Most dogs are pretty stoic about it. They’re not going to sit you down and explain that they’ve been bored out of their mind since Tuesday. Instead, they do things. Weird things. Annoying things. Things that make you wonder if something’s off with them.
Usually nothing is off. They just need to move more.
Here are seven signs your dog is telling you exactly that.
1. They’re destroying things they’ve never touched before
A dog who suddenly starts going after furniture legs, baseboards, or the corner of your couch isn’t being spiteful. Chewing is self-soothing behavior, and when a dog has excess energy with nowhere to put it, they find their own outlets. If your dog has recently developed a complicated relationship with your belongings, that’s worth paying attention to.
2. They won’t leave you alone
Jumping, nipping, nudging you with their nose every 20 minutes, barking at you for absolutely no apparent reason. This is classic “I have so much energy and I genuinely don’t know what to do with it” behavior. Dogs don’t have a lot of ways to communicate what they need. When they’re pestering you, they’re usually asking for something.
3. They can’t settle
You know that thing where your dog circles, lies down, gets up, circles again, lies down somewhere else? A dog who can’t find a comfortable spot and stay there is often a dog who hasn’t had enough physical activity. Real exercise leads to real rest. Restlessness usually means they’re not there yet.
4. They’re gaining weight
Less movement, more weight. It’s simple, and it compounds over time. Extra weight on a dog creates real health problems: joint stress, heart strain, a shorter life. If your vet has mentioned it at the last couple of visits, exercise is almost always part of that conversation.
5. They’re suddenly more reactive on leash
If your dog used to walk pretty calmly and has gotten worse (lunging, barking at other dogs, spinning), under-exercise can absolutely be a factor. A dog who’s running hot all the time has less bandwidth for self-regulation. More consistent walks take the edge off, and often you’ll see the reactivity decrease noticeably without changing anything else.
6. They’re sleeping too much
Yes, dogs sleep a lot in general. But there’s a difference between a dog who naps contentedly and a dog who sleeps all day out of sheer boredom. Boredom sleep looks flat. The dog doesn’t seem refreshed afterward. They’re just… dull. If that sounds familiar, try a week of more structured activity and watch whether their energy and personality shift.
7. They’re doing zoomies at 11pm
The late-night zoomies are charming until they’re absolutely not. If your dog goes feral right when you’re trying to wind down, they’ve been storing energy all day. That’s information. They need a real outlet earlier.
So what do you actually do about it?
More walks. More often. Not necessarily longer. Frequency matters more than most people realize. Two 20-30 minute walks a day does more for most dogs than one long walk on the weekend. The rhythm of it matters.
Breed matters a lot here too, btw. A border collie and a basset hound have completely different needs. Age factors in as well. Young dogs and working breeds generally need significantly more than the average adult dog, and senior dogs need consistent, gentle movement even when they seem content on the couch.
If you’re stretched thin during the week, that’s where we come in. At Frisky Business Pet Care, we offer dog walks built around your dog’s actual energy level and personality, not a generic schedule. We get to know your dog before we ever clip on a leash. The walks are real walks, and your dog will come home genuinely tired in the best way.
Ready to book? Explore our dog walking services and find a time that works.