Is COVID-19 bringing Behavior Problems with our dogs?
Covid-19 created a new world for most of us. With schools closed and so many ‘nonessential workers’ and unemployed staying home with whole families all together, the level of anxiety rose in our homes. It was not just the humans that felt the anxiety, but our pets did as well. Still today we have no idea what the future holds for any of us, our jobs, our cities and our nation. We all try to explain things to our youngest family members in simple terms, but there is absolutely no way to explain it to our pets. Dogs and cats are actually vulnerable to our feelings affecting them. They are more tuned in to our highs and lows than we are to ourselves.
"Pets' world just suddenly turned upside down," said Stephanie Borns-Weil, head of the behavior service at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center. "And while individual dogs and cats may vary in their reactions, change in general is very challenging for most animals."
All of this affected our families on multiple levels, from the babies to the great grandparents and all the animals in the home. Having every one home 24/7 affected our entire world at home.
"A lot of it is because routines are upended, and pets have no idea how to function in the new world order," she explained. "Some of it is due to opportunity-pets have us around all the time, so why not keep begging for their next meal or sitting at the door? And much of it is that pets are looking for our attention to relieve their own stress or anxiety, and they only have one or two ways of asking us for that." Stephanie Borns-Weil
When we walk our four legged family members we found many other families out doing exactly the same thing. Our pets became nervous seeing so many others out walking by. Barking increased.
"Everybody and their brother are out walking their dogs or taking walks all day because that's the only exercise we can get with the gyms closed and our schedules disrupted," said Borns-Weil. "So now you may be seeing more territorial barking. When you used to experience that on the weekend, it wasn't a big deal. But when you're on a teleconference call with an important client, the constant barking becomes a big issue."
With the children and parents home 24/7, the pets in the home are scrambling to cope with this huge change. There are some suggestions to deal with all of it. Your children do better with a schedule and something predictable in their world. Your dogs are exactly the same way. Every household needs a routine. The more consistent the routine, the less stress for everyone, including the pets. Keep meals at the same time, walks, play time, and the pets can handle this sudden change at home. Find a time to walk that is not as crowded with neighbors and your dog will settle in. Even if you are working from home, it might be a good time to keep the dog in a calm place in the home away from talking and working. This establishes a quiet time and sets some boundaries. Always have a place of escape for your pets to get away from the humans in the house!
Next we get to deal with returning to normal… and your dog who has adjusted to this new ‘normal’ will be stressed when you are no longer at home. Help them make this transition. The entire household will have knitted together in their own NEW NORMAL… and it will change again.
