Prepping Your Pet for the Back-to-School Transition

Transitioning back into the school routine at the end of the sweet, sweet summertime can be tough on us and our kiddos, but let’s not forget about the furry friends in our lives in this time of upheaval. Campouts, midday walks, daytrips with the family, and lots of excitement one month—then suddenly lots of alone time in a silent house the next.

Without some forethought, this abrupt change can lead to separation anxiety, unwanted behavior, and some overall sad and confusing days for your pet. Here are some ways you can mitigate that and reassure your pet (and yourself!) that summer break may be over, but all is still well, and a new school year and crisp fall days bring their own kind of excitement and pet-filled potential for fun.

Start Preparing Now

If you still have some time between now and the start of the school year, start using your time wisely. To smooth the transition for your pet, try things like:

• Giving your dog or cat a daily quiet time. Set aside a portion of the afternoon where all members of the family will do their own thing. Your dog or cat can nap or be given an interactive treat or toy to entertain themselves with. This will reintroduce the concept of alone time into their schedule and show them that they can be okay without your constant engagement.
• Begin to mimic your fall schedule. Yes, this is asking a lot for these fleeting precious days of summer but try getting up earlier in the morning to take your dog for a walk, or play ball or exercise with them, or have some enrichment and engagement time with your cats. Starting to do this at the time you’ll be doing it during the school year, rather than at the leisurely midmorning time you’ve been rolling out of bed all summer, or midday, will help prep your pet for when an early morning hangout is the only option.

Give Them All the Love They Could Possibly Want

Twenty percent of dogs have some kind of separation anxiety. And that percentage jumps up to 29-50% in senior dogs. If your dog is one such sufferer, the whole family suddenly being gone the majority of the day when the school year starts can make the dog confused, stressed and depressed, and cause them to act out.

Encourage your kids to spend intentional time with your pets before and after school to reassure them they’re still loved and all is well. Lots of extra love and attention from the whole family in those first few fall weeks is a necessity.

Some soft TV or radio noise through the day with human voices can be soothing, so consider leaving something on if your pet will be alone all day.

And when the family’s fall routine is officially in full swing, for the first few weeks, try to have one member of the family swing by home on a lunch break or a free period to check on your pet.

Here are some more separation-anxiety-busting tips:

• When school is in session, give your pet a treat in the morning when everyone leaves. This way they’ll associate the time you leave with something positive.
• Have some interactive toys and food puzzles on hand and rotate them around the house. A stuffed frozen Kong serves this purpose well for dogs. And for sociable cats who might be missing your presence, try a wobbling treat-dispensing toy.

Know When it’s Time to Call in Reinforcements

Dropping your dog off at daycare, or hiring a walker to stop in and visit, are great options in some cases. If your pup suffers from severe separation anxiety, or you want to infuse a little excitement into his day once the dog days of summer have ended, consider your options.

Consider your dog’s age, activity level, and personality. A social, energetic dog might like going to a daycare or on group walks where there are lots of other dogs and people to interact with. An older or more low-key dog might prefer having someone just stop into the house to interact with them, play with them in the yard, or take them on a walk alone. These can be expensive, so unless you want to splurge, this is something you could do for just a day or two each week.

And as you’re back-to-school shopping, factor affordable pet insurance into the budget! Bivvy pet insurance can be you and your pet’s best friend if they get into trouble while left home alone this school year.

Happy schooling! You, your little humans, and your fur-kids have got this!