For the last two weeks, we’ve been discussing dog daycares, and we promised more on that for this week’s blog. However, we’ve decided to switch gears instead because . . . coronavirus.
Are you working from home during this crisis? Are you off work and “isolating” where you live?
Do you have pets?
I asked pet professionals for their suggestions on what pet owners, home with their families, can do with and for their pets to alleviate boredom, to teach new skills, and to raise the spirits of both the humans and the pets while we wait out this crisis together. Here are some of their ideas!
Jill Gibbs (Montana) The general public could teach some basic tricks like shake, wave, sit up, spin, open a door (I wouldn’t recommend opening the fridge), back up, etc. Hide treats in rooms around the house and let the dogs find them.
Denise Gregg (New York) My dogs love when I put treats in plastic eggs and hide them so they can hunt for them! They get so excited when the eggs come out!
Sue Brown (Colorado) “Kid agility”—when I had my Vizsla, Romeo, we had gone to visit my family, including my sister with three young boys at the time. One of the boys was afraid of dogs; the other two just had not had a lot of exposure. We started by demo’ing some of Romeo’s tricks and “obedience” stuff. Then, to get the kids directly involved and to make things fun, we set up an indoor “agility course” with the kids. The kids were the obstacles, with Romeo going over, under, or around them as cued. The kids loved it.
Trish Ryan (New Jersey)
▪ Baking and freezing treats
▪ Setting up scavenger hunts
▪ Training tricks—last week, we worked on closing cabinet doors and drawers
▪ Providing enrichment-type activities, games
▪ We live close to the beach; I use a long line to allow Gracie some freedom.
▪ I’m offering Skype sessions to current clients.
Leslie McGavin Clifton (Florida) This would be a great time to solidify grooming and husbandry skills. For working on any particular animal husbandry tasks that your dog dislikes intensely, do frequent but very short and successful practice sessions paired with very high-value reinforcement.
For some dogs, it might be necessary to begin without an actual implement in hand. For example, if your dog really hates nail trimming, now is a great time to practice handling paws briefly with high-value food reinforcement. If your dog is already pulling away as you go to touch a paw, then that is where you begin. In separate sessions, you can put chicken on the floor near the nail clippers—say, ten times in a session—to begin changing that association.
Mark Cuilla (Washington) I will be working from home starting Monday. While out shopping for my office chair, I got some things for the cats. I bought a large reusable grocery bag that I will fill with shredded paper and catnip for them to play in. I got some cloth ribbons (for gifts/gift bags) to turn into toys. I also got a few actual cat toys. I need something new for them to help keep them busy while I’m working—Francine, especially. She is a Velcro cat when I’m around. I’m going to set her bed up next to my desk so she can be near me. She will get lots of treats when she’s in her bed instead of on me while I’m working.
As for the rats, they’ll revel in all the homemade food I’ll be preparing. Rats love scraps!
Photo by Janice Langbehn
Åse K. Lange (Norway) I can see online pet services—all kinds of classes, tutorials in grooming, maybe, and massage!—booming. As a client, I am going to proactively request/suggest online help/services, whenever possible, where I would otherwise have gone in-person . . . partly as a way to support my favorite trainers/care providers.
▪ Remember that any animal can be “trained”; that is, [any animal can] have fun with you in some way and also learn useful stuff. Animal care and training is EXCELLENT stress relief!
▪ Home-made treats and chews could certainly be an option, for those who have the time and energy.
▪ Take pictures and video of your adorable/cute/funny pet, and spam all your social networks with it. Work on your photography/editing skills! (Oh, and remember to be generous with the treats for the model.)
▪ Allow your pet(s) to be your reminder to GET OFF THE INTERNET periodically (even/especially if you’re working from home) and do something “IRL,” as the kids said 20 years ago.
My niece (age eight) and family are getting a puppy tomorrow. As schools and a bunch of other stuff is closed down here in Norway, this is actually pretty decent timing! I suspect a lot of pets may end up benefiting from their people spending more time at home with spare time to fill. (Yes, there will be plenty of negative side effects as well.)
I am 100% going to be nagging the new puppy owners about gradual being-alone training. This is something trainers should emphasize with clients who are home a lot now. I’m guessing most dogs without prior separation issues will adapt okay, but it’s still kinder to keep practicing and make the transition back to normal work hours a slope and not a cliff (mountain?). As a homebody/hermit who has the luxury of being home a lot and also taking my dog to many places I do go to, I have to remind myself to do this as well, especially with new pets! I’ve had one dog with bad separation issues, not eager to end up there again. It’s a PAIN (and heartbreaking).
How about fostering a pet while you’re spending most of your time at home?
Trudy Meakin Rogers (Washington) Yes, the needs for fostering actually increase during world medical crises. As a community has employment uncertainties, there comes a panic of “How do we care for our pets?” So the pets become wards of state animal-protection agencies. Many research studies show that caring for an animal during depressing times can help boost your morale. Considering we [here] are in an early spring, the need for fosters is early, too.
What would be some good ways for folks to show support for the dog walkers and pet sitters and dog daycares they might not need to use during this time because they’re home?
Amy Suggars (Ohio) People who are working at home could still use their dog walkers. This would keep the dog’s routine the same and allow for the worker to focus on her job. And if people are going to take day trips to keep the kids occupied, then they should hire their dog walker to come during that day. Every little bit helps and may be the difference in keeping that dog walker in business so that she’s available when life returns back to “normal.”
Leslie Eide (Washington) I recommend people continue to use their dog walker even if they are working from home. Let’s all work to keep our dog walkers in business.
Abigail Witthauer (Alabama) PLEASE bring your dogs to daycare! So, so many boarding, daycare, and training schools will be out of business within 30 to 60 days with no revenue streams. Most can survive without boarding if daycare numbers stay strong.
We are cleaning every surface every hour with bleach solution. We are seeing as many behavior clients as possible via remote video-conferencing. We are washing hands and have hand sanitizer at the front desk. We are allowing clients to call from the parking lot and sending employees out to retrieve and deliver dogs if requested. We are maintaining social distance from each other and our clients.
How about some educational and entertaining reading?
Here’s a new book, available through Dogwise and wherever books are sold:
Raising the Worst Dog Ever: A Survival Guide—by Dale Ward
https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Worst-Dog-Ever-Survival/dp/1733135006
Online are many resources—here are a couple that are free!
Anne Rogers (Ireland) We are starting another round of #100daysofenrichment to keep everyone busy and entertained!
100 Days Of Enrichment
https://aniedireland.wordpress.com/100daysofenrichment/
Laurie Zurborg (California) You can join our Free Canine Enrichment group. I’m going to be posting new daily very short exercises to do with household items.
The focus of this moderated Facebook group is to bring together like-minded dog enthusiasts who want to enrich their dogs’ lives through games, training, and lifestyle.
We focus on the philosophies of positive reinforcement that Wags and Wiggles Dog Daycare in Orange County, CA, has taught for 20+ years to thousands of local dog owners.
Free Canine Enrichment
https://www.facebook.com/groups/freecanineenrichment/
What are you doing to alleviate stress and to keep your pets healthy and happy during the time you and your family are spending most of your time at home? Let us know what’s working for you!
