Prepping your dog for a post-pandemic life

Proper Paws' Judy Bernard on Training Tips for Pandemic Puppy Owners (part 3 of 3)

Over the last two months we’ve posted the first two in a three part series to help owners face the challenges of owning a new dog during the days of COVID-19: What is puppy socialization and how do I do it during a pandemic and Helping your dog with vet visits during a pandemic.
With vaccines rolling out, many of us are starting to plan for our post-pandemic lives. For dog owners, that means prepping your pooch to be alone sometimes. Concord Animal Hospital’s Katherine Wilson is again speaking with Judy Bernard for our third and final blog in the series: Prepping your dog for their post-pandemic life.

Judy with her own adorable dog, Alex

Judy Bernard is the owner of Proper Paws Dog Training right here in Concord. She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed, and member Association of Professional Dog Trainers. Proper Paws Dog Training offers services ranging from puppy socialization to group and private training for dogs of all ages and behavioral consultations. 

While the idea of returning to our pre-pandemic lives might be exciting for us humans, we must warn you that the road will be rocky for many pets. This will be particularly true for puppies who have only known a world where they are surrounded by their beloved humans. We humans have been home all the time: not going into work, not vacationing, not visiting friends & family, and not going out to dinner. As we receive our vaccines and begin to venture out, our puppies might have a problem. Fortunately, Judy has thoughts on how we can prep our puppies and dogs for the changes coming their way.

Stella by Starlight and puppies like her have been enjoying lots of time with their humans

​Katherine: How do you expect puppies to react as their owners begin to venture out of the house without them? In some cases, for the first time in these puppies’ lives?
Judy: Separation issues are bound to happen in a time where we are all working from home and our dogs have gotten used to us being here.  Let’s face it: we are all pack animals and having our pack around us all the time is very comforting.  That said, reality will return and our puppies and dogs will need to get used to us NOT being home 24/7.  The key to making sure they are as unaffected by this changes as possible is to start practicing now. 
 
Katherine: How should we practice leaving our puppies and dogs alone?
Judy: Here are some quick thoughts on how to make your dog’s transition back to ‘normalcy’ as uneventful as possible. Set up a regular routine where you leave the house without your dog. Try to do this as close to your expected normal time as possible and do it every day. Start with short trips away, like to check your mailbox, and extend the trips as your dog gains comfort and confidence.
Set your dog up for success as you train them to be alone. Make sure the dog’s physical and mental needs are taken care of before you leave. Feed and exercise the dog and make sure they have eliminated. When you leave, make sure your pet is in a puppy/dog proof environment. A crate is preferred for young puppies who may eliminate, chew things, or otherwise get into trouble. You may need to revisit crate training prior to starting this routine if your puppy/dog isn’t comfortable being in the crate. Give them a stuffed Kong or other safe high value treat to work on while you are gone.
Make leaving and coming as much of a non-event as possible and do it multiple times a day. The more practice the dog gets with short, happy absences the better.

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Concerns? Book your vet visit

Suzie getting mentally prepared for a little more alone time

Katherine: What can owners do if their dog doesn’t react well to being left along?
Judy: If the dog reacts poorly, stop and re-evaluate your plan. You may have to start with smaller steps, like leaving the room but not the house to begin with. It may help to use an automated food delivery device to associate your leaving with a steady flow of food. If your dog will not eat or engage with a high value treat (like a stuffed Kong) in your absence this is a sign of heightened stress and anxiety.
​In the case of extreme anxiety, fear, or stress you may need to consult with your veterinarian and/or a behavior professional for a behavior modification plan. Signs of extreme anxiety/stress include:

• Non-stop panting
• Excessive pacing
• Excessive drooling
• Loss of bowel and bladder control
• Destruction of crate or surroundings
• Excessive howling, barking, baying or loud, long vocalizations

Remember, the sooner you start getting your pet used to being alone, the easier it will be when they have to spend the day without you.  Go slowly to start, be sure to increase the time away ONLY after the dog gets used to the short absences.  Set your dog up for success and re-evaluate your plan if your pet shows signs of anxiety.  The idea is to have your dog notice that you are gone but not fret over it.  Finally, if your dog shows significant distress over even short absences, contact a professional for help.

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