As summer break winds down, vacation suitcases are unpacked, and the kids start stuffing their backpacks with supplies for a new year, you may notice your pet acting differently – what’s the deal? It’s not your imagination: this change can trigger behavioral issues. We often see an increase in training and behavioral questions from our customers right around when school is back in session.
When children suddenly aren’t around to shower their favorite furry friend with attention, pets can feel lonely and confused about the decrease in human commotion in the house. As Fall approaches, children’s sports schedules get crazy, work schedules get busier before the holidays, and people spend less time with their pets. Loneliness, decreased physical activity, and change can trigger depression and anxious actions like excessive chewing, barking, or litter box issues.
“Lucky”-ly, there are things that we owners can do to help relieve stress in our pets and curb some of those negative behaviors:
- Spend more productive quality time with pets when you are home. Take them on walks, actively engage in playtime or training, and get your kids to engage with pets before and/or after school. Take them along to school drop off (if they like a car ride!)
- Offer special chewing, treat-dispensing, or puzzle-type toys to keep their minds occupied when the family is away from home. Give these coveted toys only when you are leaving the house. Please also be mindful if the toys or treats require your supervision.
- Ignore excessive barking whenever possible. If you open the door to let your dog in because they are barking, this teaches the dog that barking opens the door. Wait for a long pause, once the barking stops, before letting them inside. Try not to use the backyard as a place of banishment or punishment, and as always, never leave a dog outdoors in excessive elements.
- Clean litter boxes and small animal cages regularly. Often, people can get busier while school is in session and this unpleasant task can fall by the wayside. This in turn, triggers pets to eliminate in all the wrong places. Setting an alarm on your phone to remind yourself to clean them regularly can be a useful tool.
- Consider hiring a dog walker to come a few hours after you’ve left the house to help “Lucky” expend energy before he comes up with a creative way to destroy your home or shoes (speaking from experience here).
Resolutions to behavioral problems in pets are most effective when they address the root causes. Otherwise, you are just being reactive to the symptoms. So, while barking might be the problem, the actual problem isn’t the barking, it’s the stress that causes barking. As always, please feel free to ask us any questions you have about caring for your pet. We love them just as much as you do!
