From Summer Routine to School Routine: Helping your pup adjust to the new schedule

By Dr. Ruben Castro

Over the summer, you probably worked, went on vacation, took care of projects in and around your house, took your kids to various summer camps, and/or added a new member to your existing pack. While I am sure some people welcomed the addition of a new human to their pack, others welcomed a furry one. Whether we are students or educators, now that it is time to return to school, we do not have the time we had in the summer to care for our new puppy properly. So how do we do it? Here are six tips to help you care for your puppy while away from home.

Create a safe environment for your dog. You can use a corral, playpen, or kennel. If you have none of these, you can designate the end of a hallway, a half bathroom, or a laundry room for them to stay in while you are away. The use of a baby/doggie gate would be beneficial to help keep their living space limited. In my years of experience, a kennel is the best option because your dog cannot cause destruction when left alone. Make sure to take its collar off to avoid it getting caught in the kennel. The other options I mentioned still allow a puppy to chew on things while it is teething. Once a human is home, the puppy can be taken out and allowed to roam freely because you are there to supervise it and prevent it from causing mischief or going to the potty inside.

Clean up your home. Remove any items that could cause harm to your puppy. Also, if not left in a kennel, do not forget to remove or cover things your puppy could destroy.

Have the necessities available such as a teething toy or two. If your puppy is not potty trained, there should be nothing else in its kennel. Your puppy should not have access to food or water while you are away. Your house or apartment is likely climate controlled, so there is no need for your puppy to drink water while you are away because chances are high that it is sleeping in its kennel. Of course, when you are home, it can have access to food and water because you are there to provide the necessary potty breaks.

Schedule your puppy’s bathroom breaks. When puppies are 3-4 months, it is easier for them not to have an accident, considering they have no access to water or food. The reality is that a puppy that is younger than 12 weeks provides challenges to their owners because they are so young they cannot control their restroom urges. If you do not work too far from home, consider going home during your lunch time to go home and take your puppy out for a potty break. You can let it have a few sips of water, play with it, and then return it to its kennel before you return to work. This might sound cumbersome, but getting your puppy on a potty schedule is necessary. Remember, once your puppy hits the 4-month mark, it gets so much easier. When they hit the 8-month mark, they can go without a bathroom break for about 8 hours.

Schedule a dog walker or someone you trust to check on your dog if you cannot visit your puppy during the day. There are dog walking services you can take advantage of so they can take your dog out for a walk and provide mental stimulation, a time to stretch out their legs, and go to the bathroom.

Take your puppy to doggie daycare. Once your puppy has the appropriate vaccinations, you may consider taking them to a daycare where they can gain social skills, be entertained, and drain some energy. When you get home, you will receive a puppy that has been exercised and will lessen the likelihood of them giving you behavioral issues.

Returning to school is a difficult adjustment for everyone, but this can be challenging for your dog, especially when it is a puppy. Think about it. During the summer, your house was lively and had people in it, and then suddenly, it is now quiet, and your puppy is by himself. I hope these tips will help ease your puppy’s transition from their summer routine to a school routine. Don’t worry; hopefully, by the time Thanksgiving and Christmas arrive, you will have more time to bond with your puppy.

Dr. Castro is a proud Catholic who is a husband, father, and educator born and raised in the RGV. He is a graduate of Northcentral University with a doctorate in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership. He also holds a Master of Science in Sociology from the University of Texas-Pan American and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, with a minor in Psychology from the University of Texas-Pan American. Dr. Castro’s current research focuses on Education, Crime and Deviance, and Race and Ethnicity. He is also the owner of the K&B Dog Learning Cener, Inc. www.kbdoglearningcenter.com.