Bark Busters offers ‘back to school tips’ for families with dogs

With the school holidays over, Bark Busters, the world’s leading dog training company suggests guidelines to help parents and children prepare the family dog for the return-to-school schedule change. The guidelines are based on Bark Busters’ expertise in dog behavior and the experience of the company’s network of dog behavioral therapists who have successfully trained more than 500,000 + dogs worldwide.

“The end of school holidays typically brings a great deal of change for kids and their parents as we all prepare to return to school,” says Val Edwards from Bark Busters. “It’s important to remember that any time things change for people in the family, they also change for the family dog.”

Back to School Tips for Your Dog
When the kids go back to school everything changes for your dog, too. The stress on parents and children can be enormous. But rarely do we consider how the change in routine affects our canine companions. Many think that their dog is as much a part of the family as they are and therefore it can handle it. However, the facts prove otherwise. Dogs are creatures of habit and when the routine changes they can be seriously affected. Below are the some areas of concern and tips to consider before the kids head back to school:

Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is a major issue for dogs, and often surfaces when the dog no longer has the kids to play with during the day. The stress that accompanies being left alone can often result in destructive behaviors and endless barking. Complaints from neighbours increase significantly during the first “back to school” weeks. However, the following tips can help reduce the initial stress of separation. With some preparation and training, your furry friend will be back to normal in a few weeks.

At the end of the Christmas holidays, begin your separation-anxiety training at least a week before the kids go back to school. A few days should be sufficient for mid-year breaks.  Start by separating the dog from the kids and the rest of the family. For example, if you frequently take your dog with you when going somewhere, whether walking or in the car, begin leaving him at home. Start getting him used to being alone.

Ignore the dog
Dogs are often the centre of attention when the kids are at home. Therefore this routine needs to be changed before the kids go back to school. While it might sound cruel, the best way to do this is to start ignoring your dog – by mum, dad and the kids. When a dog gets “its own way” often, it frequently starts to take over as the leader of the house. When everyone leaves for school and work, the “leader” can get very distressed. Start ignoring him about a week before the start of a school year (less for mid-year breaks), and increase the amount of time it is ignored each day. This will help the family dog adjust quickly.

When you leave home
Don’t pamper the dog and nurture him by saying in a sweet voice, “Don’t worry, we’ll be home soon. Be a good boy.” Dogs are pack animals and as such they expect their leader to be firm when they leave the pack. It is best to totally ignore your dog for about 10 minutes before you leave, and as you leave the house simply make a low “growl” with your voice. While this might sound peculiar, your dog will actually be relaxed by your voice. In the wild, the pack leader growls when she leaves the pack to indicate she will return soon and not to misbehave.

Boredom
Dogs sleep a great deal during the day. But, when they awake they want something to do. It doesn’t take much to entertain a dog – even if you’re not at home. Some ways of keeping your dog occupied are to:

• Scatter feed: Dogs are natural foragers. They love to look for food on the ground and will literally spend hours doing so. Before you and the kids leave the house, distribute dry food over a wide area of your back yard, (or other treats your dog likes). You might even try hiding some treats so your dog spends time looking for them. Also, consider scattering vegetables, such as baby carrots. Be sure to provide lots of fresh clean water to keep your dog well-hydrated.

• Sandbox: Build a digging pit. Dogs love to dig, so rather than trying to eliminate that natural instinct, control where they dig by building them their own special place. Build a sandpit, much the same as you would for a child, and teach your dog that it belongs to him. Bury his favorite chew toy in the digging pit and when he digs it up praise him lavishly. Bury some treats, or pieces of cheese. When he finds them, pet him and tells him he’s a “good boy”. Very quickly he will learn where to dig – and, more importantly, where not to dig.

• Toys: Dogs love toys. But, they quickly get bored with them, or they are destroyed. First, buy quality toys that your dog will always love. For example, the Buster Cube when filled with treats is a toy he will always love – and, it is virtually non-destructible. Second, rotate the toys. Use two toy boxes for his/her toys and rotate them every few days. This way he/she looks forward to “new toys” when you leave.

• Shelter: Dogs need to have their own “home”. Just as we humans feel more at ease in our home, so do dogs. If your dog doesn’t have a place of his own, create one for him. Most dogs love crates. Dogs are descendents of animals that live in dens, and a crate has the same characteristics of a den. If your dog hasn’t been ‘crate trained’, don’t start training him the day the kids leave for school. That’s too late and can actually add to his stress. Rather, start training him in advance of the back to school transition. If all goes well you may find that your dog sleeps all day in the crate, quite at peace.

• Dog house: If your dog will be outside while you are gone, make certain he has a shelter to get out of the weather – a place he can call his own. Dogs are much more relaxed when in a familiar surrounding, and when they are covered. Provide a blanket, or some other soft surface that is inviting.

• Laundry room: If your dog will be inside all day and you are concerned about toileting in the house, enclose him in an area that is rather small (this inhibits the tendency to toilet), and has a floor of vinyl or tile in case he makes a mistake.

Unusual Behaviour
When dogs are stressed they can sometimes exhibit unusual behaviours – such as jumping or even biting. It is not unusual for young children to come home from school and be “attacked” by the family dog. Usually the dog means no harm. It has been left alone all day and has pent up energy, and when it sees the kids the unusual behaviours surfaces. To avoid such accidents, train the children to keep away from the dog’s area as soon as they get home. The kids need to ignore your pet for 5-10 minutes to allow him to settle down. With young children it is always best to have a parent there to reduce the chance of a problem. Once your dog learns the routine he will be fine.

Train Your Dog
It is amazing how quickly dogs learn what is acceptable, and what is not. Dogs have language of their own and once we understand it we can easily control them by “speaking their language”. Bark Busters specialises in using the natural, instinctual communication of dogs as the way to train them. It’s simple, and it works.

“The end of school holidays is a time of transition for families and their dogs. Providing your dog with the advanced training and right combination of food, shelter, and entertainment will help your canine companion adapt to the new school schedule," said Val Edwards. "Bark Busters is committed to helping people care for and communicate clearly with their dogs. Our aim is to reduce the risk of misbehavior and neglect, as well as enhance owners’ relationships with their dogs.”

About Bark Busters
Bark Busters dog behavioral therapists are renowned authorities in the area of correcting dog behavior. The Bark Busters’ training system can successfully train any dog, even puppies. The company’s natural training technique leverages the same communications methods - body language and voice control – that dogs follow as part of their instinctual pack mentality. About 80 per cent of Bark Buster clients require only one two-hour home visit from a licensed dog behavioral therapist, if they continue with just 10 to15 minutes a day follow-up exercises for several weeks. All training takes place right in the home where the problems generally occur. Bark Busters is the only international dog training company that offers a lifetime guarantee. Therapists will provide future sessions free of charge if problem behaviors recur, or if any new problems develop.

For more information, call 1800 067 710 or visit www.barkbusters.com.au where dog owners can complete a Dog Behavioral quiz to rate their dogs’ behavior.