We wish we could take our furry best friends with us wherever we go, but sometimes we unfortunately have to leave them home alone. And when we do, they can unleash all sorts of chaos!
These hilarious mischievous dog moments get #CaughtOnFurbo, and we can have hours of fun watching them. But in reality, this behavior might cause some damage, so you´ll need to know how to keep mischievous dogs safe.
According to our survey of Furbo pawrents, a whopping 85% of home-alone accidents stem directly from the dog’s behavior. Only 15% pertain to house-related hazards such as fires or carbon monoxide leaks.
Incidents involving chewing or escaping are the most common, followed closely by health issues like ingesting toxic substances or choking on inedible items. Almost one third of accidents have to do with some form of property damage, like smashing breakable objects. Even the sweetest, most innocent young pups can get in a lot of trouble when you’re away.
With so much that could go wrong, leaving your mischievous pup home alone can be stressful, to say the least. The good news: by taking the right steps, you can minimize the risks to both your pets and your house. We’ve put together 5 tips to keep mischievous dogs safe and happy while you’re away.
1. Cut Out Counter Surfing
It’s no secret that dogs will do anything for food — even scale the kitchen counter! But the tasty scraps they find all the way up there could poison them. In fact, some of our favorite foods, like chocolate, avocados, raisins, etc. are actually highly toxic to dogs. ⚠️
Your mischievous pup can also stumble across other dangerous discoveries on their counter-surfing expeditions: knives, breakable glassware, and even the knobs on your kitchen stove!
The simplest way to keep your mischievous explorer out of trouble? Keep your counters sparkling clean, and store food out of sniffing range. Install dog-proof cabinet locks to keep your nosy buddies out of your treat stash. But you should also have a backup strategy: enable your Furbo 360° Dog Camera's Dog Activity Alerts, and then use the two-way audio feature to stop counter surfers in their tracks.
2. Pup-Proof Your Dog’s Space
Dogs will investigate anything that intrigues them. That’s why it’s important to designate a pup-safe area in your home. Keep it free of breakables, cleaning supplies, and other chemicals.
Remember to remove common choking hazards like dirty laundry and garbage, and put away dangerous “chew toys” like electrical cords and poisonous potted plants. And before you leave the house, you can use a baby gate to keep your puppy in its spot and block off access to the rest of the house. And don’t forget to secure any potential escape routes with dog-proof locks.
But sometimes, doggos channel their inner Olympic athletes and hop right over the fence! What can you do to keep them away from danger as they roam freely in the house? Furbo’s Dog Activity Alert and Auto Dog Tracking feature can help keep mischievous dogs safe — you can scope out the situation, see what your furbabies are up to, and address any problems right away.
3. Address Separation Anxiety
Your dog’s seemingly mischievous behavior, like chewing on furniture or trying to escape, could actually be a sign of separation anxiety. Although separation anxiety is most common in dogs who have experienced abandonment, it can affect any pup. And when dogs don’t understand that their hoomans will come back home, they can resort to excessive barking, tearing up their surroundings, or even trying to “break free”.
Fortunately, canine separation anxiety is solvable. To start, try giving your dog a special treat right before you leave, and keep some calming music playing in the background. Switching to a balanced diet might also boost your mischievous pup’s relaxing serotonin levels, so they’re not as destructive anymore.
You can also invest in a dog monitor like Furbo, so you can stay connected with your pup no matter where you are. Our real-time Continuous Barking Alert and Chewing Alert will notify you when your precious pup is feeling anxious, so you can comfort them with your soothing tone and toss them their favorite treats.
4. Keep Your Dog Busy
Dogs are little geniuses and need mental stimulation… and if you don’t provide them with enough, safe options, they’ll invent their own fun. A bored dog can quickly turn into a destructive dog! So how can you keep your dog entertained even when you’re not there?
You can engage your dog’s problem-solving skills with an interactive puzzle toy or flip board, or even set up a scavenger hunt by hiding treats around the house. If you have a knack for crafts, you can make some DIY dog toys that you know your puppy will enjoy. You can also set up a cozy bed near a window, so your pup can take up a people-watching hobby to pass the time.
Another fun way to entertain your dog is the Treat Toss feature on the Furbo Dog Camera. Whenever you see your pup is getting a bit antsy, you can initiate a long-distance training session — simply toss treats to your dogs as a reward for good behavior. And that’s the best way to keep your mischievous dogs safe!
5. Keep ‘Em Moving
Just like people, dogs can get restless (and unhealthy) without adequate physical activity, so try planning an exercise session before you leave your dog home alone! Long walks, playtime, or a trip to the dog park can both tire dogs out (in a good way!) and boost their sense of well-being.
Sleepy puppers are much less prone to dangerous or destructive behaviors. And your well-exercised furbabies can curl up and drift off to dreamland while you’re gone, instead of channeling pent-up energy into rooting through the garbage can or shredding your sofa cushions.
If naptime ends before you get home, your Furbo 360° Dog Camera will send you a Dog Activity Alert, so you can distract your mischief-seeking pup and keep them out of trouble!
Sometimes, even the most well-trained dogs manage to find trouble. By implementing these expert tips, you can reduce the risk of coming home to a destroyed house — or, worse, an injured pet.
With Furbo 360° Dog Camera's monitoring capabilities, interactive features, and real-time smart alerts, you can find out exactly what’s going on while you’re away, and address dangerous situations before it’s too late.
Keep your mischievous dogs safe and out of trouble with Furbo!
#TrainingTips #DogSafety
