning owners with hugs and kisses, so happy to have his family back home.🏡
Even though they have busy jobs, Oscar’s parents feel blessed knowing their dog Oscar is really an “Oscar”🏆 and he is relaxing at home awaiting their return!
Dog 3: Milo
Milo is an energetic young dog who eagerly awaits his owner Sarah to return home from her work every day. Let’s see what Milo does while Sarah is away:
- 10:00 AM – Pacing eagerly by the door as his Sarah leaves, Milo wonders when she’ll be back.
- 12:10 PM – Milo inspects the house for new hiding spots for his toys.
- 01:00 PM – After tucking into his food bowl🥣, Milo plays tug-of-war with his favourite rope toy.
- 02:00 PM – Milo practices his tricks, hoping for a treat when his owner gets home.
- 03:00 PM – Worn out from play, Milo takes a nap by the window.
- 04:00 PM – Milo wakes up and watches the world outside.🪟🍃
- 04:30 PM – Hearing the car engine, Milo waits by the door, tail wagging wildly.
- Evening – Milo jumps and spins joyfully as Sarah finally arrives home, smothering her in happy kisses.
Even though Sarah is away at school for long hours, she feels grateful knowing her Milo is safe at home.
Why Should We Train Our Dogs to Be Alone?
We must train🐕🦺 our dogs to be alone for a while as dogs that can stay alone are less likely to feel anxious and engage in destructive behaviours. There may be some situations where your dog may need to be alone so it’s better if they learn in advance[1].
Start by leaving them alone for a while and gradually increase the duration. If you find any distressful reaction then stop that immediately.⌛ Reward your dogs so that they can associate this with positive behaviour. Make your dogs feel safe, teaching this skill is useful in the long run!
FAQs
❓What Do Dogs Do All Day When Their Owners Are at Work?
If owners don’t raise any objections during training, dogs might jump up into a “people” bed instead, with some even burrowing down and snuggling under the covers. The amount of time the animal sleeps really depends on its unique preferences and physical needs, but it can take up a big part of the day.
❓What Do Dogs Do All Day?
According to the American Kennel Club, dogs spend around half of the day asleep, 30% awake but relaxing and about 20% being active. So, it is normal for your dog to sleep or rest for the majority of the day. However, excessive sleep can be concerning for any pet owner.
❓Do Dogs Enjoy Doing Nothing All Day?
Yes, dogs get bored. Sit around the house all day with absolutely nothing to do and you’d get bored, too! Try some cool new toys or puzzles to keep your dog engaged and, of course, exercise always helps. Mixing up your dog’s routine will keep him stimulated and happy—and the house intact!
❓What Should My Dog Be Doing All Day?
Generally, healthy adult dogs may be awake about seven to eight during the day and about five hours during the night, says Dr. Winch. Puppies tend to need more sleep—upwards of 18 hours per day—and may actually sleep for longer periods of time immediately preceding a period of growth.
Summary
And it’s a warp, in our quest of “What do dogs do all day?” We saw many activities in which dogs engage throughout their day to pass their time while waiting for their owners to be home.🏡
We saw the activities of Milo, Oscar, and Buddy. We can get the idea that dogs are creatures of habit, they thrive in routine. While we never know what dogs think all day they surely love us a lot as the main part of their routine revolves around waiting for their owner to be home!💖
Reference:
- Cpdt, S. G. M. (2023b, September 18). The importance of teaching your puppy how to be alone AKC.
