04/08/2020
COVID-19 And Your Dog - How To Help Minimize The Effects Of "Stay at Home" On Your Dog
The COVID-19 horror movie we are now living in swept across the globe seemingly overnight, and completely altered our lives just as quickly. This crisis has happened so fast; it is almost hard to remember what "normal" was like just a few short weeks ago.
Washing hands, sanitizing, wearing masks, wearing gloves, stocking up to prepare for the worst, is now the new normal. "Social distancing," "stay at home," and "bend the curve," is now the current vernacular. It is truly frightening: with many of us unable to go to work and afraid to go to the store, ordered to stay in our homes with our loved ones. All of us are now trying to make the best of this situation and be healthy.
While this crisis has deeply affected us all, we also need to be keenly aware of the effect this is having and will have on our beloved dogs. They are quite aware that things are very different now and something strange is going on. I want to take a few minutes to discuss how COVID-19 may affect your dog(s) now, and when all this is over when we try to get back to the old "normal."
Dogs are excellent behaviorists and are uniquely in-tune and bonded to their humans. They watch every move we make and are usually always two or three steps ahead of us. They feel what we are feeling and often mirror or internalize our emotions. Right now, they are feeling our anxiety, fear, stress, and frustration. Like us, they build their lives around schedule, structure, and routine - having a pattern of what to expect and when to expect it.
Let's think about that for a minute. Right now, our dogs are watching and listening to everything we say and do. They listen to how we talk to each other, our tone of voice, our concern, our screaming at the TV. Watch your dog, and you will see it is watching you very closely. They are feeling us - they know.
The structure and reliability of your dog(s) entire world have now changed along with ours. Your dog's life has been turned upside down, as much as ours. We know what is happening and why, but they have no idea and are just trying to figure out what is going on by watching and listening to us.
Most dogs will probably adapt fine to all the changes and will be in canine heaven, with the extra attention and quality time with their people. Other dogs may be a bit overwhelmed by all the changes and present some stress. How your pup copes will depend primarily on its temperament, confidence, and independence. But also on how you deal with the situation and help them through this.
Dogs That Should Adapt Well
Confident, independent, secure dogs should adapt fine to the changes during the "stay at home" period. Dogs use to having someone in the home with them all day will also probably not feel too much of a change. All these dogs will likely be more affected by your stress and anxiety levels than anything else.
Confident, independent, secure dogs can usually adapt to change without too much trouble. These dogs will probably just enjoy the extra time with you and having the kids home. With the more confident, independent dogs, I am more concerned about the effect on them when this is all over. We'll talk more about that in a minute.
Dogs That May Be A Concern
Insecure, dependant, fearful, or anxious dogs are more likely to have difficulty adapting to the changes they experience during this time. These dogs could be even more affected by your stress and anxiety levels and may become even more anxious. Remember, they are watching you, listening to every word you say, and feeling what you are feeling.
Insecure, dependant, anxious dogs often do not tolerate or adjust to change very well. A dog that is usually alone 6-8 hours a day, probably sleeps most of that time. A nervous, anxious dog, used to being alone all day may become stressed by how much activity there now is in the home, and the disruption of their routine. I am especially worried about the impact on these dogs when this is over.
Canine Social Distancing - For Your Dogs Sake
Canines are capable of developing powerful emotional bonds and relationships with humans. Those bonds can sometimes actually reach a point of being a form of addiction, and that is where we will typically see cases of Separation Anxiety (SA) develop.
I watched this happen first-hand a few months ago with my rescue dog, a very confident and secure, 90 pound beast of a Catahoula Leopard Dog, named Bogey.
In November of 2019, I came down with a severe case of the flu and ended up either in bed or on the couch for almost four weeks. I honestly thought I was going to die. Just like we are today, I was locked down in my house for the next four weeks, Bogey lying next to me or on me, practically every minute.
Bogey became insistent on lying on the couch next to me, or sleeping in bed with me, wherever I was he was. He always had to be touching me, but in the end, I wasn't doing him any favors by letting him do that. Bogey is one of the toughest, more confident dogs I have ever known, but he quickly became super-attached to me. I've had to work quite hard to put some space back in-between us ever since.
I have treated this attachment issue with Bogey by gently putting and keeping space between us on the couch. I always make him sleep at the foot of the bed, and sometimes on the floor. He is much better about his attachment now, but he still always wants to be with me, touching me.
I have worked with many clients on this very same attachment issue. I am a professional and knew better than to let Bogey get too attached, but still, I allowed it to happen anyway!
Please, be careful about letting your dog(s) become too attached to you while confined at home with them! Love them, cuddle them, play with them, but please make sure to keep some physical and emotional space between you and your dog(s).
Life After COVID-19 - Separation Anxiety
I am more worried about the effect this will have on our dogs when this is over, and we go back to work than I am about right now. I am afraid the hardest part for our dog(s) will come after this is over, when we go back to work and school, and they are suddenly left alone again.
Think about it for a minute. We know what's going on at home and why, but our dog(s) have no idea. All our dog(s) know is that for weeks (maybe months,) you are at home with them 24/7, happily living together, and bonding with them. I am worried about what happens after the lockdown is over when overnight, they will be all alone again. For the dependant, insecure or anxious dogs, and even the tough guys like Bogey, this could be very traumatic.
I fully expect a lot of dogs to go through what amounts to a grieving period when all this is over, when we go back to work, and they are all alone again. I also anticipate a lot of Separation Anxiety (SA) cases to develop. The good news is, I have successfully worked on many, many SA cases in my practice and can assure you it is very treatable.
What You Can Do To Help Your Dog(s) During And After COVID19
Here are some recommendations for easing your pup through the COVID-19 quarantine process.
1: Watch your dog's behavior. Small changes are probably transitional and nothing to be of too much concern. If you see increased anxiousness, excessive attachment, pacing, resource guarding, or any other significant concerns, please let us know. Remember, it will be even more important to keep an eye on your dog(s) after you go back to work.
2: Try to keep some physical and emotional space between you and your pup. Don't be like me with Bogey! Do this the whole time you are home in place. Have fun, enjoy being together, but make sure you keep some space and do not let them become too attached to you.
We are all human, and I think it is only our nature to humanize and love our dogs, maybe too much! I have had this conversation with many, many clients, that they had to limit doing this with their dog, but I still did it myself! Be careful. It is very tough to resist bonding with our dogs too much and feel that unconditional love they give us in return. In all honesty, to me, a dog's love is one of the best feelings there is in life.
Let your dog be a dog! Please do not baby them, hug them, bond with them, or cuddle them too much during this time! They will ache for you when this is over.
3: Try getting ready in the morning as usual, then leave the house at your regular time and drive away. Park at the end of your block and go walking, go for takeout coffee or breakfast, or do anything else for about twenty minutes. The idea is to try and follow your regular morning routine as close as possible and leave the house. As long as you drive away and stay gone for fifteen to twenty minutes, it will help your dog remain used to you leaving the house in the morning and being away for a while.
Canines don't perceive time in the same way as we do, in a dog's brain, fifteen to twenty minutes is the same as hours. Doing the above exercise will keep them on schedule and routine and help lessen the impact on them when you do go back to work.
4: Try taking your pup to a Doggy Day Care near you in the morning. Doing this will eliminate the problems of schedule disruption, too much time at home with you, excess bonding, and will also give your pup quality socialization time! The idea is to keep your MORNING ROUTINE as close to normal as possible, where you get up, get ready, and leave the house at your regular time. Introducing Doggy Day Care is just a new activity and a bonus for your pup and keeps them from having you home with them all day.
We Are Here For You Now and Afterward
I am currently still seeing clients, but wear a mask and work outside as much as possible. I also need to know if anyone in the home has traveled recently. As always, don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns or to schedule a visit.
Please be safe, be healthy: wear a mask, spray Lysol on anything you bring into your home, and practice proper social and canine distancing. We will all get through this together and come out stronger for it on the other side! My thoughts and prayers are with all of you and your canine companions.
