Coronavirus response #traintokeepsane
There’s no doubt about it, these are challenging times and the reality of the Coronavirus is pretty daunting. It means big changes around the world, in our cities, our towns, our local businesses, our homes and in us as people too. Whether you’re in voluntary self-isolation, your work or school has shut down and told you to work from home, or even if you’ve tested positive for COVID-19, life is going to be a bit different for a while. That doesn’t mean it has to be miserable though!
Many of you will be getting a lot more time back into your day – no more early alarms, commuting to work, nor will you need to spend time getting dressed up, doing your hair and make-up or potentially even going to the gym. My plea to you – give some of that time back to your dog!
I have committed to sharing more knowledge and ideas, fun content to make you laugh and inspiration to help you and your dog enjoy little training sessions each day that will make you both happier. Whether you’ve got some challenging behaviours you’d like to address, you want to tire your dog out without having to rely on physical exercise, or you just want to have fun and learn some new things, I would love to help!
Myself and some other dog trainers are using the hashtag #traintokeepsane to encourage more owners to get involved during this crazy time. Join in as much or as little as you like – we’d love to have you along for the ride!
How does COVID-19 affect our dogs?
Dogs might not be able to get sick from COVID-19, but they may spread the infection if they have been sneezed on or are carrying infected particles, in the same way as any other objects or surfaces in a home where someone is sick.
More information here - Coronavirus and Pets: FAQ’s for Owners (Uni of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine)
That just means we need to be a bit more careful about who they come into contact with (humans and other dogs).
Dogs still need exercise, and more importantly, socialisation!
Socialisation doesn’t just mean seeing other dogs (although that’s still very important), that means being exposed to different experiences in safe and positive ways.
If you have a puppy (0-6 months) or teenage dog (6 months to 2-3 years old) this is a REALLY important time in their development. Don’t keep them isolated unnecessarily!
Tips for surviving with your dogs
Embrace #ditchthebowl! You’ve got more time for their meal times to be a fun way to train, get them using their brain and nose as well as tiring them out in a healthy, happy way.
I’ve got loads of ideas HERE and I’ve created a video to inspire you below!
Try some trick training – there’s loads of great resources online including the amazing Emily Larlham’s YouTube channel Kikopup. This is a great one for the kids to get involved with too!
Embrace the quiet! There will be fewer people and dogs around in public spaces near your home, so take the opportunity to practice things like recall and focus outdoors with fewer distractions.
Even if you can’t take your dogs to see other people, change up your physical appearance! See what you have in the cupboards to dress up - wigs, hats, big coats, umbrellas, glasses or even make some masks. Don’t scare your dog but see how they respond and make sure to have treats handy to make this a fun, positive experience for them.
Think differently about your neighbourhood and what you can help your dog experience that isn’t necessarily just a park. Stick to Government lockdown requirements but think about whether there’s an opportunity to get them used to crossing buzzers, buses or trucks, not saying hello to other dogs or people (great to practice), seagulls at the beach, Courier drivers even loud music!
Go on a ‘sniffari’ - let their nose set the direction! Letting your dog sniff is an excellent way to let them get to know more about the world they live in. Watch this great video from Dr Alexandra Horowitz - How do dog’s see with their noses?
Sound sensitisation is a GREAT one to work on now as well. Try playing some videos / audio during their mealtimes of things like fireworks, skateboards, motorbikes, busy urban noise, animals, dremels, vacuum cleaners, hair dryers and more - anything your dog might not have heard before, or isn’t too sure about. Start quietly but over time increase the volume if they aren’t reacting (watch their body language - see blog here for more details).
Companion Animal Psychology have also released some great tips here (note this is a US website)
Over the next few weeks (and likely months) I will be releasing content to help you not only get through this crazy time, but to also benefit from it! By investing in your relationship with your dog and keeping both of your brains busy with fun distractions, you’ll enjoy the benefits of progress no matter what your goals are.
Last but not least, I will also be changing the way I do my business. We’re still training but we’ll be doing things a little differently. See more about the changes here.
Part of the inspiration for this was a great quote recently from a NZ businessman called Glenn Marvin at Konnector:
“Let's replace the term Social Distancing with Physical Distancing and keep social contact a prominent part of our everyday activity. Phone, Facetime, Skype calls etc to get real (Visual) interaction with those in our lives.”
Through my training business, I hope to keep in contact with more people, connect more people and inspire more social interaction to combat the challenges of limited or physical contact.
I look forward to anyone and everyone who embraces the opportunity! #traintoskeepsane