Many of your daily activities, like work, school, and shopping, can’t include your dog. That means that Fido has to stay home alone.
Dogs are like kids: They get easily distracted and bored. They also get lonely. If your dog has a playmate, they may keep each other entertained. But they’re also used to having you around, hearing your voice, and watching you do things throughout the day.
When you’re gone, your doggie kid misses seeing and hearing you. Having the TV on in the background can help distract your dog and provide him with entertainment.
Should You Leave the TV On?
Leaving the TV on while you’re gone won’t harm your dog. He doesn’t see TV in the same way that people do. He sees pieces of flickering movement instead of the continuous streams that you see. Because of this, your dog won’t get glued to the screen in the same way as you.
Unless your pup decides to chew through the cord because he wants a different show, the TV is not likely to harm him. It may not distract him as much as you hope, especially since it doesn’t offer interesting smells, but it provides other benefits.
Dogs that suffer from separation anxiety, newly adopted dogs, insecure or ill dogs, or hyperactive dogs may not do well when left alone. It can stress them, cause them to develop nervous habits or ticks, like scratching until raw and sore, and lead to other health issues. It’s always better to have something nearby that can help soothe them, and the TV is a great pick. Here are some of the main benefits of leaving something on when your dog is home alone.
Background Noise
Your dog is used to you talking and making noise when you’re home. You may also have the TV on much of the time when you’re home. A TV show or movie can provide noise to make your dog think he’s not alone when you’re gone.
Changing Noise
Unlike fans or other white noise machines, the TV is constantly changing from scene to scene. If something different pops up on the screen, it’s likely to distract Fido from chewing on your favorite slipper. And he might forget all about it!
Soothing “White Noise” for Anxious Dogs
Dogs that get anxious over different outside noises may get even more nervous when you’re gone. There’s no one there to help soothe them. A fan can block out sounds from outside that may upset your dog. But a TV at a higher level of sound will block out anxiety-inducing noises and help distract your pup.
What TV Shows Will My Dog Like?
It’s easy to see why TV can be a good idea for your dog when he’s home alone. But does that mean that any show is adequate? Are there different shows your dog might like more than others?
Here are some ideas for doggie TV entertainment:
Best Dog Shows and Channels
Animal Planet is a top pick for dogs. Shows like the Puppy Bowl provide a great distraction because there are plenty of other barking dogs to attract your pup’s attention. If you leave it on the Animal Planet channel all day, your dog will also see and hear wild animals that are sure to draw his attention.
Happy Dog TV is available on Roku, and is a TV channel made specifically to entertain dogs. The videos are filmed from a dog’s viewpoint and have music and sounds meant to relax the dog viewer.
DOGTV is also made for doggie viewers, and offers dog videos of all types. The shows vary from relaxing videos to ones meant to stimulate. It’s a great pick for dogs that may get overstimulated with too much TV, since it provides a contrast.
Other Dog Shows and Nature Documentaries
If you don’t have access to a particular channel, you can always pop in a repeating dvd of other shows. Or, you can find a series on a channel you do have and set it to continue. Shows like Lassie, Scooby Doo, Rin Tin Tin, or other dog-related shows are all great picks. Nature documentaries of any type, but especially ones focused on dogs, are also likely to please your dog.
What About Music?
If your dog gets a little too excited at the sounds of other dogs and animals, he might prefer a music channel instead. Pay attention to what your dog seems to prefer, then pick a show or music channel based on how he reacts when you’re around. You can also set up a doggie cam to see if he likes or dislikes what’s on the TV when you’re gone.
If your dog acts anxious at the end of the day when you return, or seems even more upset when you leave the next time, you might want to switch up the TV choices. There are many great options for streaming music videos, which will provide both soothing sound and interesting video footage.
YouTube
If you have Roku or other streaming choices, you can stream YouTube videos on your TV. There are multiple channels that offer a continuous play of hours-long music, many with soothing videos in the background. And some also offer dog shows made specifically for dogs. Some great picks are:
Paul Dinning: This YouTube creator provides an assortment of shows for dogs, including “virtual dog walk” videos that make it seem like your dog is going for a walk. This creator does cater more towards cats, but if you also have a cat at home, or a dog that is very cat-friendly, it’s a great choice to entertain your pup.
Healing Mate – Dog Music: This is a YouTube channel that picks relaxing music for dogs and sets it against a background of sleeping dog images. If your dog needs something a little less stimulating, this might be just the thing.
Relax My Dog: This YouTube channel offers a mix of music and shows that are designed for dogs that suffer from anxiety, loneliness, boredom, hyperactivity, and stress. It’s also intended to help dogs with separation anxiety.
Easy Listening/New Age: There are numerous music channels on YouTube, and even some music channels on TV, depending on which streaming/subscription service you have. Depending on what your dog prefers, easy listening or new age-style channels provide interesting background videos that might soothe and relax your pup.
Final Thoughts
