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For many dogs, back-to-school season means spending more time home alone as family schedules shift. But schedule changes don’t have to leave your dog feeling isolated. With some planning and creativity, you can include your dog in many back-to-school activities while helping them adjust to a new routine.
In This Article
Making your dog part of everyday school-season routines can improve their quality of life, provide valuable enrichment, and reduce stress and anxiety. Small changes can help your dog stay mentally engaged, physically active, and connected to the family during this transition.
Why Dogs Need Extra Enrichment During the School Year
With fewer opportunities for activity and interaction, dogs are more likely to become bored, which can lead to stress-related behaviors, including chewing, digging, and excessive barking.
Making the most of the time you spend with your dog during is especially important during periods of change. Physical exercise and mental stimulation help dogs feel more confident, engaged, and relaxed. A well-exercised dog is generally less likely to develop destructive habits and may cope better with schedule changes.
Get Kids Involved With Dog Training
Homework time can become an opportunity for family bonding and dog training, giving kids a chance to use the skills they’re learning in school to help you train the family dog.
Younger children can practice counting by measuring treats for training sessions or counting repetitions of a specific cue. This allows them to strengthen their math skills while participating in their dog’s training.
Older children can take on a more active role. Consider providing a dog training book with step-by-step instructions for teaching tricks or new behaviors. Ask your child to read directions aloud while you work with your dog, or allow them to teach the skill themselves under your supervision.
Children who enjoy training may also want to earn Trick Dog titles with their dog, create DIY enrichment activities, explore dog sports, or get involved in Junior Showmanship.
Turn Bus Stop Trips Into Exercise Opportunities
If you walk your kids to school or the bus stop, consider bringing your dog along! Regular walks are an excellent form of exercise for dogs of all ages and breeds. They help maintain muscle tone, support overall physical health, and provide valuable mental stimulation.
Before heading to the bus stop, gather a few essentials:
- A 6-foot leash to keep your dog close and under control
- Poop bags
- Treats
You can use these walks as informal training sessions. Each time your dog looks at you, say “yes” as a verbal marker and reward them with a treat. This helps teach your dog that paying attention to you is rewarding, even in distracting environments.
As your dog progresses, you can practice the “watch me” cue. to help them focus around other families, children, and activity. You can use bus stop walks to reinforce loose leash walking skills too. If your dog is still learning, leave extra time so you can pause and allow them to reorient to you rather than pulling ahead.
These short daily outings can add meaningful exercise and enrichment to your dog’s routine. If you’re interested in tracking fitness goals, consider participating in AKC FIT DOG activities and titles.
Encourage Reading Practice With Your Dog
Research has shown that reading to a dog can help improve confidence and literacy levels in young readers. For children who are learning to read or may feel hesitant about reading aloud, a dog can provide a supportive, nonjudgmental audience.
Dogs can also benefit from these sessions as well. While your child reads, you can work on calm behaviors and impulse control. Use reading time to practice cues such as “go to your place” and “stay.”
By pairing reading practice with positive reinforcement, both your child and your dog can build valuable skills together.
Bring Your Dog to Sports Practices When Appropriate
Many fall sports take place at parks or athletic fields where you can bring your dog. Bringing your dog to practices can create additional opportunities for socialization, training, and enrichment.
Use these busy environments to reinforce skills such as “watch me” and basic obedience around distractions. If other families bring their dogs, parents can even organize informal training sessions while the children participate in sports.
When attending practices, keep your dog on a 6-foot leash and bring plenty of small training treats. Reward not only completed cues but also calm behavior and focus. Remember that successful outings require your attention. If you know you’ll be focused entirely on an important game or event, it may be better to leave your dog home that day.
Use the Season as a Training Reset
Back-to-school season is a natural time for families to establish new habits and routines. It can also be a perfect opportunity to renew your commitment to training with your dog.
This could mean enrolling in a training class, exploring a new dog sport such as agility, AKC Rally, or AKC Scent Work, or working toward the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title. Even a few minutes of obedience practice each day can make a difference.
You can also incorporate training into existing routines. For example, reward your dog for going to their “place” while your kids are doing homework. Teaching your dog how to settle during busy family activities can help everyone stay focused.
Enrichment tools can also help. Snuffle mats encourage dogs to engage their natural sniffing and foraging instincts as they search for hidden treats or food. These activities can provide mental stimulation, reduce boredom, and can help lower stress levels. Giving your dog opportunities to use both their brain and nose is a great way to keep them engaged during homework or indoor family time.
Strengthen Your Bond During Seasonal Changes
Back-to-school schedule changes can be challenging for our dogs, especially when they involve more time alone. Fortunately, dogs are highly adaptable when you meet their physical and emotional needs.
By intentionally including your dog in family activities, you can provide exercise, enrichment, training opportunities, and companionship. These shared experiences strengthen your bond with your dog while helping them navigate changing routines with confidence.
Key Takeaways
- Back-to-school season often means dogs spend more time alone and may need additional enrichment.
- Including dogs in homework time, walks, and family activities can reduce boredom and stress.
- Bus stop walks provide valuable exercise, mental stimulation, and training opportunities.
- Reading sessions and sports practices can help reinforce calm behavior and obedience skills.
- Back-to-school routines offer an ideal opportunity to establish new training and enrichment habits.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How can I keep my dog from getting bored when school starts?
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Provide a combination of physical exercise, training sessions, enrichment activities, and family interaction. Walks, snuffle mats, obedience practice, and involving your dog in daily routines can help reduce boredom.
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Is it helpful for children to train the family dog?
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Yes. With adult supervision, children can participate in training sessions, practice reading instructions, teach simple skills, and even work toward activities such as Trick Dog titles or Junior Showmanship.
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Can reading to a dog really help children?
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Research suggests that reading to a dog can improve confidence and literacy skills because dogs provide a calm, nonjudgmental audience for young readers.