- Back to School, Back to Routine: Helping Pets Adjust When the Family’s Away
While it is understandable to worry about the children, our furry friends can also experience the back-to-school blues. When it comes to helping pets transition from a summer schedule to a new routine, predictability is key.
Our dogs and cats can feel stressed when change occurs, just like our human children. Helping pets adjust when the family's away starts with routine, enrichment, and trusted pet sitting support from Happy Paws Upstate in Greenville, SC.
Helping Pets Adjust When the Family's Away Starts With Routine
Our four-legged friends who have come to expect their humans to be around to keep them company all day during the summertime may develop separation anxiety when the family and kids are away from home during the school season. It is our job as pet parents to create a safe, predictable environment with mental enrichment and a calm atmosphere when we cannot be present to spend time with our fur-babies. Happy Paws Upstate can help pets adjust when the family is away.
Why Our Pets Have Difficulty With Changes in Routine
Our canine and feline companions, who spend the summer months basking in fun backyard adventures, sleeping in with the kids, splashing around in shallow kiddie pools, or playing endless games of fetch, are now surrounded by an empty house.
Back-to-school time is a big change for our furry friends, as they may become stressed or lonely when the kids are off at school and you are not home. Our pets need our help to gradually become acclimated to a new routine before the school season starts. Why a sudden shift in routine can be traumatic and challenging for our pets:
• Potential separation anxiety
• Mealtimes are not as predictable • Daytime activity is replaced by a quiet home
• Walks no longer accommodate their expected routine
• Bathroom breaks are delayed or moved to a different time
• Rushed mornings as kids and parents prepare to leave the house
• Constant companionship and cuddles are replaced by sudden solitude
While some dogs and cats experience separation anxiety, not all pets become stressed when their family is away. However, many pets need help with the transition between summer and the start of school. A little preparation and a lot of love can work wonders, reassuring pets that time alone in the house is not so terrible after all.
Why Back-to-School Changes Can Be Hard on Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets
Our pets are creatures of habit and thrive on predictability. Sudden changes in routine can trigger stress and anxiety in our beloved companion animals. Dogs, cats, and other pets need our help transitioning from summer to back-to-school time, since an empty house can often lead to confusion and separation anxiety. Pets who do not have the benefit of a trusted pet sitter or dog walker face some major challenges:
• Separation-related distress
• Shift in household energy
• Disrupted daily schedules
• Reduced physical activity
• Changes in social dynamics
• Exposure to toxic hazards
Pets expect their walks, feeding times, and potty breaks to stay the same. After months of their humans constantly doting on them, they are suddenly alone. Since dogs especially need the security of a daily routine, complete with walks, potty breaks, exercise, and companionship, Happy Paws Upstate offers great in-home pet care. It can help your pet adjust to a new schedule when you are away.
Cats, birds, reptiles, and farm animals can benefit from routine-based pet care to help them feel secure in their home environment and maintain their familiar routines. Happy Paws Upstate offers customized in-home visits, overnight pet sitting, and drop-in visits to make sure your pet is safe, calm, and content in their own surroundings.
Farm animals also require special care. A dedicated pet sitter can ensure your barnyard friends receive uninterrupted care and are protected from predators. A Happy Paws Upstate sitter can also spot early signs of injury or illness and prevent major emergencies. Sitters offer consistency in routine and health and safety monitoring for your flocks and herds.
Signs Your Pet May Be Struggling with the New Schedule
Pets often exhibit their stress and anxiety through changes in their behavior. These changes can occur gradually. For example, a couple of weeks into the school year, your typically bubbly and social feline friend is hiding under the bed more often, or your independent canine companion is suddenly following you around the house more closely. Some signs your pet is having difficulty adjusting to the new schedule:
• Explosion of excitement when family members return home
• Uncharacteristically serenading you with excessive barks or meows
• Destructive tendencies, such as chewing furniture or scratching at doors
• Urinating or defecating in the house, despite being well-trained
• Appetite changes, such as eating significantly more or refusing food
• Clingy or withdrawn behavior when family members are around
• Restlessness or sleep disruptions, such as excessive pacing or oversleeping
Discuss extreme stress during the back-to-school transition with your trusted veterinarian. Your trusted vet can rule out underlying medical conditions, help develop a behavior modification plan for your furry friend, recommend calming aids, or, in extreme cases of
separation anxiety, you can ask your vet to prescribe anti-anxiety medication.Simple Ways to Help Pets Settle into the School-Year Routine
It is imperative to practice short absences before long days, as your furry friend's gradual acclimation to your or your family's being away from home for extended periods helps build confidence and independence. Short absences help teach pets to feel comfortable and gradually adjust to being alone for a while.
It helps them learn that no matter how long the family is gone, they will always return. It teaches them how to rely more on themselves when the house is quiet and empty. It also creates positive associations when you leave them treats, food puzzles, or games, or when you come home and give them lots of reassuring pets and cuddles.
At first, only leave them for a few minutes and gradually increase the time, which will help establish confidence and independence. Calmly say goodbye without making a big production out of it to prevent them from responding with an overdramatic scene.
Also, desensitize them to signs of departure when you are not actually leaving, such as grabbing your keys or putting on your coat randomly, to help your furry friend avoid forming negative associations with these clear departure cues.
With consistent practice, your dog or cat will become disinterested in your predictable pattern of leaving and returning in a calm, routine way. Your pet will gradually lose interest in your departure, which is your sign to gradually increase your time away. The goal is to set them up for success.
Keep Meals, Walks, and Potty Breaks Predictable
It is also crucial that you create the ideal conditions for your pet's success. Additionally, do not make the mistake of rushing through the acclimation process. The idea is to build confidence, independence, and emotional security so that your animal companion becomes content being alone in the house. What can help your pet avoid separation anxiety:
• Consistent timing for meals, walks, and potty breaks helps to ensure routine and security, and helps them know what to expect
• According to the ASPCA, "Your pet may be used to midday play sessions or walks. Ramping down that exercise and interaction due to schedule changes could leave your pet with pent-up energy. Scheduling times for play that fit your new schedule can help your pal adjust."
• Rotate your dog or cat's toys to prevent boredom, provide them with enrichment, and keep them busy.
• For cats and small pets, such as guinea pigs or birds, continue the normal routine for food, water, litter, and habitat care on schedule to help prevent stress.
Exercising your furry friend beforehand, such as a long walk or a rewarding game of fetch, is valuable physical activity that can release endorphins, calm them down, and tire them out. Remember, a tired pet is a happy pet, who is much less likely to get into mischief while you are gone.
If you have a pet that is especially prone to separation anxiety, schedule midday visits or dog walks. If your dog or cat suffers from severe separation anxiety, a certified animal behaviorist or professional dog trainer can address the root cause. They can develop a structured plan to reduce stress and panic in your animal companion.
Add Enrichment While the House is Quiet
Enrichment is crucial in treating separation anxiety because it provides your pet with essential mental and physical stimulation to prevent boredom and keep your fur baby focused on an engaging task, rather than longingly looking out the window awaiting your arrival or resorting to destructive behavior, such as trying to escape.
Toys, such as snuffle mats and puzzle toys, are the ideal way to teach them how to self-soothe and entertain themselves while you are away. An interactive toy also helps them feel more in control of their environment by calming them and distracting them from the stress of your departure.
How Scratching Posts, Cat Trees, and Approved Chew Items Provide Enrichment While You Are Gone
Scratching posts allow your feline friend to satisfy their natural instincts and ingrained behaviors, which are deeply rooted in their genetics and shaped by their wild ancestors. They help cats exercise their muscles and maintain the condition of their claws. Offering them a scratching surface also protects your furniture from potential damage.
Cat trees are also ideal for our felines because elevated surfaces mimic their natural instincts and provide a safe place to look down and survey their kingdom. Since our feline companions were born to hunt, an elevated perch offers them a "bird's-eye view" to search for "prey." It is especially good to place a cat tree by a window for this purpose.
Cat trees encourage exercise by providing towers for climbing and observation, as well as cat caves and retreats for curious exploration and escaping stress. These structures allow them to embrace their adventurous nature by jumping, climbing, and leaping, which are all characteristics of typical feline behaviors and provide them with a fun, restorative outlet to exert energy.
When pets spend time alone, they can become bored easily. Vet-approved chew toys can help your dog or cat stay mentally stimulated or self-soothe through a therapeutic approach called counterconditioning, which involves replacing your pet's fearful, anxious reaction with something they enjoy.
The ASPCA cites a good example: "Every time you leave the house, you can offer your dog a puzzle toy stuffed with food that will take him at least 20 to 30 minutes to finish." You can try stuffing a KONG toy with plain, unsalted, natural peanut butter with no added sugars, artificial sweeteners, or preservatives.
Make sure to check the ingredients to ensure it does not contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is highly toxic to dogs. You can also stuff it with plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt, but avoid flavored, full-fat, or sugar-free varieties. Both peanut butter and yogurt should only be fed in moderation.
Frozen banana, dog food, or kibble are also good choices. A KONG can be frozen to transform a quick treat into a long-lasting activity. Any kind of yummy, high-value treat is preferable for your pet. However, when you return home, remove the KONG toy from their daily stockpile and give it to them only when you will not be home.
That way, your canine companion learns to associate the toy with time alone, expecting it before you leave for work or school. Only choose pet-safe options, and supervise them while they play with new items to avoid dangerous choking or blockages before allowing them to have the toy when you are not around.
When a Pet Sitter or Dog Walker Can Help
A pet sitter or dog walker can be greatly beneficial for you and your fur buddy. A pet sitter can help your dog or cat maintain their routine and give you peace of mind while you are at work or on vacation. The job of a dog walker is to make sure your pup gets walked and has potty breaks. Compared to a dog walker, a pet sitter's job is more comprehensive. Pet sitters come to your house and care for your pet.
They may stay overnight with your furry friend or make daily drop-in visits to meet each pet's individual needs. Most importantly, they make sure that your pet does not suffer from separation anxiety. Plus, pet sitters tend to form a bond with your animal companion as they spend more time with them and become familiar with their environment. Some of the various duties that a pet sitter performs during drop-in visits or overnight stays:
• Provides photo/video updates
• Maintains daily feeding schedule
• Brings in the mail, waters plants, etc.
• Gives undivided attention and affection
• Provides daily exercise and play sessions
• Cleans litter boxes and/or any other pet messes
• Administers medications on schedule if needed
• Make sure the water bowl is always cleaned and filled
• Transportation to an emergency clinic or veterinarian if necessary
Happy Paws Upstate offers a variety of comprehensive professional services, including house visits, daily walks, overnight stays, farm sitting, and concierge pet care. We have pet sitters who are experienced, loving, and responsible animal lovers who will also build a lasting relationship with you and your pet.
A pet sitter or dog walker will also break up a long day for your canine or feline friend by providing them with companionship, preventing boredom, and reducing separation anxiety. Not to mention, pet parents with a dog who are left home alone for 8 to 12 hours can benefit from a pet sitter or dog walker to stop by for a bathroom break or to take the pup outdoors to release pent-up energy.
Happy Paws Upstate serves Greenville and surrounding areas, including Simpsonville, Mauldin, Greer, Taylors, Traveler's Rest, Piedmont, Five Forks, Conestee, and Gantt. We also work with local veterinarians so that pet parents have an emergency plan in place while they are away. We also provide care for horses, chickens, and goats for local farms in the above-mentioned areas.
Why In-Home Pet Care Supports a Smoother Routine
In-home pet care services, such as Happy Paws Upstate in Greenville, SC, have professional pet sitters trained to help pets adjust when the family is away. In-home pet care is the preferred option because your furry friends get to stay in their comfortable home environment. Traveling to a kennel can also trigger stress and anxiety in pets.
Happy Paws Upstate will also follow instructions left by the pet parents. In fact, we welcome any guidelines that will help your pet feel more secure. We understand that pets tend to thrive on routine and familiarity, and we are here to make sure that your canine or feline companion receives the same level of care they would if you were home.
While a pet sitter cannot replicate the same bond that a pet parent shares with their fur baby, a professional sitter from Happy Paws Upstate will match your pet's daily routines and provide the care and attention a kennel or boarding facility cannot. We also understand that each individual animal has a unique personality, which requires a customized plan for each pet.
Additionally, Happy Paws Upstate has a business license and is insured and bonded. We use Pet Sitters International to educate our pet sitters on how to improve our services. We are knowledgeable about a wide range of subjects, including basic dog training, separation anxiety, first aid, and reptile and bird care. We can promise you that when you leave your furry friends in the care of a dedicated Happy Paws pet sitter, they are in good hands.
Help Your Furry Friend Cope with the Back-to-School Blues with Happy Paws Upstate
Our furry friends can get lonely when the school season starts. The sudden shift from constant companionship to an empty house can sometimes trigger separation anxiety. Happy Paws Upstate is here to lend a helping hand when pet parents are at work and the kids are away at school.
We can provide your dog with a midday walk and the exercise they need, or satisfy your cat's hunting instincts with a wand toy or fun interactive play. Our pets are creatures of habit who thrive on routine and would benefit from a pet sitter or dog walker to break up the loneliness and monotony of the long, solitary school day.
Small pets and farm animals also require experienced care when left alone. The health and happiness of your animals is our top priority. We can maintain feeding rituals and perform crucial health checks to make sure they are safe and receive prompt treatment when needed. The transition from summer to back-to-school season can be challenging for our pets, but we are happy to offer our support.
Book your pet-sitting, dog walking, overnight care, or farm services today at Happy Paws Upstate. Do not let the back-to-school blues get your furry best pal down. Our drop-in visits and daily dog walks can help keep your four-legged friends or barnyard buddies perfectly pampered and adjusting smoothly.