Make Back-to-School Time Easier for Your Dog

Feed your dog a meal shortly before the longest stretch of time he'll spend alone. Before feeding, it's also a good idea to take him for a walk. After the meal and the exercise, your dog will probably take a nap while he's alone in the house, making him feel like he's spending less time alone. Also, leave a food puzzle for him to tackle while you're away — the distraction will help give him something to focus on to pass the time.

Give your dog a special toy that's safe for him to have while spending the day alone. He'll have something to focus on and keep him distracted. One great way to keep him occupied is to stuff some peanut butter into a Kong toy — his quest for the treat will keep him busy, active and happy. Especially when he gets to the peanut butter!

Of course, a cuddly dog is wonderful, but it's not helpful when it's time for you to leave. If your dog is overly clingy, encourage him to become more independent by practicing "down-stays," where he lies down, and stays down, on command. Work your way up to longer periods of time with you on one side of the room and your dog on the other (maybe while you watch TV), and be sure to praise your dog for staying.

Extra walks and more scheduled playtime can help your dog burn off some of his extra energy and can also keep him entertained and better behaved.

It's a good idea to keep entrances and exits low-key. When you leave the house, give the dog his special toy, and just calmly go. When you get back, tell your dog to sit, quickly commend him for doing so and then ignore him completely for 10 minutes. It will be tough at first, but he'll get used to the routine. After that, you or your kids can have fun and play with the dog.