Hey Woofa’s,

This year is really testing our strengths and weaknesses!

Who would’ve thought way back on New Years Eve 2019 that in 2020 a virus would come our way and change the world?

Our lives have changed and I can only hope for the better, once all this is done and dusted.

We are spending so much more time at home.  The introvert in me really hasn’t noticed too much of a change.  I love being at home and I already work from home, so same same (but slightly different) for me.

Add to that the cooler weather that has arrived – we currently have our fireplace on – and I’m even less inclined to want to leave the house anyway.

Dean and I are EXTREMELY lucky in that our home and work life hasn’t really changed too much.

However, many of my customers, friends and family are feeling the effects of isolation.  Most are now working and/or schooling from home and others have lost jobs : (

The one thing that everyone is telling me is how much their dogs are enjoying everyone being at home more.  Our dogs (and the introverts/hermits) are the only ones who seem to be enjoying isolation.

You see, not only have our routines changed but so has theirs!  BEFORE, our dogs would be left alone while everyone one went to work/school.  NOW, their people are home all day everyday and it’s so exciting!!

One of my customers mentioned how much her dog is loving her being at home all the time.  She sets up his bed right by her when she’s working from the dining table and he stays in it while she’s working.

She also mentioned how he struggles now even when she leaves to go buy groceries, and how he’s going to find it hard when she has to go back out to work.

This triggered me into thinking about all the other dogs out there who will be feeling the same way as our restrictions start to ease.

So I’ve put together a list of things we can do that may help ease our dogs out of isolation mode.

HOW TO EASE YOUR DOG OUT OF ISOLATION MODE!

With our restrictions starting to ease, we need to help our dogs readjust as everyone starts to leave the home again.

Here are some things to try BEFORE everyone just ups and leaves the house again.

1. Head out (safely & where possible) for small amounts of time each day –  Start with 10-15mins and then work it up to longer a little bit at a time.  So your dog can get use to being left alone again.
2. Start walking your dog outside of your work hours –  Say you would normally be at work from 9am to 5pm, walk your dog either before that time or after that time.  So when you actually do go back to work/school your dog’s not sitting there expecting a walk at 10am or 1pm etc.  Get them back into a walking routine.
3. Give your dog some alone time –  Your dog needs to feel independent again with everyone out of the house.  So while you are at home, leave them alone.  Give them some outside time or you go out for a bit.
4. Use treat toys –  If your dog isn’t handling you leaving very well, give them a treat toy when you leave the house.  This will keep them occupied for a time while you are gone.  Remove the treat toy after you return, so they see it as a reward for being good while you are away.
5. Don’t make a big fuss –  When you return from being out, don’t make a big fuss about it.  If your dog is all excited don’t pet them until they are calm.  Our goal is to have a calm dog, petting them while they are calm rewards them for being calm.  Petting them while they are all excited means it’s a big deal that you left, and we don’t want them thinking that.
6. Calming sounds –  you could try playing some calming music (not loud) while you are gone, ones especially made for dogs.  Of if your dog is use to the TV, leave it on low to soothe them.
7. Other calming tools – there are calming treats, calming collars with pheromones on them to help soothe your dog, diffusers and jackets to try.  You know your dog best, so you’ll know what will work.  If you’re unsure, ask around.
8. Medications – as a last resort if your dog is becoming destructive and/or distressed while you are gone speak to your trusted vet about what you could try.  This would be with a short term view, in the long run you could plan a strategy with a trusted dog behaviourist/trainer to help stop the behaviour.

The main objective here (as is for all of us) is to ease our dogs back to normal after isolation.  They have had their people around 24/7 for months and all of a sudden they’ll be gone again.

We want to do this with as little fuss as possible, so if we start to do it little by little now, by the time we’re all back to normal, it won’t phase them at all.

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?

If anyone (besides hermits and introverts) has enjoyed their time in isolation it’s our dogs.  They have loved having their people around them 24/7!!

Most dogs love being with their people – but as restrictions ease and we slowly make our way back out into the world, our dogs will start to suffer.   Their time with us will change again.

We need to ease them back to normal bit by bit.

Be kind, be patient and be understanding as they transition too.

IN THE COMMENTS BELOW – BILLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW – HOW YOU PLAN TO EASE YOUR DOG OUT OF ISOLATION?

CHEERS