With children heading back to school, manic mornings, after-school activities, homework and everything else in between, have you thought about how this will affect your dog?
Has your dog been lucky to spend six weeks with the whole family? Soaking up extra cuddles, maybe a few naps on the bed or even going on holiday with everyone and exploring new places. Suddenly this all stops and alone time becomes longer.
Emotions of excitement, stress and anxiety about going back to school that might be felt throughout the household can heighten your dog's emotions too.
The mixture of these two circumstances can impact your dog and its behaviour.
Many dogs go back into a routine with no issues but if your dog is still young or has a predisposition to separation anxiety they may have trouble adjusting. So look out for behaviours such as digging or scratching in an attempt to escape from their crate, chewed-up possessions, toilet accidents or neighbours complaining of howling when you're out of the house.
Why not get ahead of the game? Get your dog used to being left again for a couple of hours at a time. Make sure to stay calm and not make a big deal about leaving them as dogs take their emotional cues from their owners. A new puzzle toy will keep your dog entertained whilst they are left alone. If you use their favourite treats too like cheese only in this toy your dog will get excited about getting to have it and may not even notice you've gone. Tire your dog out before leaving them. Dogs are most active at dusk and dawn so the more energy they burn off after a restful night's sleep means they are more likely to sleep whilst you're out. Then once everyone tumbles back through the door for the evening put some time aside to give your dog some love. See if your children can teach your dog a new trick, learning skills together really enhances your bond. Maybe let them join the kids on the sofa for story time, or let your dog join you on your evening run. Just something to let them know that you love them and have time for them.
So this is just a little reminder not to forget your four-legged friend amongst the upcoming chaos.
Lydia x
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