Housebound Dogs by Paula Kephart Page A

cheerful. Don’t overwhelm your dog with affection; she’ll sense your anxiety about leaving. Give her a “transition treat” — a biscuit or toy to chew on as you leave. A transition treat gives the dog something pleasant to associate with your departure.
    Save the Chow for Later
    Don’t worry about feeding your dog during your midday visit. There’s not enough time for him to eat. Besides, if you leave him with a full stomach, he’ll soon have to relieve himself — and you won’t be there to take him outside. Dogs need to be fed only twice a day. Make mealtimes part of your morning and evening routines.
Arrange for a Pet Sitter
    Dog walking has become a professional business. In most urban and suburban areas, you can find someone who, for a small fee, will visit your dog during the day, take her out for a quick walk, and spend a few moments giving her some loving affection. Twenty to 30 minutes of human companionship will go a long way toward making your dog’s time alone much more tolerable. Even if you can arrange some kind care for your dog only a couple of times a week, she is better off than before.
    If you can’t locate a professional pet sitter, perhaps you can find a responsible teenager who would be willing to take on the task. Or perhaps you can trade services instead of paying. For example, you watcha friend’s dog or her kids on your days off, and she does the same for you in her free time. Or you can clean a neighbor’s house a couple of times a month, mow her lawn, run errands, or do whatever small chores she’d like to have done in exchange for stopping in regularly to visit your dog and let her out of the house for a few minutes.
Put Your Dog in Day Care
    If you can’t give your dog some company during the day, perhaps you can bring him to the company. Doggie day cares are gaining popularity across the country and are available in many communities. If you haven’t heard of any in your area, ask your vet or your local humane society for recommendations.
    Doggie day care functions much like child or elder day care. You drop off your pet on the way to work and pick him up on your way home. During the day the dogs are exercised and fed, have some playtime with each other, and sometimes even get some training. When looking into this option, treat it just as you would day care for a human family member. Ask for and check references. Take your dog to visit the center. Spend an hour or two observing the routines and how the dogs are handled.
    Inspect where the dogs eat, sleep, exercise, and relieve themselves. Does everything appear clean? Do the dogs have enough space in their personal kennels and in larger play areas?
    Talk to the owner of the center and to staff members. What is their philosophy of dog care, discipline, and training? If it is very different from yours, the center will not be a good solution for you and your dog.
    Ask the staff if you are allowed to bring personal items from home for your dog. Can you bring a comfortable mat for him to sleep on? What about a couple of his favorite toys or chew items?
    Observe the dogs at the center. Are they sociable with staff, visitors, and the other dogs? Do they seem cheerful, relaxed, and otherwise enjoying themselves? Or are they edgy and wary of the staff?
    Are the dogs allowed to mingle and play with each other, or are they kept isolated and confined in crates or cages?
    Trust your instincts and your dog’s, even if the center’s owner presents himself as the expert. If the center’s methods are contrary to your good sense or if your dog seems uncomfortable with the staff, don’t leave your dog there. Do not leave your dog at a center that uses physical discipline, such as hitting or choke collars, or that keeps the dogs isolated in cages for most of the day. You do not want to put your pet in that kind of situation. Even one incident of abuse can traumatize him enough to