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Tag Archives: anxiety

Back to Work and School Routine for a Happy Dog

As the back-to-school or return-to-work season approaches, families experience a shift in their household routines. It’s time to start setting early alarms, packing school lunches and leaving the house quiet during the day. Your dog’s daily routine also will change, and they will be home alone more.  

While it’s normal for dogs to feel a little out of sorts as they adjust to this new routine, here are a few steps you can take to ease the transition: 

1. Practice your new routine before school/work starts 

Get your dog used to their new routine as soon as you can. Mimicking your back-to-school or work routine early allows your dog to gradually adjust to the change instead of making the switch abruptly. Establish a consistent routine and stick to it: 

  • Set your alarm and begin your mornings as you would on a normal school day 
  • Take your dog out for a bathroom break or walk at the same time you will on weekdays (both in the morning and evening) 
  • Practice leaving your dog alone at home for small periods to help them adjust 
  • Set their meal routine (again, both mornings and evenings) at their new times

2. Plan extra exercise in the mornings and evenings 

Even with the chaos of the daily routine starting again, your dog still needs to be exercised to keep them happy and healthy. Walking your dog in the morning gives them a chance to burn any energy and leaves them tired for a day without the company they’re used to having. Allow 30 to 45 minutes in the morning for walking, playing and interacting with the outside environment and schedule another exercise, play and/or training session with your dog in the afternoon/evening.  

3. Keep your dog mentally stimulated during the day 

 While our dogs are home alone, they like to be kept entertained. Boredom in dogs can lead to destructive behaviours and behavioural issues. Providing enrichment for your dog is one of the most important things you can do and it’s easy to incorporate into your daily routine. Using a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter, or a LickiMat with some Greek yoghurt can keep your dog busy for a while. Freezing them in advance can provide even more entertainment since it will take your dog longer to lick out all the deliciousness. Dogs love to chew so provide them with appropriate long-lasting chews such as bully sticks, goat horns or deer antlers.  

 You can also leave some slow music on during the day. Your dog will go from constantly hearing voices during the day to complete silence for hours. You can find some playlists for doggies on Spotify or leave the radio on.  

 4. Hire a dog walker/sign up for doggy daycare 

Maybe your schedule doesn’t allow for enough walking time in the morning, or you just don’t want your dog to spend the day alone. Enrol your dog with a local dog walker or doggy daycare.  

Back to school/work is a tough adjustment for everyone. If your dog seems to struggle with the new routine and you need help, our Pawsitive Behaviour Consultant is here to help. Contact us today for more information. 

 

Keeping Pets Safe During New Year’s Celebrations

The festive season is typically a time for celebration! With Christmas done and dusted for another year, our sights are turned to New Year’s Eve and counting down the clock to midnight. While for most humans, NYE is a night of celebrating and making memories, for pets this can be a very scary night! That’s why it is important that you do everything necessary to keep your pets safe. Here are a few tips, to make things easy for you.

  1. Tags and ID

New Year’s Eve means there may be more people around than usual, loud noises such as fireworks and other additional stresses and hazards. With many different things happening, sometimes pets can accidentally get out of their home or yard or attempt to get away from all the scary things. To prevent a night of celebration from turning into tears, make sure your pets have an ID and collar with at least your contact details on them in case they have escaped. If someone picks them up, they can contact you. It is also a good reminder to update your pet’s microchip details if you haven’t since moving house or updating phone numbers. You can easily update your pet’s microchip details by calling your local council or visiting the Pet Registry website.

 

  1. Give them a safe space

Keeping your pets safe by giving them a safe space to feel secure can make a world of difference when they are stressed. This can be easily done by:

  • Keeping them in their safe space such as their kennel, crate or their designated room.
  • Keeping them inside a secured bedroom and checking on them regularly to ensure they are ok.
  • Give them things that may distract them such as toys, treats or enrichment items.
  • Stay close to them and reassure them.
  • Avoid tying up your pets. This causes a great deal of stress and can cause harm and injury.

 

  1. Loud Noises and Hazards

We want to ring in the New Year by going all out and decorating to the nines, but sometimes small items such as balloons, party poppers and other knick-knacks can be a choking hazard for pets and can be highly dangerous. Ensuring that you keep your pets away from decorations and clear and clean items up when they have been used to prevent an emergency trip to the vet.

Fireworks often go off throughout the night on NYE and can be loud and scary to pets. Keeping pets in a quiet area of the home, reassuring them when loud noises go off and showering them with love will help them settle and not be so scared. Giving them treats and toys can help and aid as a distraction. Sometimes putting on calming music also helps distract them from the noises going on outside.

If you know your pet has a firework phobia and these tips have previously not eased their distress, consult your local veterinarian.

 

  1. Pets who have gone walk-about

You’ve had a great night with friends and family, but your pet is nowhere to be found. The first thing to do is to look in all their favourite hiding places and every nook and cranny you think they may have gotten into to escape the noises. This could be under beds, in wardrobes, under the house, in furniture, garden beds, small crawl spaces and even fireplaces.

Search your street in case they have gotten out. Ask your neighbours if they have seen them and to keep an eye out. If they are still missing, call your local vets, local council and pounds and shelters in case they may have been picked up and taken there.

Post to social media and to lost and found pages so the community can be aware and look out. Don’t forget to post when they have been found.

 

The festive season is a great time to make memories and celebrate with friends and family, but don’t forget your pets as well and ensure they feel safe and calm during an often chaotic and noisy time!

We wish everyone a safe and happy New Year!

Published 28th December 2022

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