Why is my Golden Retriever bored?

If your Golden Retriever seems to be bored often, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it.

This post will show you a number of reasons why it might get bored and what you can do to get it to be less bored.

So, why is my Golden Retriever bored? Possible reasons are that it is not getting enough exercise, it’s getting the wrong diet, it’s old, it’s naturally calm, illness or depression.

There are a number of reasons why your Golden Retriever might be bored and it could be the result of a combination of reasons. However, there are also a number of things you can consider when trying to figure out the exact reason.

Why your Golden Retriever is bored

Below, I will show you a number of reasons why your Golden Retriever might be being bored and what would make them more likely to be the main reason.

Not enough exercise

Golden Retrievers are a breed that is meant to get exercise on a daily basis. When they do not get enough exercise it can cause them to behave abnormally and it could be why yours is bored. This would be especially likely if it starts acting bored when it does not get exercise.

Generally, it is recommended for adult Golden Retrievers to get an hour of exercise per day when they are healthy adults. If your Golden Retriever isn’t getting that much it would help to make sure that it does.

The wrong diet

It could also be the case that there is an issue with its diet. It could be that it is eating too much, not enough or that it is eating things that it shouldn’t be. A problem with its diet would be more likely if it has started acting differently since a change in its diet and if it does it more when it eats certain foods.

It would help to make sure that no one else has been feeding it without telling you and to consult on its diet with your vet. You can also look here to see what foods to feed it.

Age

The reason why your Golden Retriever has become bored could be that it is getting older. When dogs are older they will sleep more and be less active because they have less energy and it takes more effort for them to move around.

Nature

The reason could be that your Golden Retriever is naturally calm. This would be more likely if it has always acted that way and it has not suddenly started being bored. If it has always acted that way, it could still be the case that it is due to a different reason.

Heat

If your Golden Retriever has started being lethargic or fatigued at around the same time that the weather has become hotter, it could be due to the heat. In this case, it would help to give your Golden Retriever access to shaded areas, a cool room, water whenever it needs it and to exercise it in the morning or evening.

Illness

The reason could be that it has gotten an illness. This would be more likely if it has started acting bored suddenly and if it has been showing other signs of being ill such as being fatigued when awake or vomiting. If it does seem like it might be ill, it would help to take it for a checkup.

Depression

Dogs are also able to get depression like humans can and it might be the reason why your Golden Retriever has been acting that way.

This would be more likely if it has not always been so bored. It would also be more likely if it suddenly became bored after something happened such as if it lost a friend, you moved home or a family member moved away.

In this case, it might improve over the course of a few weeks or months. You can help by walking it, training it and playing with it. If it does not improve, consider taking it to a vet or getting a dog behaviorist to help.

Things to consider

When it started

If your Golden Retriever did not always act that way, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it since it could be the case that there was an event that caused it to start.

If it started doing it suddenly, it would be more likely to be due to things such as a change in its diet, becoming ill, getting less exercise, a change in the weather or suddenly having a change in its daily routine.

When and where it seems to get bored

It would also help to consider the timing of the boredom since the timing could also have something to do with it.

For example, if it does it more when it is not able to get exercise it could be the case that it needs more.

How can I make my Golden Retriever less bored?

Below are some options you have when getting your Golden Retriever to be more energetic.

Give it exercise

As mentioned above, it is important to make sure that your Golden Retriever is getting exercise daily if it is healthy. You can exercise it by walking it yourself or by getting a dog walker to do it for you.

Give it access to cool areas

It would also help to give your Golden Retriever access to cool areas especially if it is hot outside. If it is hot at the moment, it would also help to exercise it in the morning or evening when the sunlight is not as strong.

Change its diet

Another thing that could help would be to make sure that you are feeding it correctly and that it is getting enough water. It would also help to ensure that no-one else in the family is giving it things that it shouldn’t be eating.

You can look here to see what foods you should and should not be giving your Golden Retriever. You can also consult with a vet to see if its current diet might be what is causing it to be tired.

Take it to a vet

If it seems like it might be ill, you can’t figure out why it has been doing it or you have not taken it for a checkup in a while, the best option would be to take it to a vet. By doing so, you will be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular Golden Retriever and to confirm or rule out illness as a cause.

Ensure it can sleep comfortably

It would also help to make sure that it is able to sleep easily at night. You can do this by ensuring that its sleeping environment is comfortable, cool and not too bright at night.

Give it toys to play with

In addition to the above, you could also give it toys to keep it stimulated. There are puzzle games that you can get and toys that you can find online that are specially designed for dogs to play with.