BACK TO SCHOOL WITH FINLEY

It’s August already, and you know what that means? It’s almost time for the kiddos to get back to school! For some kids, that’s kind of exciting. For others…. Not so much. But have you ever considered how back to school time affects us, your pets? Well, speaking from experience, I can tell you that going from a house full of kids and noise to one that’s empty and quiet can be pretty booooring…. And a little lonesome. Trust me, us dogs and cats, we can sense when change is coming, and sometimes it can be hard. Here are some of my tips for helping your canine or feline companion adjust to the kids going back to school and the house being much quieter.

  • Keep things consistent: If your pet is used to loving and snuggles in the morning, take some time for this in the morning before you leave. That will help him know that even though the schedule might be changing, your love for him is not! If you have time to walk him in the morning before you leave; even better!
  • Practice the school routine: If you leave your dog in a crate during the day, while everyone is gone, then practice that a few weeks before school starts. Get him back into his “school” routine just like you get the kids back into theirs.

    Back to School
    Photo: OvenbakedTradition.com
  • Don’t make a big deal about leaving: Even though we know you’ll miss us during the day, don’t get all emotional when you leave. We can sense that and it makes us anxious. A quick pat good bye and a “see you later” will really help us cope with your leaving.
  • Keep us busy during the day: A great way to help your pet re-adjust to spending more time alone is to offer some new toys. I know I for one really like those Kong toys that have treats hidden inside. They’ll keep me busy for hours and then I don’t do naughty stuff like chew on shoes, or get into the garbage……..or bark too much! All of those behaviors are signs of anxiety in your pet. If you see those, then it might be a good idea to buys us some treats to distract us!
  • Play with your pet when you get home: Make sure that you spend some quality time with your pet when you get home. That will help him adjust to his new schedule too. I have one friend who says he loves to watch for his kids at they get off the bus and walk home. Even though he misses them during the day, he looks forward to seeing them when they get home because he knows he’ll get some play time with them.
  • Check out Doggie Daycare: If you find that your pet really has trouble being alone, you can always check out day care options at your local kennel. Here at Cascade Kennels, we have lots of friends who come here for the day while their families are at work and school. They love it because they get to ride in the car and come see their friends every day, just like their kids do at school.

I think the most important thing to remember is that your pet can sense the change when it happens and just like people, we need help adjusting to change too! Follow these tips, and your pet’s Back to School days will be a breeze.

 

Until next time!

Finley

Executive Canine Quality Control Officer

 

For More tips on Back to School, check out the Oven Baked Tradition Blog here:

http://www.ovenbakedtradition.com/en/dog/back-to-school-period-is-stressful-for-everyone-pets-included

 

 

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