Back to School: How it Affects Your Family Pet
Signs Your Pet Is Unhappy
One of the first things you can try is to ease your pet into alone time. Instead of surprising them with your or your child’s sudden, prolonged absence on the first day of school, start spending time away from home in small increments. This way they can get used to not having their loved ones around all of the time. Also, leaving a used t-shirt or blanket with familiar smells may comfort them while you are gone. When animals are under stress or under stimulated, they tend to exhibit unusual or exaggerated behaviors. Separation anxiety usually results in telltale signs that include accidents, chewing of household items, excessive barking, scratching, panting, pacing, whining, disobeying comfortable commands, or waiting by the doors or windows for extended periods of time.
Find Positive Distractions
Dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and many other pets love to be entertained. If you think your pet’s anxiety is a result of boredom, try giving them a new toy or hire a pet sitter! For dogs look into any local Doggy Daycare’s. Try to make departures and arrivals as calm and positive as possible. Giving a treat before you leave the house and when you get home is an excellent place to start. This may help your pet look forward to these times of day instead of dreading them.
Keep Them Mentally Stimulated Throughout The Day
Try leaving puzzle toys or games out while you’re away. These typically require your dog to “solve” a puzzle to get to a treat. Even freezing your pets favorite treat in a long can help if they arent interested in puzzles. They’ll keep your dog occupied for hours and are great to leave out while you’re away. You can also try leaving music or a radio talk show on during the day. Just make sure it’s not too loud or fast, which may end up creating anxiety.
playtime
One of the most common reasons for destructive behavior is a lack of exercise or stimulation, especially if your pet has just spent the summer running around and playing with the kids. As a substitute, introducing your pet to new animal friends, training classes, daycare or a pet sitter can be very helpful.