School is back in session!
E
ach year this time we write an article with tips designed to help your family avoid behavioral issues with the pups as we return to school and “normal” schedules.
Think about these facts for a brief moment:
Over the last year and a half, our dogs have had extremely limited socialization, or time alone; they’ve basically been with us 24/7 whether you were fully quarantined or not! l Many kids are returning to school for the first time, full-time since March 2020! l We have thousands of newly purchased and adopted dogs who have had limited socialization, limited time alone and have never gone through the lifestyle change that is back-to-school! l This summer, as people’s lives began to return to normal and they began going out more, traveling, having guests over, etc…, our training team has been inundated with customers needing help for their pup’s separation anxiety, depression, boredom, destructive behavior, reactivity, aggression, etc… l
So… it’s obvious why so this year, more than any other ever, we need to be prepared for back-to-school! We are happy to offer the following tips to help your family avoid behavioral issues as we return to school this year.
Physical Exercise: As families get busier, exercise for the family dog can take a back seat to homework and school activities. Many behavioral issues and frustrations in dogs can be prevented by engaging them in exercise two times a day.
School Gear: Many school supplies are dangerous to your dog. So, make sure you have a place to put these new items that will help prevent a curious hound from ingesting anything that is unsafe. Last year, we lost several soft-sided lunch boxes to our nosey German Shepard! After School: Plan after school activities for your children and the pups.
Play fetch, plan a family game of soccer or go for a hike together. Do some of the games we told you about a few months ago. Younger children can read aloud to your dog! This gives the pup some much needed attention and can make getting reading done a lot more fun! Older children can help by walking the pup daily, giving them a brush-out, playing games like hide and seek, or even participating in training together.
Playdates: As we get back to playdates with friends, remember to ask new
friends if they are afraid of dogs or have dogs themselves. Fearful or inexperienced children may display inappropriate behaviors or styles of play that may cause the family dog to show fearful or threatening displays. Place your dog in their locked crate with a special chew or take them to camp when these friends visit. If your child is going to a new friend’s home to play, ask if the family has a dog AND if that dog has been well socialized. It’s completely appropriate for you to explain your child’s experience, or lack of experience, with dogs AND for you to ask to meet the dog beforehand. We hope you and your pup are thriving during this season and we hope our back-to-school tips help keep your pup safe, happy and healthy. Make sure to see our website for upcoming classes and events and stop by our retail area to grab all your canine food, toys and treats. And to all the big and little children heading back to school this year, we wish you a wonderful year!
Amber, Jarrette & the K-9 Coach Team
Mental Exercise: A bored dog is a dog in trouble! Providing ample interactive toys for your pup will work their mind while you run errands or head to the office. There are a variety of interactive toys, puzzles and chewy treats available. Leaving for work? Fill one of these puzzles with your pup’s dog food and let them spend the next few hours working their mind and you will come home to a calmer, happier four-legged friend. Get Training: As school begins, think about getting involved in training. We
always have group classes, private instruction, camp training, board and train, as well as puppy-specific training! Spending just an hour a week training will reduce stress, encourage and improve the bond with you and your dog and help make time together more enjoyable.
Socialization: Well-trained and socialized dogs have predictable behavior and are able to succeed around a wide array of other dogs and people. Only being around your family and your other dog IS NOT the definition of well socialized. Lack of socialization and the resulting behavioral issues is the number one cause for dog surrender in the US! Routine: Family routine changing soon? Go ahead and start instituting
those changes now. For example, if your daily school routine includes your pup spending a few hours in the crate, go ahead and start crating your dog for a few hours now. Making sudden changes to a dog’s routine can cause anxiety, depression and destructive behaviors. It’s better to begin early and test things so that you can address issues while you have the time.
Carpool: For us, carpool is a great way to spend time with the dogs and our son. Because you see a lot of other people, cars, etc… during carpool, it’s also a great time to work on training and socialization. REMEMBER - unrestrained dogs can be seriously injured should you have an accident so make sure you have a safety belt for your dog.
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