It's almost that time of year where kids and school staff head back to school! Some of you may already be back, but in the Northeast we don't start until after Labor Day. So that means lots of fur babies will be missing the laughter, chatter and footsteps that filled their homes all summer! I would love to share some tips with you to help ease the transition from a full house to an empty one for your pets.
1. Establish a routine for meals and potty breaks! Routine is key when it comes to meal times and potty breaks. Eating at the same time each day will also help to establish routine potty times as well. If you won't be home until the end of the work day, ask a trusted neighbor or friend to let your dogs out for a potty break at a set time or hire a professional dog walker to come visit with your pet for their potty break & some play time or exercise. Or if your kids will be home early afternoon, make sure they are providing your dog with a potty break or walk as soon as they get home.
2. Crate training! Crate training can be beneficial for puppies or for pets with behavioral issues. Puppies will benefit because they will be kept in a safe and familiar place while you're gone, away from any potential hazards. They will also feel safe in a small space and will help to ensure they are not having accidents while you are not home. Dogs with behavioral issues will also benefit from crate training so that they are not getting into any destructive behaviors when you are not home.
3. Distractions! For free roaming dogs, you can hide some treats throughout your house for your pups to find during the day! It will help to keep them busy and entertained. For crate trained pups and free roaming pups, you can also provide some fun enrichment feeders to help occupy their minds when you are not home. I leave them for my pups all the time and fill them with yummy treats like kibble, fruit, peanut butter, treats, seasonings and more and I freeze them so they last longer and are more of a challenge. Some of my favorite enrichment feeders/treat dispensers include those from Kong, West Paw and Soda Pup. My pups love them all!
4. Calming treats & toys! Some dogs may experinence separation anxiety when they are left alone for long periods of time. I know my pups get a little anxious when we are at school or work all day. I have had great success with hemp treats or CBD treats for my pets. They hemp treats help them to calm down within 30 minutes of usage and the CBD treats are great to build up in their system with daily use. They are both all natural and do not contain THC. Another really great tool is a CBD coated nylon bone - CBD is released when they lick or chew on the bone. It's really genius, and my pups love chewing on it and it provides them with relaxation at the same time.
5. Exercise! You can help your dogs tremendously by sticking to a regular exercise routine. This will ease some of your dogs pent up energy and will help them to relax more during the day. Ideally, a walk before the school or work day would be best, but if your schedule does not allow, a walk after school or in the evenings would help as well. You can also let your dogs out in the yard in the morning for some exercise while you're eating breakfast or getting ready for the work day if you have a fenced in yard. Any form of exercise will help!
I hope you all have the best return to school this Fall!
Feel free to text me at 732.487.3453 with any questions! -Kristin
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