August is the time of year when parents around the country start getting their kids ready for back to school. This is an exciting time for parents and kids alike. There is no telling what the new school year may bring. However, pets are not always as excited for the new year to start. They may feel scared at the chaos or nervous when the house is empty all day again. Here are a few ways you can get your dog ready for this transition.
Set a Routine
One of best ways to adjust your dog to the new schedule is to set a routine. If possible, start this a week or so before you go back to school. You want to make sure you give plenty of time for your dog to adjust to the new schedule of you being gone.
Try Faking Your Dog Out
One trick many pet parents swear by for back to school is faking their dog out. To do this, pretend like you are leaving for the day. Stand outside for a few minutes and then come back in. The idea with this is to keep your dog from associating you walking out the door with you being gone all day. It is designed to help minimize anxiety while you are gone.
Don’t Make a Big Deal About Leaving
Another thing to remember is that when you leave, you should not make a huge deal about going. This signals to your dog that they should be concerned about your absence. Rather, just say a quick goodbye and leave. This may be hard to do at first, but over time this will get easier.
Give Them the Attention in the Evening or Morning
Make sure that with the new schedule your dog is not getting left in the dust. You want to make sure that they still get the same attention they were getting before. If you want to ensure that they will be good while you are gone during the day, then maybe take them on a longer walk in the morning and spend a little time cuddling them while you drink your morning coffee and watch the news (or browse Facebook or whatever you do to wake up in the morning).
These are just a few of the tips you can use to help your dog transition to back to school when they will be home alone all day long. You can add in your own tricks for your dog or just use these. The idea is to make your dog as calm as possible. If you find that your dog is having a hard time coping with you being gone, then the best thing to do may be to talk with your vet about the options available to you.
