When Lockdown ends
We don’t know what changes the near future is going to bring to our lives.
What we can be sure of is that many dogs will find the loss of near constant companionship distressing and it may trigger a range of behaviour problems.
Research quoted by the RSPCA found that 8 out of 10 dogs don’t cope when they are left alone but most don’t show obvious signs such as chewing, barking or toileting.
Coping when left alone doesn’t come naturally to dogs so what can we do to prepare them?
- begin to leave them alone for short periods of time
- give them an enjoyable activity to occupy them e.g. stuffed Kong, snuffle mat
- make sure to return before they have finished their activity or become distressed
- yo-yo the time, leave them for e.g. 3s, 5s, 2s, 7s, 10s, 4s and so on
- repeat this as many times in a day as you can manage
Consider what your daily routine is likely to be and begin to alter your dog’s activities to fit. For example, if you are home schooling your children, your dog could learn to be left alone during lessons.
Try to work with your dog so that their confidence increases and NEVER punish them for showing you that they are distressed. It will make matters worse. If you need help and advice please contact me on 0794 1122737 or you may find the links below helpful:
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/behaviour/separationrelatedbehaviour
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/home-alone-separation-anxiety-dogs
https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/behaviour/keeping-your-dog-happy-indoors