After a summer without textbooks and homework, children often find it difficult to return to the classroom.  They’ve spent their summer break relaxing with friends and family.  Many children spend time romping and playing with their family dog, making the transition back to school hard for the furry members of the family too.

When kids go back to class, the family dog is suddenly left alone trying to figure out what to do with all his or her new found time.  An abrupt change in anyone’s schedule is bound to lead to big problems, and for animals it often manifests itself in the form of separation anxiety.  Symptoms of separation anxiety include digging and scratching at doors and windows, destructive chewing and howling, barking or whining.

Dogs love and thrive with routine. With a little understanding and preparation, families can avoid many of the back-to-school behavior issues their dog might exhibit.

To avoid separation anxiety, down play your arrivals and departures. As the family prepares to leave, do not interact with the dog for a minimum of 15 minutes prior to exiting the house.  Explain to the kids that it will be less stressful for their companion if they depart calmly without commotion. Additionally, upon returning home, do not engage your furry friend for the first five to 10 minutes after you enter your home.  This can be especially tough on children who may have really missed their canine companion while they were at school.

It doesn’t take much to entertain a dog even when you’re not home. To prevent boredom, provide your pet with toys like a KONG, Buster Cube or Tug-a-Jug.  Rotate toys every several days to keep your dog engaged. Scatter a variety of pet treats around the house such as bits of raw vegetables, kibble or Pup-Peroni before you leave to keep your pet occupied while you are gone.

Set a schedule for regular exercise for your pet.  Make sure to exercise your dog before leaving your canine companion home alone.  After you come home for the day, try establishing a new family tradition. Ditch the computers and television and take a family walk together.  The kids can talk about their day, the parents will enjoy the stroll, and the family dog will be reassured that he or she has not been forgotten!

The Jacksonville Humane Society has many great programs for your canine family member including “Tiny Tots” classes for puppies, as well as “Dog Manners” classes for canines of all ages.  Visit www.jaxhumane.org for more information on classes forming soon.

Spaying and neutering your pets is important to reduce the over-population of animals.  Every year, hundreds of thousands of animals end up homeless, and many of those pets end up in shelters.  In order to reduce the numbers of stray and unwanted animals, it is vital to spay and neuter your pets so they do not reproduce.

Additionally, pets that are not spayed and neutered face a higher risk of developing a variety of health problems.  With each heat, unspayed females are more likely to suffer from mammary cancer, and they are more prone to ovarian and uterine cancers.  Unspayed females are also more susceptible to infections of the uterus.  Unneutered males have a greater risk of testicular cancer and prostrate problems. 

Pets that are not fixed are also more likely to roam searching for a partner, so owners risk losing their animals and animals risk getting injured.  They also may “spray” or mark their territory with urine to set boundaries.  Many pets that are not spayed or neutered are also more likely to suffer from behavior problems, including aggression.

There are a number of low-cost clinics where pet owners can have their dog or cat spayed or neutered across the country.  Please contact your local Humane Society or ASPCA for more information on low-cost veterinary clinics in your area.