For just over a year now, we have been living in unusual circumstances due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Successive lockdowns, curfews—we have constantly had to adapt to new ways of life. While all these changes have consequences for us, the same is true for dogs!
Over-attachment, separation anxiety, boredom in dogs – the consequences of confinement can be numerous. Fortunately, it is possible to avoid them.
Lockdown, curfew: what changes to the daily lives of our dogs?
We've just learned that we're going into a third lockdown, but this time the rules are slightly different from the previous ones. The 7 pm curfew is still in effect, but daytime outings are permitted within a 10 km radius of your home without a permit or any other restrictions. This is good news for dog owners. You can walk your dog without any problems during the day!
For several months now, the dogs haven't been spending their days alone waiting for us. And that's a big change for them! While at first glance it seems very positive, in reality it can create problems. Indeed, your dog will get used to your presence, and, depending on its personality, it may tend to be constantly underfoot! If you're not careful, when we return to normal life and you're away from home for long periods, it could be very difficult for your dog. Having you always by its side can lead to what's called hyper-attachment .
How to prevent over-attachment in dogs?
When we adopt a puppy , it is just two months old and has not yet weaned from its mother. Consequently, it will transfer its attachment to its owner. Normally, around four months of age, the mother begins to wean her puppies to help them become independent. If you don't do the same, your dog will become overly attached, which will generate separation anxiety .
If your dog is overly attached to you, it will follow you everywhere in the house and only feel safe when you're there. Consequently, when you're away, it becomes anxious and seeks you out. It may destroy objects that smell like you, or even whine or bark to get your attention.
It is therefore important to avoid this situation both for your own sake and for the well-being of your dog .
We advise you to continue leaving your dog alone from time to time, and not to allow him to follow you everywhere. Learning to be alone begins in your presence.
You also need to initiate contact. If your dog brings you a toy or comes to you for cuddles, ignore him and call him back later. It's difficult, but it's necessary for your dog's well-being!
When you leave without him, don't say goodbye and leave as if you'll be back right away. When you return, take the time to put your things down before saying hello to your dog.
Finally, our last piece of advice is to make your absences positive . For example, you can give your dog his favorite toy when you're away. Only give it to him then, so the toy will be very valuable to him and the experience will be very positive for him.
Don't let boredom set in for your dog!
While many of you will have more free time during lockdown, for some it will be a different story. Between working from home and homeschooling, time for the dog will be limited! It's quite possible your dog will get bored even if you're home. To avoid this, make sure to provide him with puzzle toys or other enrichment activities . Also, whenever possible, take him out for walks outside his garden, as this allows him to explore his sense of smell, which is very important for him. You can also do some short training sessions. Keep in mind that mental stimulation is more important than physical exercise. So don't panic if you can't go for an hour-long run with your dog every day; there are other ways to keep him occupied!
Now, we also need to think about the post-lockdown period. So, if you take your dog out more often than usual because you have more free time, it will be very difficult for him to return to his old routine. Especially if you don't do it gradually. Dogs don't like having their routine disrupted! He could develop behavioral problems related to boredom .
To avoid this, try to maintain the same schedule and frequency of walks .
Now you know how to help your dog get through lockdown and even the post-lockdown period calmly. At BF Petfood, you'll find tablets and biscuits made with valerian and passionflower to help your dog cope better with all these changes.
Also, be careful not to change your routines and rules at home. It might be tempting to be more lenient in these exceptional circumstances, but that's a bad idea; your dog simply wouldn't understand!
