Does Your Dog Have the End-of-Summer Blues?
September 1st, 2010
This week, I’m thinking less about dog training per se than in performing some proactive behavioral maintenance. That’s because I know that my Golden Retriever, Allie, is going to get her heart broken in a few days. The reason: my 21-year-old daughter is heading back to college for her senior year. Julie and Allie have had a love fest going on all summer, particularly when my husband and I were out of town and Julie was on dog-sitting detail.
Allie’s plight is probably similar to that of a lot of dogs at this time of year. They’ve had all summer to hang around with more members of the family, and may even have had the opportunity to do some traveling (for example, First Dog Bo Obama). But now, with Labor Day imminent, the kids are or will soon be back at school and adults are heading back to the work day grind. Consequently, left-behind canine family members may find their houses awfully quiet and themselves feeling lonely.
Lonely dogs can get into a lot of trouble. From non-stop barking to destructiveness to appetite loss, a depressed dog can find no end of not-so-great ways to try to deal with his unhappiness. That said, the proactive pet parent can do a lot to stop these problems before they start. Here’s how:
Transfer tasks. If the kids have been handling a lot of dog care tasks that they won’t be able to continue during the school year (or won’t be around at all), start taking over at least some of those tasks now. That way, your dog will be used to having you as his main caregiver by the time his summer caregivers head back to the classroom.
Go to school. Just because the kids are headed back to school doesn’t mean that your dog can’t go to school, too. Consider signing up the two of you for a good manners refresher or advanced class. Another option: train your dog in a new sport or activity. To find a dog-friendly trainer, check out this link. If you don’t want to or can’t take your dog to a class, at least consider teaching him a new trick or behavior.
Up his exercise. Trainers will tell you ad infinitum that a tired dog is a good dog—because it’s true. By giving your dog solid, consistent aerobic exercise, or at least lengthening his walks and playing with him indoors, you can keep his mind off the people he’s missing.
Be vigilant. Some symptoms that appear to be signs of doggie depression may really be signs that your dog is sick. This is especially true of appetite loss. If your dog suddenly loses interest in eating and doesn’t regain it in a day or two, put in a call to your vet.
I’m already trying to play with Allie more during the day and take her for longer walks first thing in the morning and last thing at night, and also am trying to select a couple of new tricks to teach her. In any case, I’ll be right there to console Allie when my daughter departs. After all, I’m going to miss her as much, if not more, than Allie will.
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Susan McCullough has been a professional writer for 30-plus years, but didn't start focusing on dogs until 1996, when an overzealous Sheltie attacked and shredded a message that had been faxed to Susan's office. Instead of merely telling the sender "My dog ate your fax," Susan decided to see seek expert advice about how to share an office with one's animal companion. She turned that advice into an article for a national pet magazine, and she's been writing about dog behavior and care ever since.
