Pets often spend a long time alone at home, by providing some form of enrichment and stimulation can be helpful to dogs and their owners. Some dogs who have only known life with their owners since the pandemic began are now experiencing difficulties adapting to a new lifestyle.
To lessen their distress and keep them happy and healthy, any instrument that can provide stimulation and entertainment can be helpful. Many recommended ways to make alone time a little easier for our dogs, with supportive training.
These include using interactive feeding toys, creating quiet, safe spaces for them, and going for a walk with your dog. Another method is to leave them with the radio or TV on when they are alone. Listening to classical music has been shown to reduce stress in kennelled dogs.
Dogs do not watch TV the same way as we do. For them, it means sofa time with their favorite person. But our dogs will probably be aware that we settle down and relax when the TV is on, so that association might be beneficial in encouraging them to be calm, even when we are not there.
Dogs do not see color like us either. They see the world in more muted colors but can better detect contrast in dim light. Movement on TV can create interest in dogs. A key question is whether dogs can recognize what they see on screen.
Dogs can certainly respond to images and use touch screen devices after training. But it is
much more challenging to understand what they see. In recognizing each other, the smell is a remarkable sense for dogs which is missing when a dog watches TV.
But, by combining the sights and sounds of dogs and other animals, they can still be interested and positively stimulated by a TV.
Dogs are susceptible to hearing. They are proficient at orienting themselves to sounds. Hearing a particular type of sound helps them identify where the sound came from. Certain noises and frequencies will also either excite or soothe the dogs.
Having a radio or TV on can reassure the impression of “normality” and a presence at home. It can also be convenient in training dogs to unusual noises that might be disturbing.
Physically and mentally stimulated dogs are happier, better behaved, and have better relationships with their owners. We can help them relax and reduce any anxiety that life may bring by making their world an enriching place, with opportunities to learn and create positive associations with sights and sounds.
Healthy lifestyle choices such as exercise, diet, and companionship, combined with a TV or a radio can go a long way toward having a happy and healthy dog.
