By Natalie Lester, Brand Marketing Specialist 
Your kids and pets have had a great summer together, but now it's time for the human children to go back to school, and the furry friends may do some extra "talking" while they are gone. Here are our tips on how to stop your dog's barking.
August is here and for so many families, this means the summer is coming to an end and the school year is just around the corner. It seems programed into our minds, but our dogs don’t have that same planning mechanism. They don’t understand why the kids can’t just stay at home with them all day, every day, like they have been doing. Just as students going back to school will have to adjust to early morning alarms, dogs may have to adjust to spending more time alone at home during the day.
Don’t worry – there are still several ways you can keep your dog quiet and engaged while you are away. Here are a few of our ideas, and feel free to share your own in the comment section below!
1. Set up a Busy Buddy® scavenger hunt for your pet. When pets are playing, they are distracted from other things going on around them. Fido is much less likely to bark at the mail man or neighbor working in the garden if he is busy figuring out how to get the kibble out of his Magic Mushroom™ or chewing on his Busy Buddy Jack. Scatter a few of our toys in his favorite spots to keep him active throughout the day.
2. Take them on an early morning walk. Early morning alarms are tough enough, but getting up 30 minutes earlier can be really great for your pet. On the days I know I won’t be able to come home for lunch, I make sure to take Emma on at least a 20 minute walk to help her spend some of her energy. I can always tell a big difference when I get home.
3. Give them a Bark Control Collar. Sometimes, pets are really persistent. They think if they just keep barking, you will eventually come back and do what they want. A Bark Control Collar can help them remember to be quiet and learn that when they are good, you return much quicker than they thought. As life picks up again and your days are filled with work, errands, and running the kids all over town for ballet and soccer, you can be sure Fido is busy and happy right where he is. Just make sure he has a pet door and containment system so he can take care of business as usual outside.
Are you worried about your dog barking as summer ends and life gets a little bit busier? What do you plan to do to help him cope?
ABOUT NATALIE As the PetSafe® brand Marketing Specialist, Natalie manages The Paw Print blog and generates other brand related content including public relations and promotions. Before PetSafe, Natalie worked in the local media covering politics, education, and religion. Natalie’s puppy, Emma, spends almost as much time in the office as she does.
