LIFE AFTER LOCKDOWN

Doggy difficulties? Dog behaviour expert, Alan Grant, explains how you can help your dog cope if you won’t be at home as much.

Is your dog struggling to adjust to life after lockdown?

Boredom and separation anxiety can be displayed in different ways. Here are some signs to look out for:

Chewing or scratching shoes, furniture or any item that is not one of their toys; Having an accident in the house; Constant barking, crying or howling when you are not there; Loss of appetite

Separation anxiety

Unfortunately, there is no one solution to treat separation anxiety. What works for one animal might not work for another. Each pet will display different symptoms and must be treated individually. Speak to a vet or a reputable behaviourist to work out a programme to help your pet.

Do not lock your pet in a crate when you are not at home unless you have spoken to a professional. This can sometimes make separation anxiety worse as your dog is confined to a small space.

LIFE AFTER LOCKDOWN

Exercises to help stop separation anxiety developing

There are some steps you can take to help your dog cope when you might not be at home as much. To get them used to being away from you, you can:

Leave them home alone when you go out; Spend time in another room away from your dog or use a barrier such as a puppy gate to keep them separated from you; Spend time in the garden with your dog inside; Create a safe space where your dog feels comfortable with their bed, familiar smells and toys; Hide treats around the house to keep your dog occupied when you are out; Provide them with fun activities such as chews, safe favourite toys, Kongs or activity feeders that will keep them mentally stimulated without you.

You will have to repeat these exercises to get your pet used to being alone so it will require time and patience. If your dog exhibits behaviours such as barking or whining, these could be signs of stress at being away from you. Don’t shout or punish your pet as this will cause even more distress and could make behavioural issues worse.

TOP TIPS

Don’t leave the TV or radio on as you have no control over what will come on, such as something that may cause even more stress such as fireworks or an explosion. Instead, put on a playlist you have created yourself or look into our Paws.Play.Relax CD which is scientifically proven to reduce stress. Or, you can record your own voice reading a book which will be familiar and comforting to your dog.

Crates are not a fix for separation anxiety. Do not leave your dog in a crate without a lot of training and work first. If a dog isn’t used to a crate and is left alone, this can cause it to be even more anxious and can make the problem worse. This should be done in micro-stages where you leave the dog for short periods and then return but this should involve professional advice.

Invest in a pet cam. As many behaviourists and trainers are not working just now, a pet cam will provide invaluable information for the behaviourist to see how the dog exhibits separation anxiety behaviours. Do not deliberately leave your pet alone just to be able to show the trainer. Each time you leave your pet, put the camera on.

Get a trainer that specialises in separation anxiety. This can be a very serious issue in dogs and the best way to tackle it is to get the help of a professional.