With the summer winding down and the kids going back to school – or you leaving your home office to go back to work – means everything can change for your dog.

They may now be used to having company all day to play with, and then the house goes silent as everyone is now back at work or school.

In our last newsletter we wrote about Separation Anxiety which may occur when this type of change happens.

Remember to think about a plan for your dog as they can get into mischief because there is no more hustle and bustle of everyone being around the house. When routines change, it can confuse the dog – so it’s best to plan and get them ready for the change ahead of time.

Dog WalkingSome things to remember:

  • Start preparing them with your new routine in mind.
  • If they’ll be alone longer, get them used to it before it starts.
  • Exercise them with a walk or play before everyone leaves for work and school.
  • Review who’s responsible for what – as it may change with the new schedule.

Here are 5 things you can do with your dog to help ease the transition when the kids go back to school or you go back to work:

  1. Exercise
    Provide plenty of exercise for your dog to help them burn off extra energy. Schedule an extra walk during the day, or if you can’t do it hire a dog walker or have them attend daycare. During these walks stimulate your dog mentally by adding in some obedience or trick training.
  2. Get a New Toy
    You are getting the kids lots of new things to get ready for school i.e. clothes, school supplies, etc., remember to get your Dog a new toy to entertain themselves with while they are at school. Maybe an extra-special safe chew toy or one that you can stuff with tasty treats. There are even puzzle toys that will encourage them to look for hidden goodies.
  3. Teach Your Dog a New Trick
    Learning new things helps ease your dog’s boredom and loneliness. Nothing fancy – maybe a simple spin, crawl or longer stay may work. If you want to ramp up things join one of our advanced classes or Fun with Agility.
  4. Play Music
    Some dog daycares or shelters have found playing calming music helps their dogs relax while having downtime. So, you can put on classical music and maybe have some lavender essence or room spray too – as that can also help.
  5. Spend Quality Time Together
    When the family is home make sure your kids engage in quality time with their dog each day. It could be a long walk, or just relaxing together while doing their homework.


We’d love to see you in any of our classes or at doggie daycare. 

Both our daycare spots and classes fill up quickly and we usually have just a few spots available.Learn more at our website or to register visit https://muttzwithmannerz.propetware.com and set up your account.