Summer Holidays Ending? Helping Your Pet Adjust to Routine and Time Alone
- 21 hours ago
- 10 min read
And just like that, the summer holidays are coming to an end.
Families across North West London are getting back to school runs, earlier mornings, work schedules and all those familiar everyday routines.
But while we're finding school shoes, setting alarms and remembering what needs to go into everyone's bags, our pets are experiencing a change too.
For weeks, many dogs and cats have had more people at home, more attention and perhaps a rather different daily routine. Now, quite suddenly, the house may be much quieter.
Most pets will take this change in their stride. Some cats may even be secretly delighted to have their favourite sleeping spot to themselves again! Others may need a little more help, particularly dogs who find being left alone difficult.
And if the return to routine has arrived rather suddenly, don't worry. There are still plenty of gentle, practical things you can do to help your pet adjust over the coming days.
Contents
Why Can Going Back to School Affect Our Pets?
Dogs and cats become very familiar with the rhythm of family life.
They know when breakfast appears, which shoes mean "walkies", when the children normally come home and when everyone settles down for the evening.
Then the summer holidays arrive and everything changes.
Perhaps your dog has spent weeks following the children from room to room, with someone nearly always available for a cuddle, game or trip to the park. Your cat may have become used to extra attention or simply having a busier household around them.
Now everyone is heading out again.
Our pets don't understand school holidays or September schedules. They simply know that the people who have been around for weeks suddenly aren't there as much.
For many pets, this won't be a problem. For others, the quieter house and change in routine can take some getting used to.
Signs Your Pet May Be Struggling
You might notice your dog becoming more clingy, following you around the house or becoming unsettled when you pick up your keys or put on your coat.
When left alone, signs of distress can include:
Barking, whining or howling
Pacing or difficulty settling
Panting or excessive drooling
Scratching or chewing doors and windows
Destructive behaviour
Toileting indoors
Trying to escape
Refusing favourite treats or food
A pet camera can sometimes be useful. You may discover that your dog has a quick look around and then curls up for a snooze. Or you may see them becoming increasingly unsettled once you've gone.
Cats may show stress differently, perhaps hiding more, becoming unusually vocal, overgrooming, seeming irritable or changing their eating or toileting habits.
Remember that behavioural changes aren't always caused by anxiety. Pain and illness can change behaviour too, so persistent or unusual changes are worth discussing with your vet.
Helping Your Pet Settle Back Into Routine
Perhaps you meant to prepare your pet gradually for September, but somehow the first day back has already arrived.
That's very normal. Family life is busy.
Rather than worrying about what you didn't do beforehand, focus on what you can do now.
Bring Back Some Predictability
Try to establish a familiar pattern for meals, walks, play, rest and bedtime.
Life doesn't need to run precisely to the clock. What matters is giving your pet some idea of what to expect from their day.
For example, if your dog's leisurely 11am summer walk is no longer possible, establish a new morning walking routine that fits around school and work.
Consistency over the next week or two can help your pet find their new rhythm.
Practice Comfortable Time Apart
If your dog is already comfortable being left for short periods, you can gently practise manageable periods alone.
The important point is to work within what your dog can currently cope with and, where possible, return before they become distressed.
For example, if your dog settles happily for ten minutes but becomes anxious after fifteen, repeatedly leaving them for an hour isn't likely to teach them that being alone is safe.
Keep the practice within a comfortable period and build up gradually.
If your dog becomes distressed almost immediately, however, this is different. We'll come back to separation anxiety shortly.
Keep Departures Calm and Normal
We all know how tempting it is to give our pets an enormous goodbye.
But lots of excitement around leaving can make the moment feel like an even bigger event.
Aim for calm, ordinary departures and returns.
You can still enjoy that wonderful wagging-tail welcome when you come home. We're certainly not suggesting you ignore your dog! Simply try to make people coming and going feel like a normal part of family life.
Create a Comfortable Place to Settle
Think about where your pet naturally chooses to relax.
Provide comfortable bedding, fresh water and appropriate toys or enrichment.
If your dog spends their time watching the window and barking at every delivery van, closing the curtains or moving their bed somewhere quieter may help them settle.
Cats benefit from choice too. Make sure they have somewhere comfortable to sleep, somewhere to hide, scratching opportunities and elevated places where they can watch the world from a safe distance.
Add Some Gentle Enrichment
For pets who are comfortable eating when alone, a food puzzle, stuffed food toy, lick mat or some of their normal food hidden for them to find can make quiet periods more interesting.
Include any food used for enrichment within their normal daily allowance, and only leave items you know are safe for your individual pet when unsupervised.
It's also worth noticing if your normally food-obsessed dog suddenly won't touch their favourite treat when you leave.
Some anxious dogs are simply too distressed to eat.
Make Time for Sniffing and Exercise
A morning walk can be a lovely way to begin the new routine.
It isn't simply about tiring your dog out before you leave. Having time to sniff, explore and investigate their surroundings provides valuable mental stimulation too.
If possible, allow a little quiet time at home afterwards so your dog can settle before everyone heads out.
Could a Dog Walker Help?
For some families, a trusted dog walker can be a wonderful addition to the new routine.
A walk or visit during the day can provide company, exercise and enrichment while breaking up a longer period at home.
But finding the right walker for your dog matters, and safety should always come before convenience.
The perfect walker for your neighbours sociable Labrador may not be right for your nervous rescue dog, elderly Spaniel or excitable young puppy. Equally, not every dog is comfortable or safe in a large group, however friendly they may be at home.
Before choosing a dog walker, ask:
Are they appropriately insured? Ask what their insurance covers, including walking, transport and care of dogs where relevant.
Do they have canine first-aid training? They should know how to respond if your dog becomes ill or injured.
How many dogs do they walk at once? Large groups can be difficult to manage safely. Ask how many dogs one person is responsible for and whether that arrangement suits your dog.
How are dogs matched? Dogs shouldn't simply be grouped together because they're available at the same time. Temperament, age, confidence, play style and recall all need consideration.
How are dogs transported? If your dog travels in a vehicle, ask how they are safely secured, whether the vehicle is appropriately ventilated and how long they may spend inside it.
Will your dog be let off the lead? Make your wishes very clear. A walker should never let your dog off lead without your agreement and without being confident that it is safe and appropriate.
What happens in an emergency? Your walker should have your contact details, your vet's details and a clear plan for illness, injury or a dog going missing.
Do they use kind, reward-based handling? Ask how they manage pulling, fear, barking or disagreements between dogs. Avoid anyone using methods that frighten or hurt your dog.
Can you meet first? Ideally, you and your dog should meet the walker before the first solo or group walk.
Before handing over the lead, make sure your walker also knows about any medical conditions, allergies, medications, behavioural concerns or situations that may frighten or trigger your dog.
It's also sensible to check that your dog's microchip details are up to date and that they are wearing the identification required when out in public.
And don't be afraid to set clear boundaries.
If you don't want your dog walked off lead, transported with several unfamiliar dogs or included in a large group, say so. A professional walker should respect those decisions.
It's also worth asking what a "one-hour walk" actually means. Is that an hour your dog spends walking and exploring, or does it include collecting other dogs and travelling?
Most importantly, consider the dog in front of you.
Some dogs thrive on sociable group walks. Others are far happier with individual attention or a small, carefully matched group. A nervous, reactive, elderly or very young dog may have quite different needs from a confident adult dog.
A good walker should want to know about your dog's personality and behaviour, not just their name and where the lead is kept.
Once walks begin, pay attention to how your dog responds too. A dog may naturally be tired after an enjoyable walk, but repeatedly coming home extremely stressed, frightened, injured or becoming unusually reluctant to leave with their walker deserves attention.
For dogs with separation anxiety, a dog walker should be considered part of the support plan rather than a treatment for the anxiety itself.
If your dog starts panicking as soon as you leave at 8.30am, a dog walker arriving at midday still leaves them distressed for several hours.
That's when we need to address the underlying anxiety too.
A good dog walker can become a trusted and much-loved part of your dog's life. Taking a little extra time to choose someone who puts safety, welfare and your individual dog's needs first is well worth it.
Supporting Dogs with Separation Anxiety
There is an important difference between a dog who is simply adjusting to a quieter house and one who is genuinely distressed by being left alone.
A dog who is a little bored may look for something to do and then settle down.
A dog experiencing separation-related anxiety, however, may become increasingly distressed or even panic when they realise they are going to be left.
Sometimes the anxiety starts before you've even gone.
Picking up your keys, putting on your work shoes or reaching for your coat can be enough to make some dogs start pacing, panting or following you closely.
Once alone, you might see:
Persistent barking or howling
Pacing and an inability to settle
Panting or excessive drooling
Scratching or chewing around exits
Toileting indoors
Refusing food
Destructive behaviour
Attempts to escape
These behaviours aren't your dog being naughty, stubborn or trying to punish you for leaving.
They may be signs that your dog simply isn't coping.
What Should You Do?
If your dog is comfortable being alone for short periods, you can gently practise leaving them for manageable amounts of time.
The key is to work within what your dog can currently cope with, ideally returning before they become anxious rather than waiting until they are already distressed.
A pet camera can be particularly helpful here. It allows you to see whether your dog settles down for a snooze or starts showing more subtle signs of anxiety after you've gone.
However, if your dog becomes distressed almost immediately, panics, tries to escape or cannot cope with even very short absences, please don't keep leaving them for longer in the hope that they will eventually "get used to it".
Speak to your vet.
Your vet can consider whether pain or another medical problem could be contributing to the behaviour and discuss the most appropriate support. For some dogs, this may include help from a suitably qualified clinical animal behaviourist.
Managing Everyday Life While You Get Help
Of course, knowing that your dog struggles to be left doesn't make work, school runs and everyday commitments disappear.
Where practical, try to avoid leaving a dog for longer than they can currently cope with while you're working on the problem.
Depending on your circumstances, that might mean temporarily asking a family member or friend to help, adjusting working arrangements where possible, using suitable pet care or arranging a dog walker at a time that genuinely meets your dog's needs.
This doesn't treat the separation anxiety by itself, but it can help reduce repeated periods of distress while you put appropriate support in place.
Please Don't Punish Anxiety
If you come home to a chewed doorframe, an accident on the floor or complaints that your dog has been barking, telling them off won't teach them how to cope differently next time.
If anxiety is behind the behaviour, punishment may simply add to their stress.
Our aim isn't just to make a dog tolerate being alone.
We want to help them feel safe and comfortable when we aren't there.
For some dogs that will happen relatively quickly. For others, it takes time, patience and professional support.
And What About Cats?
Cats can be affected by changing household routines too.
Some may be rather pleased when everyone returns to school and they get their quiet daytime naps back! Others will miss the additional company and stimulation.
Try to maintain a few predictable moments of interaction, perhaps a short play session before breakfast or their usual cuddle when everyone gets home.
Indoor cats particularly benefit from opportunities to climb, scratch, hide, play and explore.
If your cat's eating, drinking, grooming, toileting or general behaviour changes noticeably, speak to your vet rather than assuming it's simply the change in routine.
When to Ask Your Vet for Help
A short adjustment period after the holidays is understandable. Significant separation-related distress, however, shouldn't simply be ignored in the hope that your pet will eventually get over it.
Please speak to your vet if your dog is persistently:
Barking or howling when left
Panting or drooling excessively
Unable to settle
Destructive, particularly around doors or windows
Toileting when left alone
Trying to escape
Showing signs of panic or severe distress
It's also worth seeking help if your family is organising everyday life around never leaving your dog because you know how distressed they become.
Your vet can check for medical problems that might be contributing to behavioural changes and discuss the most appropriate support.
The earlier we recognise that a pet is struggling, the sooner we can start supporting them.
Finding Our Everyday Rhythm Again
September is a time of adjustment for the whole family.
School bags come back out, alarms start ringing earlier and our familiar routines begin again.
Our pets are adjusting too.
For most dogs and cats, the transition will be straightforward. Others may need a little more patience, particularly after enjoying weeks of having their favourite people nearby.
Keep routines predictable, introduce time alone gradually if your pet is comfortable with it, and listen to what their behaviour is telling you.
If you'll be away for longer periods, a carefully chosen dog walker may also become a much-loved part of your dog's day. Take the time to find someone who puts your dog's safety, comfort and individual needs first.
Most importantly, don't feel you have to wait until separation anxiety becomes severe before asking for advice.
If you're worried about how your dog or cat is coping with the return to routine, please get in touch with us at Roundwood Vets in North West London. We're always happy to help you work out the best next steps for your individual pet and make the transition back to everyday life a little gentler for everyone.
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