It’s August, which means it’s officially back to school season! For many young pet owners, this can mean more time spent away from furry friends. We know it can be hard to navigate this change, so we’ve come up with a couple ways to slowly get your pet ready for this back to school season.
First, you want to prepare the environment. Choose a safe zone for your pet. This can be a crate, a pen, or a room. Make sure it’s comfortable for them, and providing meals or toys in this area can help. You can also play calming, background music or white noise to relax your pet.
You'll next want to desensitize departure cues. This prevents your pet from stressing out at any sign of you leaving. At random times throughout the day, pick up your keys, touch the door handles, or put on your shoes, but don’t actually leave. This will make your pet comfortable with these departure cues. You should repeat this until they no longer show any signs of stress. You can also practicie leaving them behind while still in the house, such as closing a room or bathroom door while they’re on the other side.
And finally, gradually build up their alone time. It's shocking for then to suddenly be left alone. Step outside for a couple of seconds, then build up that time. Change up the length of your absences, such as running a quick errand one day and being gone longer the next. This will have your pet thinking that you'll be gone for a few hours and then return. And upon your return, avoid making an emotional fuss. Calmly greet them to relax them.
We hope you try these tips and have success with your fur-baby. Let us know in the comments if there are tricks you've done to help your pet feel better at home alone.