Changing the Routine

Dogs, like people, find comfort in predictability and daily rhythms.  It assures us that needs will be met, that good things will happen (playtime, walks, etc.), even though not so good things happen as well (being left home alone).  But, routines can change.  Of course, it’s easy to adapt to more “good things” in a routine, trips to the park, a mid-day snack, but not so easy when it’s not so good, even if it’s a routine that was previously established, like when the family returns to a school and work schedule after a long, fun summer.

It’s not uncommon for dogs to become destructive or to start soiling the house when these changes occur. Although people often accuse their dogs of being resentful or spiteful about a change in schedule, the real reason is more innocuous. Summers contain more interaction with our animals, which means more energy expended.  More time outside means that potty breaks aren’t as regulated. With a change in schedule, there’s an adjustment period. We can make the adjustment easier.

One of the biggest changes from the summer schedule is the amount of activity and stimulation that our dogs receive.  Even if we weren’t doing marathon fetch sessions, those little 10-15 minute sessions throughout the day between chores made the day more interesting.  Most dogs benefit the most from starting their day with play and exercise, rather than ending it that way.  It allows them to burn off energy accumulated after a long night’s rest, rather than letting it continue to accumulate throughout the day without an outlet. Getting up a half hour earlier to provide exercise can help prevent inappropriate behaviors that happen due to pent up energy.  Providing food toys for breakfast can help burn energy with brain exercise.  Hiring a dog walker or a neighbor to interact with the dog during the middle of the day can also alleviate boredom and provide an energy outlet along with companionship. 

The sudden decrease in human companionship in the day can cause some dogs anxiety.  In those cases, it’s best to build up times of absence before the schedule changes, leaving the house for a couple minutes at first, and then gradually interspersing longer periods of absence.  Constantly increasing the time without keeping some of the shorter times can increase anxiety as the dog begins to anticipate longer and longer absences.  Again, breaking up the “work day” with human visits can help dogs adjust to the change, especially if the visits vary on when they occur during the day.  Some dogs develop more serious separation issues, drooling and panting before their humans leave the house and attempting to claw their way out at various exits after their humans leave. In those cases, it’s best to consult with a professional trainer.

Some dogs seem to lose their housetraining skills.  Pottying in the house for a dog that is already housetrained could be the result of a health problem, like a urinary tract infection, or it could be a reaction to stress or a result of not “emptying out” when taken outside, having spent the summer being able to have easy access outdoors whenever the need arose.  Some dogs won’t go or will delay going to the bathroom when let out if they know it will be followed by being called inside and their human leaving them.  For them, going to the bathroom equals the human leaving.  Therefore, not going to the bathroom can prevent the human from leaving or at least extend his/her stay.  Not leaving immediately after dogs potty can prevent this behavior.  While dogs can be trained to relieve themselves upon going outside, some dogs will do a “courtesy potty” just so they can go on to the next fun phase, so it’s important to watch dogs closely to make sure they actually go to the bathroom.  Dogs should be able to relieve themselves every 4-6 hours to prevent accidents or health problems. 

Dogs that are bored or stressed can also start barking when their humans are gone, partially out of boredom, but frequently out of distress, feeling they’ve been left behind.  Keeping dogs indoors can help muffle the barking, although it won’t necessarily stop it.  Giving the dog some control of its environment with a dog door can help relieve some stress.  Dogs can also become hyper-aroused and develop barrier frustration if left to their own devices for entertainment.  Again, exercise, providing mental stimulation, and having someone come to entertain the dog during the day can greatly diminish barking.

While we’re toiling away at work or school, it’s hard to keep in mind that our dogs are spending their day waiting for our return.  Even when there are multiple dogs in the household, most dogs while away their time by sleeping or finding novel ways to keep occupied rather than playing with each other.  Exercising our dogs before we leave and providing mental stimulation in the form of food toys can help exhaust our dogs before we leave, making it easier for them to sleep during our absence.  Dog walkers and dog daycare can also break up the monotony of a long day, although it’s always recommended to do research to make sure the person/facility hired meets the desired standards and expectations.  While no one likes to see the end of the lazy, hazy days of summer, easing our dogs into a new routine takes time and patience, but our dogs’ comfort during our absence makes it worthwhile.