Are you finally getting back into the office but your best friend has now become acclimated to having you around all the time? Regardless of how long you’ve had your best friend, these tips will help ease its transition from having you around all the time to sometimes having you around.
Dogs are highly social animals. This means that a sudden change from having you around all the time to no one’s home all day long can lead to behavioural problems. Here are some tips to help your dog transition to a new normal.
Start Leaving in Small Time Increments
Due to the current pandemic, every individual in your house probably hasn’t left the house in weeks. So to ease the transition, start by leaving your house in small time increments.
Begin with baby steps and start with small increments (like only for a couple of seconds). This may feel unbelievably slow and doesn’t seem worth it. But trust me, we are building a really good, solid foundation here.
You can do this by leaving some dog treats in an interactive dog toy and while your dog is trying to get the treats out, leave the house for about ten to fifteen seconds. Next time, leave for 30 seconds, then 45 seconds, gradually increasing the time until you are able to go on a walk or a drive.
Cues can also play a role in helping them adapt to the new normal. Mimic the routine that you would normally go through when you go to work. Grab your wallet, let your keys jangle a bit, and exit using the main door, or the garage door, or whichever door you would normally exit through.
By doing this, your dog will become adapted to the cues that signal that you are leaving.
Provide a Safe Space
Make sure that there is a safe space in your house that your dog is comfortable in. The space could be a particular room, a crate or his bed. Whatever it is, ensure that the space is easily accessible by your dog.
Otherwise, just let your dog lounge around wherever they want. You might also want to think about restricting your dog’s access to a window if they tend to bark at everyone that walks by.
Entertain Your Dog
If you have been walking your dog 3 or 4 times a day, what happens when that’s no longer an option? Will you be able to take a quick break from work just to walk the dog? Are you going to hire a dog walker, or perhaps a doggie daycare?
If the current physical exercise you are providing is no longer an option going forwards, you should figure out new ways to stimulate your dog’s brain. You can teach your dog some new tricks or new walking routes.
Your dog might adjust to the new routine immediately, or they might take some time to adjust to the new norm. But hopefully, by using the tips outlined in this article, both you and your best friend will have an easier time transitioning between the old and the new.
