Commonsense Dog

The summer has been rolling along, and I’m sure by now most have you have created a summer groove with your dogs. You’re likely doing a lot more activities like camping or hiking, there are a lot more people coming and going in the house, and your dogs are enjoying the time with you and your family, but September is right around the bend, and this particular month brings challenges for most dogs and most dog owners.

September is the month that a lot of things change for families. The vacations slow down. The camping and hiking slows down. The kids go back to school, the parents go back to a more consistent work schedule, and in general, families prepare for the cooler months.

Because dogs are very much routine animals, this change in routine can be tricky for them. In September, I receive many calls about dogs suddenly acting more nervous or fearful, dogs having potty accidents in the house when they never had before, dogs acting depressed or unmotivated, or even dogs beginning to display aggressive tendencies. (It’s important to consult a professional before writing off a behavior as simple September blues. There may be something more serious happening.)

When a dog’s routine changes suddenly and there is not enough instruction to guide them into the new schedule, they can start living in an anxious state, and this anxiety over the unknown can cause behavioral changes in our beloved family pets.

If you have an older dog that has sailed through many September’s without issue, then these tips might not be for you, but if you have a younger dog or a dog prone to anxiety, these tips will help with the transition.

Start by helping your dog transition slowly. This means you might have to wake a little earlier or stay up a little later to spend time with your pup.

Make sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise during this time. A sudden lack of exercise can make anxiety feel worse to a dog.

If you intend on crating your dog when you go back to work and the kids go back to school, start reintroducing them to the crate now and work up to longer stretches so they are not taken by surprise.

Start working on a “place” command. This command tells the dog to go to their bed and lie down. This is very important to help our dogs work through any stress they might be feeling. By sending them to their bed, we can help them decompress when we are home rather than having them run all over in an anxious state.

Start adding more structure to the dog’s daily routine to prepare them for the switch. Feed at the same time as they will eat in September. Potty them at the same times as you will in September. Play with them at the same times you will in September. Etc.

Give extra potty breaks to avoid potty accidents once the transition has taken place.

The summer is a fantastic time to bond with our dogs, but it is important to look ahead at what the rest of the year offers and prepare our dogs accordingly.

Happy training!

- • •

Stephanie Vichinsky is

the owner/head trainer of Method K9 in Post Falls

(208) 964-4806.