Dogs were bred to do jobs: herd, hunt, fetch, guard. A modern sofa life can leave all that brain power with nowhere to go. A dog with energy to spare may chew things you care about, bark for attention, dig up the garden or follow you from room to room. These habits can have other causes too, such as pain, fear or a medical problem, so if a behaviour is new, sudden or extreme, ask your vet first.
If your vet says your dog is healthy, the fix is rarely "a longer walk". Dogs Trust and the RSPCA both describe enrichment: giving your dog chances to sniff, search, chew, lick, play and think. Ten minutes of sniffing games can tire a dog more pleasantly than you would expect, and it works on rainy days, too.
Tell the planner about your dog and it will mix five kinds of fun across seven days, with at least one calm day. Every idea uses things you probably have at home.
Dogs Trust groups enrichment into a few types. Mixing them keeps things fresh:
New game, new toy or homemade puzzle? Stay and watch.
The RSPCA and Dogs Trust both stress supervision, especially with homemade items, soft toys and rope toys. Pick non-toxic items that are too big to swallow, with no sharp edges or loose parts, and check them often. Take away anything that is torn or coming apart. Count food games inside the daily meal so your dog does not gain weight. Offer fresh water and avoid toxic plants.
If your dog seems worried or frustrated, make the game easier or stop and let them rest. Puppies in particular need lots of downtime. Exercise needs also change with age, illness or injury, so ask your vet what is right for your dog.
Chewing, barking, pacing or digging can also come from pain, anxiety or a health problem. If it started suddenly, is intense, or enrichment does not help, ask your vet, who may refer you to a qualified, reward-based behaviourist. Never punish a dog for it: that can make fear and stress worse.