Our dogs have spent the past several weeks enjoying lots of extra time with us, getting used to us being home more, and spending less time in their kennel and more time at our feet. The sudden schedule changes that we will be adjusting to in the next month or so could lead to a difficult adjustment for everyone, especially our dogs.
However, with a little forethought and planning we can make this transition much easier for our furry friends.
A couple of weeks before the anticipated change begins, start implementing the upcoming schedule changes. For example, if you will be at work and the kids will be in school, start having your dog take a daily quiet time during those hours.
Begin getting up earlier to allow time to walk, train, exercise and feed your dog before work/school. Schedule some evening activities like walks or training to give your dog an energy outlet after their daily quiet time. Dogs love routines and staying consistent with new changes will help them make the adjustments faster and with less stress.
Make sure to add mental stimulation to your dog’s daily routine as an important part of keeping them in good mental and physical health. A dog with regular structure, exercise and mental stimulation will be more resilient to the inevitable hiccups that come with this transition. Try teaching your dog a new skill like place training or polite leash walking. Improve known skills like sit or stay and add duration.
Consider putting your dog’s food bowl away for now and feed them out of a Kong toy. Dogs need something to keep them occupied during long days and working for their food is a great way to do that!
If you need help getting started, join one of our virtual training classes! You and your dog will learn all kinds of new things.
Meghan Smith, CPDT-KA
