TV and dog

edited February 2009 in Shiba Inu (柴犬)
Some of my friends who own dogs tell me they turn TV on when they leave their dogs home alone. One of them even told me he once witnessed his dog was actually watching TV when he got home. Does TV really help dogs ease their boredom while they are home alone?
What about room lights? Should I leave the lights on when I have to leave my Takumi alone in the house during the night?

Comments

  • edited November -1
    I give Sasuke a night-light. It seems to calm him down... he tends to not cry as much as he did when the lights are totally off.

    Takumi... Initial D?
  • edited November -1
    We use to turn music on for the birds when we left, but I think that was just anthropomorphizing them more than anything.

    I think something else to occupy his boredom might be better then the tv tho :) ~
  • edited November -1
    My dogs bark at the dogs on Animal Planet... I wonder how they feel about the Dog Whisperer
  • edited November -1
    I leave the tv on for Jazz - usually discovery channel. There is alway's a night light on for her.
  • edited November -1
    There is always the thought that the sounds coming from the tv helps keep a pups from feeling lonely. We never really left the tv on for my guys, my my sister used to leave to on for her dog. My guys only seemed interested in the tv when one of the dog shows are on, then Tikaani watches the tv dog prance around before trying to lick them off.

    We've always left the living room light on to help maintain the idea that someone was home, when everyone is out. But I know that my guys are afraid of walking around too much in the dark, especially up/down the stairs, since they both fell when traveling in the dark
  • edited November -1
    Miso and Sake get Animal Planet during the day while we are at work. Sometimes I forget to change the chanel from the news in the AM so they watch soap operas! I also leave lights on for them during the day, but we turn all the lights off at night when we sleep. But if we go out at night, we always have a light on for them.
  • edited November -1
    I used to leave the tv on. Never animal planet because barking dogs sometimes agitate the girls. I used to leave the food network on. I realized one day though that they seemed much more relaxed when I left the tv off. If you think about it, how is a flashing box with strangers voices and loud noises enjoyable to an animal? So now my house and dogs are quiet. And my energy bill a little lower.
  • edited November -1
    We usually leave on the radio, especially when it's open window season, to help cover up noises from outside. That way Nemo will bark less out the window.
  • edited November -1
    We do not leave the TV on for the pups. However, we do leave lights on for them if we are gone in the evening. I doubt they would be scared without lights, but I am sure it is nice to be able to walk around and see what is around you. :)
  • edited November -1
    we leave NPR on, I think they like liberal news.
  • edited November -1
    i used to, i think it did calm her down a bit when I am not home. sometimes I would leave music on instead. I do not anymore though, she seems to be comfortable when I am not home now.
  • RyuRyu
    edited November -1
    We used to keep Cartoon Network or Animal Planet for Ryu. But then I settled for the radio since the TV ate so much energy ($$$$ in Hawaii!)
  • edited November -1
    We always leave the light on if it is dark or getting dark. Radio on classical all day too. Never tv. Although I think Triton and Angel (my parrot) both sleep all day anyway, they are such lazy bums. When I have a day off during the week and I am home all day, they both act tired because they don't nap as much when I'm home.
  • edited November -1
    Thanks for all the comments! It seems everyone does the different way according to their dogs' needs. I will ask my Takumi what channel he is interested in watching ...lol
  • edited November -1
    i leave the animal planet on :) my husband on the other hand is not a big fan of this idea, nags at me each time he gets home b4 me and the tv has been left on
  • edited November -1
    Never have left the TV on for the dog or dogs when he had more than Kirby.

    Kirby does on occasion watch TV with me. It is interesting to watch a dog show with him. He does NOT like Weimeraners at all.
  • edited November -1
    It's funny how the majority of people who do leave their TVs on tune it to Animal Planet.
  • edited November -1
    The only reason I don't is because when I'm watching it and there are loud noises, Jazz reacts kind of strongly - I don't want her doing that while I'm not home.
  • edited November -1
    I installed some led light bulbs in the entrance so we can leave then on for Kuma and Nyx. It makes quite a difference going from 1 40 or 60W bulb to 2 1,2W led bulbs.
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