6 Ways To Help Your Dog Adjust To Life Changes
By Editor
It takes everyone time to adjust to life changes, including your dog. If you’ve recently started a new job, moved, or changed your household’s schedule, chances are Fido is feeling confused or anxious about what’s going on. Help reduce their anxiety and adjust faster by following these tips.
If a family member has recently moved away or stopped living with you, you may be tempted to give your dog a “break” and ease up on some rules. However, dogs thrive on structure and routine, so changing their schedule or house rules may only add to their confusion. Instead, stick with your normal expectations and routine. The normalcy of having the same walking and feeding times will help your pup adapt to changes more quickly. If you’re changing your dog’s routine, follow the tip above and do it slowly. Once you’ve introduced the change, be consistent with the new schedule.The more consistent you are, the faster your dog will learn what you expect from them.
Just as exercise can help humans deal with difficult times, it’s a great stress reliever for dogs, too. Try taking more or longer walks with your dog to help her work out some anxiety. If walks are stressful for you two, try out a Freedom No-Pull Harness. Training your dog to not pull on walks will help both of you enjoy the full benefits of the exercise.
Ease Into The Change
Sudden changes can be stressful for dogs, so try to slowly adjust to your new schedule. For example, if your family has been spending more time at home and you’re getting ready to go back to your typical school or work schedule, practice leaving the house for a few hours each day. Slowly build up to a full day so your dog can become acclimated to being alone more often.Be Consistent
If a family member has recently moved away or stopped living with you, you may be tempted to give your dog a “break” and ease up on some rules. However, dogs thrive on structure and routine, so changing their schedule or house rules may only add to their confusion. Instead, stick with your normal expectations and routine. The normalcy of having the same walking and feeding times will help your pup adapt to changes more quickly. If you’re changing your dog’s routine, follow the tip above and do it slowly. Once you’ve introduced the change, be consistent with the new schedule.The more consistent you are, the faster your dog will learn what you expect from them.
Take More Walks
Just as exercise can help humans deal with difficult times, it’s a great stress reliever for dogs, too. Try taking more or longer walks with your dog to help her work out some anxiety. If walks are stressful for you two, try out a Freedom No-Pull Harness. Training your dog to not pull on walks will help both of you enjoy the full benefits of the exercise.
