Bark to School Blues Tips

While our pets are our family, they don’t have an algebra requirement. So when the house gets a little emptier during back to school, sometimes our pets get the blues since they’re used to having a buddy around the house who’s always ready to play and take them on adventures.

Signs of this include sluggishness, loss of appetite and disinterest in play. They also may start to act out by going through the trash, barking a lot or other behaviors that are outside of their usual habits as a result of their separation anxiety.

Here are some simple tips to help ease the transition of a quieter house when your kids go off to school.

Staging Rehearsals

Before the school year begins, you can help your pet acclimate by holding staging rehearsals. Leave them at home for a short amount of time during outdoor activities they would normally join in on. Get them used to the thought of not going on as many adventures and exploring their own surroundings at home before they get distressed and create harm to your house.

Exercise

Pets need their exercise to work off their anxiety and stress while staying in shape, just like humans do. If you boost up their typical periods of exercise, they’ll be able to burn off that excess energy and depression through the activity, leaving them with reduced boredom. If your workouts include hiking or running, make sure to bring water with you. We happen to have a crowd favorite- Messy Mutts Stainless Steel Water Bottle! You can find it at any of our Healthy Spot locations.

Self-entertainment

If you’re leaving your pet alone and want to avoid any incidents of torn couches or chewed up baseboards, you can leave them with a treat-filled toy to keep them busy! Our best recommendations for dog toys are The Odin which dispenses treats after your pet puts in some work, and the Lil’ Snoop Treat Toy which is designed to activate a dog’s mind and energize their play. You can find these favorites at any Healthy Spot. Find your local spot here!

Make time just for your pet

With less family around, your pet will notice the lack of attention they’re getting. Make sure to allocate some time just for them to make them feel special! They’ll welcome any quality time they can get. You can combine this with their exercise and go on hikes or morning walks. Healthy Spot events are also a great way to spend time together, and your pup will meet a ton of new friends and get fed yummy treats while having a fun experience! You can check out our upcoming events here!

You can also get them into a routine to look forward to every day. Try adding grooming time with a nice brush to relax or stimulate them. We recommend our Andis Firm Slicker Brush for dogs sold in all Healthy Spot locations.

Make your pet your side-kick

If your job allows, you work from home or you’re retired, you can let your pet tag along any of your own adventures, even if as simple as picking up the dry cleaning. They’ll be happy to go along for the ride and get some quality head-out-the-window action.

Outsource help

If you can’t make your pet your adventure buddy, doggy daycare may help break up the day. In most locations, Healthy Spot offers Small Dog Daycare, allowing your pet to make a new group of best fur-riends, be taken on walks and be watched over every day (except Sundays and Saturdays in select locations)! Contact your local spot to find out more!

Focus Their Attention Elsewhere

Impress your friends and let your pet show off their new tricks! You can take this time to focus your attention to your pet for 10 or 20 extra minutes a day by teaching them a new trick. Whether it’s as simple as laying down or as complicated as playing dead, they’ll love the undivided attention and abundance of rewards given by pets and treats. You can shop our MIND BODY BOWL Smoked Jerky Treats online here to ensure a tasty high protein treat!

Back to school can be a tough time for your pets, but we hope these tips help with their bark-to-school blues. If you find any of these depression-related behaviors continue for an extended period of time, be sure to consult with your vet. Plus if you have any other tips you’ve found useful, make sure to share them in the comments section below!

Source:

https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/depression-in-dogs#1

https://www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/can-dogs-get-depressed