Adjusting Your Dog To A Post-Pandemic World.

WRITTEN BY: FERN WOODEN, Staff Writer

Last March, the world saw something no one could have ever predicted: a viral pandemic that required us to tailor our lives to staying inside. A beautiful thing came out of the pandemic; a surge in adoption and foster rates for both cats and dogs by 12 percent occurred in 2020! As more people stayed home and work-life moved there, individuals could dedicate more time to training and acclimating their pups. Although it has been proven dogs help with loneliness and coping with a crisis, according to the American Kennel Club, pet owners are faced with a new issue of the socialization of their furry friends.

Picture this: you just adopted a dog during the pandemic, but with everything closed down, what do you do to help socialize your dog? It is easy to focus on your dog who lacks social skills after spending formative time inside with everything opening back up. There is a solution for those owners who feel lost and confused about breaking the dog’s bad social habits. Part of the issue with mingling your dogs with strict social distance rules is introducing them to other people’s dogs without breaking the sixfeet rule. Thankfully with vaccinations on the way, people are more open to bringing their dogs to parks, dog-friendly events like Lowcountry Dog Magazine’s Eat Drink Rescue, and mingling at dog-friendly bars and restaurants. Here are some tips and tricks to help socialize your dog while adhering to social distance rules.

A Place to Call Home

For starters, understanding both your dog’s and your boundaries when it comes to feeling comfortable in crowds or around other people in general can help ensure a safe and happy time for both of you. Experts suggest socialization is an essential part of responsible pet ownership. When socializing your dog with other animals and people, it is necessary to always reward them with positive reinforcement to ensure those behaviors become routine. Think of it as a game for you and your dog by providing a treat for every positive action presented to you. Depending on your dog’s age, exposure to some aspects of your home can vary in intensity. For puppies whose minds are developing alongside each trick and experience presented to them, it can be easier to socialize them than shelter dogs. Shelter dogs have a unique history that shelter workers may not even know about, for example an abusive history that leads to anxiety and trust issues. Introducing your pet to a new area of your house and around it each day provides a safety net for them to express their curiosity without fear of repercussions or judgment.

Taking your dog for car rides is a great and safe way to get them out of the house and socialized. Just keep them safe and secure in the car, the above is not advised. Also, leaving your dog in the car is never recommended, so make sure you are taking them somewhere dog-friendly.

Photo by Adobe Stock

BEEP BEEP

You can also introduce your dog to the hustlebustle of the world without violating social distance rules by bringing them along on car rides. Not only is it a controlled environment, but it also allows your dog to become acclimated to car rides and learn to sit comfortably. Although restrictions are starting to lift, it is strategic to make sure your pet is comfortable with the idea of fast movements without freaking out or barking excessively. A car ride is a great way to expose your pet to the public in a controlled environment.

Dog Parks

Parks are a great place to help socialize your dog beyond the self-restrained environments of your vehicle, home, or neighborhood. Here you can really test those skills you have instilled in your pet. The beauty of a park environment is that you can allow your dog to play off-leash or on a leash. Pet experts suggest meeting another dog offleash is better for your dog’s comfortability. When a dog is on-leash and restrained, they are more likely to react aggressively because they do not feel in control of the situation and can not escape if the encounter goes wrong. There are concerns about letting your dog off leash, like fleeing the park and getting hit by a car or potentially attacking another dog. That is why training your dog outside the park and teaching them positive social skills is critical before introducing them to the park setting.

Dog Friendly Events

Dog people are typically well-intentioned, but as people are starting to let their guard down with vaccinations becoming available and restrictions are being lifted at bars and restaurants, it is easy to forget a pandemic is still going on. Not everyone is comfortable with someone approaching their dog. If you feel comfortable going out, be sure to check the number of people attending the event, it’s setting and social distancing rules. For example, at Lowcountry Dog’s most recent event Eat Drink Rescue, mask rules were enforced unless eating and drinking, and it was the first time a lot of dogs and owners came together at a safe event since the start of the pandemic and vaccine rollouts. These events can be more stimulating than a dog-park environment because of live music, food vendors, and adoptable dogs available at rescues. Make sure your dog has tried all three of those environments before bringing them to a bar, restaurant, or event like this, so everyone has a fun time.

Lowcountry Dog Events are a great way to safely socialize your dog! Photo by Victoria Vesce

Photo by Victoria Vesce

At the end of the day, these animals are our family members, and we want to protect them like one. We at Lowcountry Dog Magazine know how taxing the pandemic has been on everyone and want a return to normalcy just as much as our readers do. Until then, we want to adhere to social distance rules and help our furry friends become the best versions of themselves. ■