By Amy Bender, About.com Contributing Writer
Bad Dog Behavior
Fall brings about lots of changes. The kids go back to school, our schedules become more hectic, and very often we're away from home for longer hours than we are over the summer. These changes can be especially stressful for our dogs, and this stress can lead to behavior problems.
Never fear! There are several things you can do to deal with a dog's back to school blues:
Don't Let Dogs Get Bored
Boredom is one reason dogs begin to exhibit common behavior problems when back to school time rolls around. You and your family may not have as much time to spend with your dog as everyone gets used to a new schedule. This can lead to boredom, which in turn leads to behavior problems such as excessive barking and destructive behavior.
Make a plan before the school year starts to bust your dog's boredom, so you can stop behavior problems before they begin. You can prevent dog boredom by ensuring that dogs get plenty of exercise and have a variety of interesting, mentally stimulating toys to play with.
Establish a Routine
Dogs are creatures of habit. Part of the reason dogs get so stressed when the kids go back to school is that it causes major changes in their routines. You can ease a dog's stress during this time by quickly establishing a new routine. While you're scheduling carpools and after-school activities, you should also schedule regular times for your dog's feeding time, walks, and time with you.
Take Dogs Back to School, Too
Back to school time for the kids may also be a great time to start an obedience program with your dog. You can do it yourself by practicing clicker training at home, or you may want to find a dog trainer or obedience class in your neighborhood. Either way, your dog is sure to benefit from brushing up on obedience. It will offer him mental stimulation, and it also provides some one-on-one bonding time for you and your dog. This can go a long way in getting a dog adjusted to a new routine.
Prevent Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is a disorder that causes dogs to feel extreme anxiety when left home alone. You may not notice that your dog suffers from separation anxiety if you and your family have lots of time to spend with him over the summer. Once everyone is back to school and schedules change, however, you may discover your dog becomes anxious and stressed when left alone.
One of the biggest clues that a dog suffers from separation anxiety is destructive behavior. Dogs who suffer from this type of anxiety try to ease their stress by chewing, digging, and barking. If your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, you can help to alleviate his stress through a process referred to as desensitization. This involves slowly getting him used to being left by himself. If you still have some time before the summer comes to an end, you can start working on preventing separation anxiety before everyone goes back to school
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