What if you woke up every morning and found nothing on your to-do list? Sure, it might be paradise for a week or two, but it is very likely that boredom would soon strike hard and deep, putting a real dent in your zest for life.

Our dogs come from a long line of working animals. They have only been house pets for a very brief snippet of their evolutionary lifetime. As man's helper, dogs were bred for specialized jobs. Terriers cleared out the vermin, sporting dogs brought in quarry from the hunt, working dogs protected property, and sheepdogs moved and guarded sheep.

Dogs still have the same genetic enthusiasm their ancestors had about putting in a good day's work. But most live lives of leisure. The result, for many, is similar to a "Type A" person forced into early retirement. Stress!

Instead of relying on our dogs' work ethic, we now put them into solitary confinement in the yard or house while we work. We give our dogs very little to do and expect them to be content. Sadly, too many dogs experience pent-up frustration and then act out in destructive behaviors. They chew our things, dig up our lawns and join neighborhood dogs in crooning the "I'm so lonely and bored" ballad or sending out many false alarms. Still others live lives of quiet desperation.

"While we have welcomed pets into our homes, we are less available to them," says Nicholas Dodman, a veterinary behaviorist at Tufts Cummins School of Veterinary Medicine and author of "If Only They Could Speak." Just like us, dogs get cabin fever. They long for the adventure of meeting other dogs and need a change of scenery. Dogs also like a role or job description that contributes to the pack. Dogs instinctively want to please the leader or provider of food, shelter and safety.

Separation anxiety is more common in dogs adopted from a shelter or with multiple-owner backgrounds. Other signs include following the owner around like a shadow. They are more likely to whine, pant, destroy and not eat when their owners are away. If you are not sure, try setting up a camcorder to see what goes on when you are not home.

Dodman suggests trying some of these boredom busters: