How to Prepare Your Dog for Back to School Season

Back to school time can be a busy time of year. If you live in a neighborhood, there will be more children running about, school buses going down the street, and all sorts of school supplies coming into the house. Take a look below at how to prepare your dog for back to school time, and be sure it is a safe and enjoyable time for them as well.

1. Account for small school supplies.
Don’t leave out pencils, small erasers, or small pencil sharpeners that can be chewed. Dogs can easily injure themselves or swallow these items. Make sure your child knows to keep all small pieces in pencil boxes and up high so they don’t pose a hazard.

2. Keep your dog on a leash or fenced in.
With children walking to and from school, it will be important to keep your dog on a leash or in a well secured fenced yard. You don’t want the dog running up to the children and risking injury to them or the child. Keep your dog well contained during the morning arrival hour and the afternoon returning hour. Some dogs are great around kids and some kids are great around dogs btu i you are not there to supervise the interaction do not let it occur!

3. Don’t forget your routine.
The first few days back to school can be hectic, but don’t let your dog feel forgotten. Be sure you are still keeping up your schedule with him or her. Enjoy your daily walks, play time, and snacks as much as possible. Dogs are sensitive to changes in routine and will appreciate you remembering them. Plus sticking to your daily exercise routine with your dog will help keep you in shape as the semester goes on.

Back to School is a major change for the entire family and it is easy to forget things that became routine over the summer with all the early wake ups and driving here and there. Your dog is a member of the family.

4. Include them as much as possible.
If your dog does well in the car, why not take him to pick the kids up from school? Chances are your dog will love the quality time with you and be so excited to pick the kids up and bring them home. You can also treat your dog to a goodie during the times you pack lunch. This will help him identify the routine as well and give him some comfort in it. Just be sure that your dog doesn’t accidentally think the lunch is for them.

5. Create a routine for the morning rush
If you create a routine for everyone in your family things will be calmer and less stressful for everyone – especially the dog. Dogs are very sensitive to their family’s mood and they will get worked up and upset if you cause a big commotion when it comes time to leave. Don’t make getting the kids to school in the morning a big deal. Treat it like a normal part of the day or your dog could develop really bad habits or separation anxiety.