The Fall Schedule Shuffle: What Happens to Your Dog When Everybody Gets Busy?

Summer has a rhythm all its own.

The kids are home more. Vacations may mean the whole family is together. Days are longer, evenings are slower, and there always seems to be somebody coming in or going out of the house.

Then fall arrives.

Suddenly, the alarm clock is going off early again. Kids are back in school. Football and soccer practices fill the afternoons. Friday nights are spent at games. Weekends bring tournaments, fall festivals and quick getaways. Before long, we're adding Thanksgiving plans and holiday shopping to the mix.

For us, it's simply the fall schedule shuffle.

But have you ever thought about what that change looks like to your dog?

“Where Did Everybody Go?”

Dogs are creatures of routine, and many of them become very accustomed to the patterns in their household.

During summer, your dog may have gotten used to the kids being around during the day, extra trips outside, someone tossing a ball in the yard, more attention or simply having another person nearby while they nap.

Then one morning, everybody disappears.

The kids go back to school. Mom and Dad head to work. After work, somebody grabs the soccer bag and heads right back out the door.

Your dog doesn't understand that football season started or that you have three places to be before 7 p.m. He just knows that the house suddenly got a whole lot quieter.

For some dogs, that's no big deal. They happily stretch across the couch and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Others have a harder time adjusting.

Bored Dogs Find Their Own Entertainment

A dog with extra energy and not enough to do will eventually find something to occupy his time.

Unfortunately, his idea of entertainment may not be yours.

That can mean digging in the yard, barking at everything that moves, chewing something he shouldn't, getting into the trash or greeting you at the door with enough pent-up energy to power a small city.

Sometimes behavior that looks like a dog suddenly “being bad” is really a dog saying:

I'm bored. I'm lonely. I need something to do.

And after spending eight or ten hours waiting for you to come home, your dog doesn't particularly care that you've already spent two hours sitting on bleachers at a football game.

He's been waiting ALL DAY.

Even Social Dogs Can Get Lonely

Dogs don't necessarily need constant entertainment, and it's perfectly normal for them to spend part of the day resting.

But there's a difference between healthy downtime and suddenly spending much more time alone than they're accustomed to.

Some dogs handle changes in routine better than others. Younger dogs and high-energy breeds may especially benefit from additional physical activity and mental stimulation. Even older dogs may simply enjoy getting out of the house and having a change of scenery.

The solution doesn't have to be complicated.

A morning walk, some backyard play, a food puzzle, a game of fetch or taking your dog along when appropriate can make a difference.

And on those especially hectic days, daycare can be another option.

Instead of spending the entire day waiting for everybody to come home, your dog gets an outing of his own.

Your Dog Can Have Plans, Too

We sometimes joke about dogs having their own social calendars, but there's actually something nice about looking at it that way.

Kids have soccer practice? Your dog can have a daycare day.

You're spending Saturday at a tournament? Maybe your pup could use some playtime before or after.

Heading out of town for a fall weekend? Get the boarding reservation handled ahead of time.

Holiday shopping day planned? Let your dog burn off some energy while you get things done.

It doesn't have to be every day.

Sometimes one or two outings during a particularly busy week can give a dog some extra exercise, stimulation and social time while making life easier for the humans, too.

Don't Forget What's Coming Next

Fall seems to fly by.

One minute we're talking about football and pumpkin patches, and the next we're making Thanksgiving dinner and wondering how Christmas is only four weeks away.

If you already know you'll be traveling during fall break, Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's, don't wait until the last minute to think about your dog's plans.

The same goes for grooming. Cooler weather, holiday gatherings, family pictures and visiting relatives tend to make grooming calendars busy, too.

Getting those dates reserved early means one less thing to worry about when your own calendar starts filling up.

A Busy Family Doesn't Have to Mean a Bored Dog

Fall is one of our favorite times of year. The weather finally starts cooling down, football is back, the holidays are around the corner and there's always something going on.

But while our schedules change, our dogs are still waiting for their walks, their playtime and—most importantly—their people.

So during the fall schedule shuffle, take a minute to look at the calendar from your dog's point of view.

If there are a few days when everyone is going in different directions, give your pup something to look forward to, too.

And whenever you need us, Ruby's K-9 Corral is here for boarding, daycare and grooming to help make this busy season a little easier for both you and your dog.

Happy Fall from all of us at Ruby's K-9 Corral! 🍂🐾