If your Labrador 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 Labrador 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 Labrador 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 Labrador is bored
Below are some reasons why your Labrador might be being bored and what would make them more likely to be a main reason.
Not enough exercise
Labradors are meant to get daily exercise. When they do not get enough exercise it can cause them to behave abnormally and it might be why yours has been being bored. This would be more likely if it acts that way on days that it is not able to get exercise.
Generally, it is recommended for them to get at least an hour of exercise per day as healthy adults.
The wrong diet
It could also be the case that there is an issue with its diet. This would be more likely if it acts bored on days that it eats certain foods or if it has been behaving that way since a change in its diet.
It would help to make sure that no one else has been feeding it without telling you and that you have been feeding it correctly.
Age
The reason why your Labrador 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
It might also be the case that your Labrador is calm by nature. 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.
Hot weather
If your Labrador 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 Labrador access to shaded areas, a cool room, water whenever it needs it and to exercise it in the morning or evening.
Illness
The cause could also be that it has gotten an illness. This would be more likely if it has been showing other signs of being ill and if it has started acting bored suddenly. In this case, the best option would be to take it to a vet.
Depression
Like humans, dogs are also able to become depressed and it might be the reason why your Labrador 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 it did not always act bored, 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 if it is always bored and what is different when it is not bored.
For example, if it becomes less bored when it is able to get exercise, it might be a sign that it needs more exercise.
How can I make my Labrador less bored?
Below are some options you have when getting your Labrador to be less bored.
Give it exercise
If it is a healthy adult, it would help to make sure that it is able to get daily exercise. Generally, it is recommended for them to get at least an hour per day.
Give it access to cool areas
It would also help to give your Labrador 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
If it has started behaving differently since a change in its diet, it would help to make sure that it has been eating correctly.
You can look here to see what foods you should and should not be giving your Labrador. 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 has started behaving that way suddenly or it has been showing signs of illness, the best option would be to take it to a vet. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular Labrador and to rule out the possibility of illness being 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.