Henlo, Frens!
Today, we are staying home with the pups to research an interesting topic that I heard a lot about post-pandemic.
According to an article from the Washington Post, 23 million American households adopted animals during the pandemic. The massive surge was due to many factors, not the least of which was a need for companionship, and those millions of rescue dogs, cats, and other critters were more than eager to help. Commander, President Biden’s dog, was also brought to live at the White House during the Pandemic.
Many of these animals, namely dogs for the purpose of this post, came from unknown or undersocialized backgrounds. For two to three years, these dogs existed primarily with their humans in the home, only perhaps able to go on walks or have yard play as doggie play groups and day care were limited. Now that life has opened up again, these dogs are being introduced to a whole new, and perhaps overwhelming, world of human, animal, and environmental experiences that they may or may not know how to deal with. That can make for some unpredictable situations for families. Understandably, people are seeking out assistance and information on how to help their new best friends.
For people who had pets prior to the pandemic, there was a routine. For those who may have adopting during, routine changed very often. Let us also not forget that rapidly changing emotions and the pheromones of fear and anxiety existed much during the pandemic and that our dogs could smell us. Our changing emotions may have been confusing for them. One moment on the news we would hear about the number of deaths from Covid, and our smell would be negative. Another moment on the news we would hear about something someone or a group did that was positive and heart warming, and our smell would be positive.
According to the CEOs of Rover and Wag - gig-economy pet platforms, their websites showed surges that followed the course of the pandemic. People who worked from home or were laid off were home with their new best friend for months to a year or more. Now that they are returning to the office or rejoining the workforce, Fido may need some care from an outside source, such as doggy sitting or walking.
We wrote previously on how to make your dog happy. Training and routine were two of the subjects discussed in that blog post. These dogs most likely had humans in the house for many months at a time, and are now a bit more alone. A sudden change can be tough on a dog (much tougher than on a cat).
For my dogs, they saw us a lot more. We own our own business and had to reduce hours due to the labor shortage. As more people feel safe, they have returned to the workforce and we have been able to extend our hours. This means that we are away from home the same as before the pandemic, but the dogs are not used to that yet. They do sometimes get sad, so we make sure to give them lots of time when we are home to mitigate this issue.
So, how can we help our pets come out of the pandemic?
When the pandemic hit the world, we all had to learn how to adapt. This was easier for some humans than for others, and there is nothing wrong with that. In an article by Rover, it is stated that socialization is not simply getting used to other dogs, animals and humans, it is “helping a dog to become comfortable with any novel element of the environment.”
Some people are familiar with the concept of having adopted an animal whose history is unknown. In other words, the past traumas are a mystery and have to be uncovered by difficult behaviors along the journey. I have a friend who adopted a dog with an unknown history and this dog chewed through their metal storm door, blood and all.
That’s a difficult thing for a pet parent to watch. We love our pets and something hurts. We want to fix it, but we may not know how. (These pet parents still have this dog and work every day to help her cope with her extreme anxiety.)
We cannot force our canines to cope. Starting off easy, like a walk through a park or the woods during a time when not many other dogs and people are there is a great idea. Getting the dog used to the sounds and situations of the environment can be a helpful start before any interaction with a sentient being. The interaction with a falling leaf is different than the interaction with an excited child. One may be far more stimulating than the other, depending on the situation and the pet.
Rover’s article impresses upon learners that it is important to allow your dog to set the pace and to “graduate from less challenging to more challenging exposures.”
Learning your dog’s body language is key. There are many articles and books about dog body language. In an article for the National Institute for Health, it is stated that dogs have the capacity for about 20 facial movements, while chimpanzees and cats have only about 14-15. A dog also uses its body to indicate how it is feeling in any given moment, and it can be confusing. A yawn or a wagging tail can mean two different things. Studying these behaviors can be very helpful.
Staying calm when your dog is stressed is also key. Ensuring that all early socialization techniques and exposures are positive is essential so that your dog does not associate what you are trying to do with negativity. An interaction of a nervous dog and a small child excited to see said dog can be risky. Learning how to introduce your dog to various environments and stimuli will help your dog cope. Also, allowing encounters to be short can be helpful.
If your dog has a difficult moment, yelling at them is not helpful. When we yell, it is to them a form of barking. When we bark, they want to bark. Similarly, when someone yells at us as a human, we often want to yell back. It is really quite similar in nature. Instead, remove your dog from the difficult stimuli and help them by giving them affection, treats, or play. They understand this better than yelling.
Seeking the help of a dog trainer or training classes is a great idea if your dog is having difficulties. Socialization of your dog through doggy daycare can also be helpful if your dog is ready.
Let us know in the comments your experiences with your dog and what might be helpful for others!
Keep it fluffy!
- S
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/01/07/covid-dogs-return-to-work/#
https://www.rover.com/blog/how-to-socialize-your-rescue-dog/
**No AI was used in the generation of this blog post.**
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