Ease Back into Your Post-Summer Routine

As summer winds down, families begin returning to their regular routines. Kids head back to school, vacations come to an end, and many people return to the office after flexible summer schedules. While these transitions may feel routine to us, they are a significant adjustment for our dogs.

If your dog struggles with changes in routine, there are several ways to help make the transition smoother:

●      Adjust Schedules Gradually: shift feeding, walks, and departure times steadily over a week or two before the change starts.

●      Create a Positive Departure Routine: give your dog a special chew or food puzzle before everyone leaves.

●      Prioritize Daily Exercise & Enrichment: ensure they get physical exercise and mental stimulation daily.

●      Implement Brief Departures: practice short departures and calm arrivals to reduce excitement around people coming and going.

How ThunderEase® Can Help

Additionally, dog calming pheromones, like ThunderEase® are great options to help dogs with situational stress. Dog calming pheromone diffusers, sprays, or collars are designed to mimic the dog-appeasing pheromone that nursing mother dogs naturally produce.

For routine changes such as kids going back to school, these products may help by:

●      Reducing stress from changes in the household: dogs often notice when family members suddenly leave at different times or the house becomes quieter. A calming pheromone may help some dogs adjust more comfortably.

●      Easing mild signs of stress: some dogs may pace, whine, bark more, seem restless, or have trouble settling when routines change. Pheromones can help lessen these behaviors in some cases.

●      Providing continuous support: diffusers are often used in the room where the dog spends the most time, while collars or sprays can be useful if the dog needs calming in different environments.

If your dog develops severe separation stress, such as destructive behavior, attempts to escape, excessive drooling, or prolonged distress when left alone, it's a good idea to consult your veterinarian or a qualified veterinary behavior professional.