Children
are not the only family members that you need prepare for
back-to-school season. You need to get pets ready, too, or you might
have to deal with big behavioral problems when school begins, a
leading dog trainer warns.
The
back-to-school transition that children and families make is anything
but routine for dogs, according to Liam Crowe, dog behavioral
therapist and CEO of Bark Busters USA. Many dogs will spend more
time alone as children go back to school and parents go back to work,
which can result in boredom, separation anxiety and unusual behavior,
he said.
“When
kids go back to school, the stress can be huge on the family,
including the dog," Mr. Crowe states in a media release. “This
abrupt change in routine can seriously affect our furry friends, who
are creatures of habit."
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Story continues here
Families
can help their pets adapt to a new schedule with training and the
right combination of food, shelter and entertainment, Mr. Crowe said.
"With a little understanding and preparation before the first
day of class, families can avoid many of the back-to-school behavior
problems their dogs might display.”
Separation
anxiety
Many
dogs will be left alone as everyone goes back to work or school. They
can become stressed, which often results in destructive behaviors and
barking. Bark Busters offers these tips to help with separation
anxiety:
• Pay
less attention to your dog. The
dog may be the center of attention when the kids are home all day
during summer, so you need to change this scenario as school begins.
Pay increasingly less attention to your dog each day, ideally
beginning a few weeks before your children return to school, to get
your dog used to being alone. Begin by separating him from the kids
and the rest of the family. For example, if you frequently take your
dog with you to run errands, leave him at home.
• Practice
leaving the house.
Go through the motions of leaving the house, go out the door, but
then come right back in again. The dog will cease associating the
routine of your leaving the house with your departure. This will help
him to be more relaxed when you actually leave.
• When
you leave.
As the last person leaves the house for the day, do not confuse your
dog by talking in a sweet voice. If he is feeling concerned that you
are leaving, a happy, high-pitched voice can make him think it is
okay to feel anxious. Dogs are pack animals and so they expect their
leaders to be strong when they leave the pack. Therefore, ignore your
dog for about 10 minutes before you leave.
Boredom
Dogs
sleep a lot during the day, but when they wake up, they want
something to do. Bark Busters offers these tips to entertain a dog
when you are away from home:
• Toys.
Dogs
love toys, but they can quickly get bored with or destroy them. Buy
high-quality, virtually indestructible puzzle toys that your dog will
always enjoy, such as those that hold treats. Every few days, rotate
the toys to give your dog something new and fun to hold his interest.
• Scatter
food.
Dogs are natural foragers and will spend hours looking for food on
the ground. Scatter food - such as bits of raw vegetables, dog kibble
and other treats that will not attract wasps - around the yard when
you leave. Try hiding a few treats so your dog spends extra time
looking for them. And provide lots of fresh, clean water.
Shelter
Dogs
need to have their own “home,” a place where they feel secure and
comfortable. Backbusters offers these tips to give your dog a secure
place:
• Crate.
Most dogs love the safety of a crate. They are descended from animals
that live in dens, so a crate is a natural shelter for a dog because
it has the same characteristics of a den. But do not start crate
training your dog the day the children leave for school. That is too
late and can add to his stress. Do not leave a dog in a crate for
extended periods. Ask a friend to come by to let your dog out to
toilet if you plan to be away longer than 10 hours for a dog and six
hours for a puppy.
• Laundry
room.
If your dog will be inside all day and you are concerned about him
toileting in the house, enclose him in a small room (which inhibits
the tendency to toilet) and has an easy-clean floor of vinyl or tile
(in case he has an accident). Place a soft bed and toys in the room
for him, too.
• Doghouse.
Make sure your dog has shelter in which to get out of the weather if
he will be kept outside. Dogs are more relaxed when they are covered
and in familiar surroundings. Place the doghouse next to the house so
he feels like it is an extension of the larger “den” and provide
a blanket or other bedding.
Unusual
behavior
Stressed
dogs can exhibit unusual behaviors, such as jumping or biting.
Children will come home from school and sometimes be greeted by the
dog in a rough manner. After being left alone, a dog has pent-up
energy and might overreact when he sees the kids. Bark Busters offers
these tips to deal with unusual behavior:
• Train
the kids.
Parents need to train their children to avoid going to the dog’s
area as soon as they get home. Kids should ignore the pet for five
minutes to allow him to settle down. With young children, it is best
to have a parent present. Once your dog learns the routine, he will
relax.
• Train
your dog.
Dogs quickly learn what is acceptable. Theys have a language of their
own and once we understand it, we can easily control them by
“speaking their language.”
Dan
Morrison, executive director of Southeast Area Animal Control
Authority in Southern California, says some of the unusual behaviors
pets may exhibit include: excessive pacing, barking or meowing;
urinating or defecating inside the house; escape attempts;
destruction of furniture or toys; unusual chewing, digging or other
frantic behavior.
Owners
should avoid the temptation to punish or scold a pet for unusual
behavior during the adjustment period, Morrison advises, because the
behavior may be rooted in fear and punishment could exacerbate that
insecurity.
Related
reports about dogs and behavior:
Your
dog really is clever enough to outsmart youThe most terrifying time of the year for pets
"Back-to-school is a wonderful time for families, but it can be anxiety-provoking for pets, especially for some shelter pets who haven’t had stable homes before,” Dan Morrison states in a media release. “If pet owners know what to look for and are equipped with preventive and healing techniques, this annual rite of fall can be more pleasant for everyone.”
------
The Ruff Report is a column that appears on MySetterSam.com,
a blog written by Joseph A. Reppucci, a retired editor from The Patriot
Ledger in Quincy, Massachusetts. Mr. Reppucci worked as a reporter and editor on major daily
newspapers in the Boston area for more than 30 years. He is the author
of the book, The Hunt of Her Life,
a heartwarming story about his once-in-a-lifetime rescue dog. Find it on Createspace.com and Amazon.com.
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