Your Kids Are Heading Back to School—Maybe Your Dog Should Too (Don’t Wait Before We Fill Up)

The backpacks are packed. The bus routes are posted. Your kids are heading back to school.

But while the house is getting quieter during the day, one family member might be feeling a little lost: your dog.

For many dogs, the back‑to‑school season means big changes in routine. And for you, it’s the perfect time to focus on your dog’s training, manners, and enrichment, before our schedule fills up for the season.

At Alaska Dog Works, we see a surge in training inquiries every August and September, right when families settle into their fall routines. If you’ve been thinking, “I’ll start training after summer,” you’re not alone, and that’s exactly why spots go fast this time of year.

Why Back‑to‑School Is the Perfect Time for Dog Training

1. The House Is Quieter, Perfect for Focus

When kids head back to school, your dog suddenly has fewer daytime distractions. This quieter environment makes it easier to:

Practice obedience without constant interruptions
Work on problem behaviors like jumping or barking
Introduce new training cues with less chaos around

For example, one of our recent clients, Jamie from Anchorage, started her Labrador’s obedience training in early September. Without the kids constantly running in and out, her dog was calmer and more attentive, making training progress much faster.

2. Avoid the “Post‑Summer Blues”

After months of summer fun, camping trips, barbecues, park playdates, dogs often experience a dip in excitement when the activity level slows. This can lead to:

Excessive barking
Destructive chewing
Digging or pacing
Clinginess or separation anxiety

Structured training provides mental stimulation and gives your dog a job to do. Instead of wondering where everyone went, your dog will be focused on learning, bonding, and building confidence.

3. Build Skills Before the Holidays

Fall is the perfect training runway before the busy holiday season. Starting now means your dog can:

Greet guests politely by Thanksgiving
Walk nicely on leash for holiday light strolls
Behave calmly around kids home on winter break

One family we worked with last year started their golden retriever’s therapy dog training in September. By December, he was visiting an assisted living facility with calm confidence, and was the perfect host for their holiday parties.

What Happens If You Wait?

Every year, we get calls in October and November from owners who wanted to “wait a little” before starting. Unfortunately, by that time, our schedule, and many other top trainers in Anchorage, is already booked out until winter or even spring.

The problem is twofold:

Demand spikes in fall as families realize the year is slipping by.
Behavior habits form quickly, waiting often means you’ll be working to undo months of bad habits instead of building good ones from the start.

One client from Eagle River put it perfectly after having to wait until February to start:

“I thought I was saving time by waiting. Turns out I lost time, and patience, because we could have solved these issues months earlier.”

Common Training Goals for Back‑to‑School Dogs

When we see dogs for fall training, the goals often fall into a few common categories:

1. Basic Manners and Obedience

Perfect for dogs of all ages. We work on:

Sit, down, stay, come
Polite leash walking
Greeting without jumping
Settling quietly when people enter or leave

2. Separation Anxiety Support

For dogs who suddenly spend more time alone:

Gradual independence building
Calming techniques
Enrichment games to keep them occupied

3. Therapy Dog or Service Dog Foundations

Fall is a smart time to begin long‑term programs:

Early socialization in quieter settings
Public access skills before the holiday rush
Task training foundations for service dogs

4. Behavior Modification

Addressing issues like:

Leash reactivity
Resource guarding
Excessive barking

Real‑World Examples From Our Clients

Example 1: The Lonely Aussie

When the Reynolds family’s kids went back to school last fall, their Australian shepherd, Scout, became anxious and barked all day. We started a six‑week training program in September, focusing on mental enrichment and calm‑settle training. By the holidays, Scout was confident, content, and much quieter.

Example 2: The Jumping Greeter

Max, a young German shepherd in Anchorage, had a habit of barreling toward guests at the door. His owners knew holiday hosting would be stressful without improvement. They enrolled in our fall obedience program, and by Thanksgiving, Max was sitting politely for every visitor.

Example 3: The Therapy Dog Dream

Kara from Wasilla had a vision of her golden retriever, Bella, becoming a therapy dog. She booked training in August, knowing spots would fill fast. Starting early meant Bella had a calm, structured foundation before the busy holiday season, and she passed her therapy dog certification the following spring.

Why Alaska Dog Works Fills Up Fast in Fall

Our programs are intentionally limited in size to give every client the attention they deserve. We don’t cram dogs into overloaded group classes or rush through private sessions just to fit more people in.

Instead, we:

Cap our service dog and therapy dog intakes each season
Maintain small group sizes for personal attention
Provide ongoing trainer support between lessons

That means when our fall calendar fills up, it’s not just a sales pitch, it’s a reality. We’re committed to quality, not quantity.

Beat the Back‑to‑School Rush: Here’s How

1. Schedule Your Free Strategy Call Today

We’ll discuss:

Your dog’s current needs
The right program for your goals
Your timeline for results
How to reserve your spot before the season is full

2. Start Sooner Than You Think

Even if you’re not 100% ready, early conversations mean you won’t be scrambling in October. We can:

Reserve your training start date
Give you pre‑training tips to work on at home
Keep you ahead of seasonal demand

3. Choose a Program That Matches Your Lifestyle

Whether you need:

Private lessons for customized coaching
Board‑and‑train for intensive results

…we’ll guide you to the right fit.

FAQs About Back‑to‑School Dog Training

Q: My dog is older, should I still train now?
Yes! Dogs can learn at any age. In fact, older dogs often benefit from the quieter fall months for focused learning.

Q: What if my schedule is unpredictable?
We offer flexible scheduling and can start with shorter sessions or online coaching to keep you moving forward.

Q: Can training really help with separation anxiety?
Absolutely. Structured independence exercises can make a huge difference in how your dog feels when left alone.

Don’t Wait, Our Fall Calendar Fills Up Fast

By the time the leaves start to turn, our fall training schedule is often fully booked. If you wait until your dog’s behavior becomes stressful, or until the holidays are around the corner, you might miss your ideal training window.

Start now, and by the time your kids are settled into their school routine, your dog will be on their way to better manners, more confidence, and a happier life.

📅 Schedule your free strategy call today to plan your dog’s training journey.
📞 Or call 206‑752‑DOGS to speak directly with one of our trainers.

Your kids are headed back to school, maybe your dog should be, too.