When the Kids Go Back to School… What About the Dog?

Ah, back to school….. I remember that wonderful feeling of “Oh Thank Goodness, it’s finally back to school time” when my kids were growing up.  All summer long spent keeping the kids (and dogs) busy in that constant chaos we call Summer!  It was a relief when the kids were back to school and my own personal routine became my own again.

From our dog’s perspective however, they’ve gone from kids being home, lots of crazy energy, constant play, and constant companionship to empty bedrooms, quiet televisions, long naps with no one to snuggle with ……. And boredom!

Here are some tips to help your dog manage while their family goes back to school!

1. Get back into dog training!  Take a Group class, try a dog sport, put your dog’s mind to work after all that crazy fun of summer.  Group dog training classes are more than just learning new skills.  The enrichment and stimulation of learning (or practicing a known behavior) in a new environment can help your dog exercise their brain muscle to replace some of the physical exercise they’re missing.

   
   

2. Interactive food toys!  Interactive food toys such as stuffed Kongs, puzzle trays, Kong Wobblers, buster cubes, and other food delivery toys can keep your dog busy while they wait for their family to come home.

   
   

3. Routines!  Try keeping your dog in the same routine as it pertains to feeding schedules, normal walk times and play times as much as possible so they don’t feel quite so abandoned.

   
   

4. Music!  If your dog is used to lots of chaos and noise, and now it’s too quiet, try turning on some music.  There are many options for calming music for dogs that are available to stream.  You can find stations on your favorite streaming service, or make a playlist of your own. Take away some of that quiet in favor of some soothing music for your dog.  

   
   

You can also turn on the television for some background noise to break up the silence.

If your dog is having a hard time despite all your efforts, be sure to contact someone to help! Some dogs struggle to maintain composure when they’re faced with being alone too long.  If this sounds like your dog, contact a professional dog trainer, who can also help with behavior issues and modification strategies to get you and your dog through this transition of the free-for-all party we call Summer, to the more empty house of back to school.

Gentle Touch Pet Training, training dogs through positive reinforcement on the Central Coast since 1998.