How is lockdown

affecting your dog?

 

 

 

Over the past year most of us will have been feeling

varying degrees of stress, worry and anxiety due to the

effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. Fortunately, for

those of us with pets, we have been able to turn to

them for emotional support and comfort.

 

However, lockdown can be stressful for dogs too. Whilst many dogs are very happy to have their human family at home with them during this period and love all the extra walks, playtime and cuddles, others may be finding the overload of quality time with their family stressful, particularly if you have a busy household or there are young children in the house who would normally be at school or nursery.

 

For some dogs that are used to more regular routines and time alone, overstimulation and the inability to find a quiet place to rest may be taking their toll and causing stress and anxiety. And of course, it is well recognised that pets sense our emotions so, if we are feeling more stressed and anxious than normal our dogs may be feeling it too.

 

Looking ahead, once the restrictions of lockdown ease and we begin to return to our normal routines it is likely that our pets will feel the stress of yet more change with some experiencing seperation anxiety when left at home alone.

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How do you know if your dog is stressed?

Changes in your dog's behaviour can give you the clearest indication that they are experiencing stress or anxiety. When a dog is feeling stressed they may be more easily startled, jumping at the slightest sound or movement. They may be uncharacteristically aggressive, snapping or growling when feeling under pressure. They may shake and shiver, bark excessively, appear depressed and lack appetite or energy. There may be changes to their toileting habits, suffering from diarrhoea or urinating/defecating more frequently. 

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So what can we do to help our pets cope during lockdown and beyond?

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Routine

A routine is important for us all. By adding structure and a

sense of predictability to our day, a routine can help us to

manage the uncertainty of life. Coping with unpredictable

periods of time can feel less daunting when we have a little

structure in place to look to. In the same way, having a daily

routine can help to reduce stress levels in our pets too. 

Try to ensure that they get up and go to bed at around the

same time each day and that they have activities such as

feeding times, outdoor times, play times and quiet times all

regularly scheduled into their day.

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                                                               Safe space

                                                                                Make sure that your dog has a dedicated 'safe space' where

                                                                                they feel comfortable and can have time alone. This should                                                                                          be a quiet place away from the general flow of the house,                                                                                              but it shouldn't be completely isolated either. Your dog will                                                                                          want to be out of the way of what is causing anxiety but not                                                                                          so far away from you that they don't know what you’re up                                                                                            to. If your dog is crate trained, it can be very calming for                                                                                                them to go back to their own special place, whilst using                                                                                                  baby/pet gates is a good way to keep pets and children                                                                                                  apart when needed. This safe space should become their own                                                                                     to rely upon when they want to retreat so it's importan to try                                                                                        not to disturb them unnecessarily when they chose to have                                                                                          some quiet time.

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Positive reinforcement

When dogs are experiencing severe anxiety, they may exhibit behaviours

such as chewing on furniture, scratching carpets, ripping up newspapers

or toileting in the house. Punishing such behaviour will only add to their

anxiety so it is important to use positive reinforcement techniques instead.

For example, rewarding toileting outside with a treat, providing dog chews

containing treats or lickimats spread with suitable ingredients.

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                                                              Exercise and Play

​                                                                       As with humans, exercise can be a great stress reducer.                                                                                                 Physical activities like walking or playing fetch help both you                                                                                         and your dog release tension. Nothing beats the surge of                                                                                             endorphins from going for a walk or a run in your favourite                                                                                           place. For your dog the added stimulation of the activity and                                                                                         the smells, sights and sounds will be sure to boost their mood.                                                                                    There’s a lot of truth in the saying that a tired dog is a happy                                                                                        dog. However, take care not to over-exercise your dog                                                                                                    particularly older and arthritic dogs and brachycephalic breeds                                                                                    such as pugs who have a lower tolerance for vigorous exercise                                                                                    and are more susceptible to heat exhaustion.

 

Preparing your pets for life after lockdown

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Start preparing your dog for life after lockdown now to reduce the likelihood of seperation anxiety when the restrictions are lifted and your dog is left alone for longer periods of time.  

Your dog will need to be confident on his own and learn how to behave without you at home. Here are a few tips to prepare your dog for being left home alone and to ease the seperation when you do need to leave them.

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To help your dog to get used to being apart from you, you can use positive reinforcement to teach them that seperation can lead to rewards and praise. This can be achieved by leaving him to wander the house freely whilst you are in another room, then coming out of the room after a short while and calling your dog to you. When he comes to you, praise him and give him a favourite treat. After a moment, turn and go back inside the room, closing the door behind you.The aim is to teach your dog that being calm rather than exciteable will get your attention and the treat. So it is important to wait until your dog settles down before coming back. Next time make the seperation time shorter and build up more slowly. If you repeat this regularly each day, lengthening the amount of separation time, your dog will soon come to realise that you will always return, no matter how long you are gone for and that separation leads to a happy experience.

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In preparation for the day when you return to your normal

work/school routine, practice varying how you behave

before you leave the house. Dogs pick up on behavioural

cues and know that, for example, when you pick up your

keys or put on your coat then you will be going out. To

prevent them from becoming anxious at these cues, try

putting on your coat but stay in the house, sit with your dog

or wander around and let them follow you if they want to.

Let them hear the rattle of your keys as you put them in your

pocket but stay in the house so that they don't immediately

associate the noise with being left.

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Ensure that your dog has enough toys to play with to distract them whilst you are away. Food-related toys or

chews are a great way to keep their mind occupied with a built-in reward. 

Make sure that they have access to their safe space whilst you are gone and perhaps leave something such as an old item of clothing, so that they feel comforted by your scent.

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These tips will help reduce the likelihood of separation anxiety in your dog when normal work routines return.  Start preparing your dog for the changes ahead in good time and work at a pace with which your dog is comfortable. The aim is for them to feel happy and comfortable when left alone.

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If you are concerned about your dog's behaviour speak to your vet for advice and guidance.

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