Usually a week or so of NSAIDs is given. If the dog has a duragesic patch for pain, then 4-5 days of NSAIDs may be sent home. With a very small dog, it may be something like torbutrol instead of an NSAID like Rimadyl. Mikey had a patch only and was fine after it was removed. Depending on the surgeon, you may also have a short (10-17 day) course of antibiotics.
For immediate post-operative pain relief, many specialists inject the joint with marcaine and may do epidurals.
Mostly dogs get bored with being confined. Hollow bones or kongs stuffed with frozen yogurt, frozen bananas, peanut butter, squeeze cheese, frozen wet dog food, frozen chicken broth, etc. can be good entertainment. Depending on the surgery, gait training may start fairly quickly (Mikey had a tibial tuberosity transpositioning along with the typical little dog knee repair and he started gait training on day 5) and that brief work will help tire them out as they have to walk VERY slowly. Other games like which hand is the food are fun stationary games. For an extremely active dog, a light sedative might be needed. Benadryl at your vets advice can be tried or something stronger like acepromazine.