Well, the start of this decade has certainly been… unique… It feels like we’re slowly getting back to normal (or the ‘new normal’) and many of us are finally returning to work (or preparing to). Depending what your job is, you may be jumping for joy or grumpily complaining as you get up early. However you feel about returning to work, we’re sure that many dogs are going to be confused and anxious with these changes. Today’s article is going to look into why dogs don’t like sudden changes, what can happen to stressed dogs, and how you can help your dog cope with the changes in routine.
Why Dogs Prefer Routine
Lockdown has probably been the best time for the nation’s dogs – humans at home 24/7 means playtime is all day! You can see why playtime ending might upset them. But is there a deeper reason for this?
Dogs are creatures of habit, and changes in routine can easily stress them out. They are happiest getting breakfast, dinner, walkies, naptime and bedtime at the same time every day. Clearly we can’t stick to a perfect routine every day, and dogs do not mind little changes here and there. However when there is a big change, such as their owner going from being indoors all day to being gone from 9-5, they can become stressed.
All dogs will struggle with big changes like these, but certain dogs may cope even worse with you going back to work. Certain breeds of dogs are known as ‘velcro dogs’, as they can’t stay away from their owners for very long at all. These dogs are bred to be around people all the time, so suddenly having to be alone for much of the day can be incredibly stressful. ‘Velcro dog’ breeds include Poodles, Golden Retrievers, Labradors, German Shepherds, Pugs and Vizlas. Individual dogs of different breeds may also be overly-attached and show similar levels of stress when you go back to work. Dogs like these are at a high risk of separation anxiety, which can make changes in routine even worse.
Sudden Routine Changes and Stress
Most people get a little stressed when something big changes in their life. Dogs are no different, and you having to go back to work will inevitably stress out your dog. For some dogs, this stress may be minimal and not an issue. However, in many, stress will lead to increased heart rate and breathing rate, dilated pupils, rapid blinking, pinned back ears, etc. You can be forgiven for not noticing these signs. However, if you do spot them as you leave for work, you should be wary that your dog is stressed.
Other dogs show stress in ways that are more obvious, and these are the signs owners worry about most. They may bark, salivate, pant, tremble, be destructive or fearful, have toileting accidents, groom excessively, be overly-attached when you leave or get home, etc. However, some of these signs can be confused for normal dog behaviour. Or they may not be shown until you have left the house. In the long term, stress can be even more destructive. Long-term chronic stress can lead to further behavioural issues, skin and coat disease, diarrhoea, weight loss, increased urination, and increased chance of infection.
Please do not underestimate stress in your dog; it can have a considerable effect short- and long-term. Bear in mind that if your dog is a ‘velcro dog’ or suffers from separation anxiety, the degree of stress can be even worse.
How to Help Your Dog Cope With the Changes in Routine
As you can see, most dogs will suffer some degree of stress as you start to head back to work. To help you prevent this, we have some tips below you may wish to follow.
Small Changes
To start with, we previously mentioned that dogs generally cope well with small changes. So we suggest using this fact to your advantage. For example, if you normally wake up and straight away feed or walk your dog, try and maintain this even if you have to get up earlier. To make this transition easier, before you return to work gradually get up 10-30 minutes earlier each day, and feed or walk them at this time. This will give your dog time to adjust slowly to the changes. You may find that morning walks are useful as your dog will be tired out, less energetic and less stressed as you are getting ready to leave. Of course, as humans don’t always cope well with changes of habit either. It will help reset your internal clock too!
For many, going back to work is a complete change of schedule. Changing not just when you leave the house, but your pet’s feeding, exercise, sleeping and play times as well. These should all be slowly adjusted too. To make these transitions easier, focus on altering one thing at a time, to avoid overly stressing out your dog. Start with the time you leave the house, as we showed in the previous paragraph. Then start gradually changing feeding, exercise and other schedules. You can’t go too slow when changing habits, so utilise all the free time you have left before going back to work.
Acting Fuss-Free
It is a good idea not to make a big fuss of new changes. If you give your dog lots of attention as you are leaving the house, your dog will think that it is a significant event. This can cause stress. Instead, in the 30 minutes or so before you leave your house and the 30 minutes after you arrive home, do your best not to give your dog attention. Say hello, but don’t go down for cuddles or a chat. Taking them to a quiet room to calm down alone works well. We realise this can be hard for devoted pet owners. However, it is important to separate big fusses from you entering or leaving the house. If you don’t make a fuss as you step in the door, your dog will realise that you coming home is not a time to become excited. You can make the transition easier too by combining our first two tips. If you are now leaving home an hour later than normal, give your dog one last fuss an hour before you leave. They will get the attention they want at a time they are used to.
Getting dogs used to their own company is important; using the quiet room mentioned above can be a great way to reduce separation anxiety. If you have space, create a nice, quiet stress-free environment for them to be by themselves. Fill it with toys and blankets they can occupy themselves with. In the weeks before you go back to work, at the time when you will leave to go to work, put them in their room for a few minutes before coming back. Increase this time slowly until they are happy staying on their own for long periods. You may find it helps your dogs cope with being home alone all day. As above, using this room when you come home can be a great way to distract your dog from excitement. If you do not have a spare room, using a stair gate to keep your dog secluded can work just as well.
Distractions
Instead of, or as well as, using a quiet room to distract your dog when you are coming and going, you can instead give them something nice to keep them occupied, so they don’t want to be too clingy. For example, if your dog has a favourite treat or toy, consider saving it for when you leave and enter the house, if they are well behaved. During the day, comforting noises such as radio, TV, or even recordings of your voice, can also help relax anxious pets. You should keep windows and curtains closed too, to avoid them seeing anything too exciting that could overly-stimulate them. For dogs with severe separation anxiety, you could even consider a dog-sitter.
Outside Help
You may unfortunately still struggle with your dog’s stress, even after our advice. It is important to keep trying, be consistent with training, and stay upbeat; your dog will appreciate you for it. Above all, never get angry with your dog, even if they show bad behaviour or cause damage while you are out. Remember, they will not associate the punishment with the bad behaviour, and it can just make them more stressed. Reward good behaviour, and ignore bad. If even this is not enough, you may want to consider talking to your vet for advice; for particularly anxious dogs, your vet may offer calming pheromone sprays, drugs for anxiety, or may even recommend a behavioural therapist.
Closing Thoughts
With all the talk of the ‘new normal’, it’s easy to forget that the last 7 months have already been a new normal for our dogs, but now it is starting to end. We’ve explained why this can be a problem and how it could negatively affect your dog, as well as some useful tips you can use to minimise your dog’s stress. Change in life is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean it has to be overly stressful. A little bit of planning really does go a long way when working to keep your dog’s stress low. Stay safe and make sure you give your dogs lots of cuddles (after you’ve left them to chill!).
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