This post is sponsored by BarkBox, and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping to share our experience with BarkBox, but Emily Reviews only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. BarkBox is not responsible for the content of this article.
Happy dogs and content dogs tend to be well behaved dogs. When my dogs get a bit sassy or antsy, it’s always after we have either left them home alone for longer than usual or we have been too involved with work or other aspects of life to play as much as we normally do. When we leave the dogs home for more than an hour or so, we always cut out at least a few minutes to play with them in the yard once we get home to get that energy out.
5 ways to help keep your dog happy and content to keep them well behaved:
1. Get enough exercise. Even the tiniest of dogs need exercise to avoid getting “cabin fever” from their built-up energy. We always play and/or walk or run with our dogs once we get home even if we were only gone for an hour or two. Leaving my dogs home alone always leaves them a little stir-crazy so we take advantage of that energy to get them extra exercise and calm them down. A tired dog is a well-behaved dog!
2. Crate your dog when you leave. Many dogs will feel anxious when left home alone, so they’ll turn to chewing whatever they can get to in an attempt to self-soothe. Using a crate or kennel can keep them away from items they shouldn’t be chewing, while also giving them a “safe haven” that can be relaxing for them.
3. Know your dogs body language and trigger behaviors. One of the big differences between my two pugs is Frank loves children while Beans is afraid of them. When young children come over to visit, we keep Beans in a room separate from the children to keep Beans happier and calmer while also potentially protecting the child. It’s important for dog owners to learn the body language differences between play, anxiety and aggression so owners can step in and cause separation between other dogs and people when need be.
4. Give them toys or treats they can chew on. Dogs have a natural desire to chew, so providing your dog with a toy or chew treat that is safe and acceptable for them to chew on can prevent them from chewing on objects they shouldn’t chew on. My dogs enjoy toys as well as bully sticks, pig ears, etc.
5. Keep them entertained with new toys and treats from Barkbox®. BarkBox is a subscription box for dogs that can be customized based on your dogs size. My dogs get bored of the same toys over time, so we love subscribing to BarkBox to keep a small flow of new toys headed our way. We were sent the June 2015 BarkBox for the “just right” dog size and my dogs have enjoyed everything in this box that we’ve tried so far. It’s so fun to get a surprise selection of items in the mail each month, I’ve always looked forward to our #BarkBoxDay delivery when we have a subscription. Each BarkBox contains 4-6 total items, including toys and treats and sometimes even including chews or hygiene products.
We’ve received a total of four BarkBox’s in the past and we really enjoyed them all.
See my past BarkBox reviews below:
I always check out the pet aisle when we visit stores to see what new products are available and most of the products that we have been sent via our past BarkBox’s aren’t items that I see in stores. I’ve been really happy with the quality of the toys that we have been sent as well. My dogs primarily play with stuffed toys and each of our BarkBox toys has held up to play, while at least half of the plush toys that we’ve purchased from stores will rip open in a short amount of time. The treats are always brag-worthy as well as BarkBox selects treats that have higher quality ingredients than most dog treat brands that you’d find in a grocery store. Each BarkBox comes up with a card that gives you information about each item in your box.
If you have a puppy or newly acquired dog, a BarkBox dog subscription box would be an entertaining way to test out and try a variety of dog toys and treats to discover your new best friend’s toy and treat preferences. I wish I knew about BarkBox when I first brought Frank & Beans home – it took us quite a while to figure out their toy preferences because we didn’t try enough variety early on.
If your dog doesn’t care for an item in your BarkBox, the Scout’s Honor policy lets you replace the damaged or disliked item for something your dog prefers.
Sign up for Barkbox using the link at the beginning of this sentence and you’ll get 10% off!
Learn more by visiting the BarkBox website or follow along on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
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Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.
This post currently has 6 responses.
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Julie Lundstrom
Your dog is sooooooooo cute. He looks happy. The Bark box looks like it is filled with all kinds of goodies to keep you dog happy. I will check it out.
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Brandi
Much like children, dogs will be well-behaved when they feel they are understood and their needs are being met. Keeping pets healthy and happy is just as important as any other member of the family! Glad to see yours are so loved 🙂
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Amanda Schaeffer
My mother in law has 2 dogs and she loves them to pieces she is always looking for new treats and toys to make them happy she would love to subscribe to this thank you for the review 🙂
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Deb E
I love little dogs. My Yorkie never seemed that happy but was a bundle of nerves, always shaking, like he had mega anxiety or something. He did enjoy walks and pig ears though! I think any dog would love these boxes and look forward to exploring the new things inside.
My dog has never been in a crate, he has always, since 3 months old, had free run of the house. He is part of the family and I wouldn’t cage a child if I had one.