Prevent back to school blues… For your pets

Dont think Im jumping the gun, Its not quite back to school yet…

This article has ideas for you to implement now, while you are on holiday.

As kids go back to school , pets may feel left behind.

When preparing for the day that kids go back to school remember to put your furkids on your prep list.

When your human kids go off to school, your pets have to begin a new routine, after having their family home and available twenty four, seven.

This is a time when they can become bored and could start chewing things that they shouldn’t. To prevent behaviours that you would rather not deal with, prep ahead….

To help ease the transition, try incorporating some of these ideas into your new school routine:

Prep for School

The best time to start is about 2 weeks before school opens. Plan some activities away from home, and increase the time you spend away every day. There is no need to spend too much money, a long walk, or hike is a great example.

What is awesome about this idea is that it not only helps your pets adjust, it helps you bust your children’s “end of holiday” boredom.

The Same Old Routine

Pets just like children, thrive on routine, a sudden change can be stressful and disorienting. Think about the parts of your pet’s current routine – meals, walks, and training – that can stay the same, and try to stick to the established schedule.

Once again, incorporate your children into this routine, especially the littlies, and they will find it easier to adjust to being back at school too.

New and Improved

For any routines that must be altered, replace them with new ones. For example, if you can no longer walk the dog in the morning because you’re driving your child to school…why not just take your pup along for the ride?

Boredom Busters

Imagine being all alone without anything to do all day long.

You can’t even get yourself a snack even though the fridge is right there!

After a few days or weeks of this, you might come up with some…ahem…creative ways to entertain yourself.

Head boredom off at the pass by leaving your pet with interactive toys that engage his mind and body.

Get your children to make toys during the holiday and introduce the toys as you prepare for back to school day. This will increase their bond with your furry family members, bust their boredom, and your pets will have some new and exciting toys.

After School Special

Talk to your children about how much your pets miss them when they’re at school. Encourage them to spend some quality one-on-one time with their special buddy when they get home. This might mean playing together in the back yard, talking to them about what they learned, or curling up on the couch and doing homework or reading out loud with the pet by their side.

Pets like to hear your voice so encourage your kids to read to them. Once again this little tip benefits both pets and kids!

New Year, New Responsibilities

Including kids in pet-related chores is a great way to teach compassion and commitment. So with each new school year, give your child a little more responsibility when it comes to your pet. Make sure tasks are age-appropriate so that both kid and critter are set up for success!

Weight Watchers

With school in session, chances are he’s not as active as he was during the holiday. Even just one or two extra pounds can have a detrimental effect on your pet’s health. So take a second look at his diet and adjust meals and treats as necessary.

Take this tip into consideration when deciding on boredom busters…

Class Act

Yes, you can teach an old (or young) dog new tricks!

And why should kids have all the back-to-school fun, anyway?

New Year is the perfect time to sign your pooch up for a new training class. Depending on where you live, you might find options that range from obedience to agility to canine choreography!

Involve your kids to keep the holiday bond going, or make use of this idea to have a supportive and encouraging buddy at your side for those New Year’s resolutions.

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