Dr. Stefanie Schwartz has always had four-legged patients with separation issues.
And while the Orange County-based veterinary behaviorist, who runs the site petbehavior.org, hasn’t seen an uptick just yet, she expects to see even more cases of dogs with separation issues as the coronavirus pandemic wanes, even in pets who have been with their owners for years and were already used to being home alone but wound up spending all day with their owners for the past year.
“It could be that they’re starting to lose that coping mechanism that allowed them to tolerate the owners absence,” she said,
One of the unintended results of having to stay at home because of the coronavirus pandemic has been people spending a lot more time with their pets.
“It’s been so comforting for people to have their pets. They’ve been isolated and stressed and worried and having a pet is such a grounding relationship. They provide unconditional love,” said Marcia Mayeda, director of Animal Care and Control for the County of Los Angeles.
A new report by Kinship Partners, a data collecting organization that focuses on pets, shows how important pets have been to people during the pandemic.
According to the report, which surveyed more than 1,000 pet owners online, 84% of pet owners said COVID-19 made them realize how much they benefit from having their pet around, and 81% said that if it weren’t for their pet, 2020 would have taken a greater emotional toll.
But now, as restrictions ease and people are returning to work outside the home office, life is about to change for many dogs who will be left alone at home all day for the first time in a year, which could cause emotional toil for pets.
Some of the signs dog owners should look out for to determine if their dogs are going through separation anxiety are destructiveness, excessive barking, going to the bathroom in the house and aggression towards the owner.
Experts say it’s important to prepare your pets so they can once again get used to being home alone during the day.
1. Get in a routine
If your pandemic routine has consisted of getting up and working from home in your PJs with your dog laying by your side, you can’t just suddenly start going to work without having prepared your dog with a new routine first, said Redlands-based dog behaviorist and trainer Sue Feenstra, founder of Redlands Rover Ranch dog daycare.
“The key with separation anxiety is to establish a set routine for your dog, that the same thing happens every day,” Feenstra said.
The new routine should include plenty of exercise in the form of a daily morning walk before work or just throwing the ball around in the backyard at the same time every day. This helps your dog burn off excess energy, which in turn will make them less anxious, she said.
“If all of the sudden you hit this dog with a brand new routine and then you’re just gone, a lot of things can happen to your house. Dogs with separation anxiety can be extremely destructive,” she said.
2. Leave them some toys
Boredom can increase anxiety in a dog so it’s a good idea to leave them with something that will keep them occupied for a long period of time, like toys. But not just any toy.
“Get them puzzle toys that can hide treats inside to keep them occupied when you’re gone,” Mayeda said. “It will take up a lot of their time and focus and they can spend a couple of hours working on them trying to get the treats out,” she said.
Dr. Schwartz said owners should also consider leaving them with something they can chew on for a long period of time, such as a rawhide treat, because gnawing can help them deal with stress.
“It helps them release their anxiety and it gives them something to look forward to when you leave,” she said.
3. Hire a dog walker
If your dog is having a lot of trouble being left alone, Mayeda recommends hiring a walker to come at the same time every day. Not only will your dog get to go out and walk and play, but it also establishes a routine that helps them deal with anxiety.
4. Get a friend
If you have only one dog and your pet is social with other dogs, perhaps consider adopting a friend for your dog so they can play together while you’re gone, Mayeda said. Plu,s she said, you will have rescued a homeless pet.
5. Find a doggie daycare
For dogs that don’t like to be alone, a daycare can be a good solution since they can play and interact with people and other dogs and they don’t even have to go everyday.
“Usually the dogs are really tired the day after, and the day after they get to rest so that can work really well for a lot of people,” Feenstra said.
6. Play pretend
One of the keys to preparing dogs to stay home alone is to get them ready little by little. People can do this by pretending that they’re going to work.
Dr. Schwartz recommends that people begin by walking to the door and picking up their keys so the dog notices, but then don’t go anywhere. Then, gradually go out for short periods of time at the same time you would plan on leaving for work.
“You prepare the dog and get them used to brief but more frequent separations, especially at the time of day when you plan to be leaving for work so they start to get used to it in advance,” she said.
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6 ways to help your dog deal with being alone all day as the coronavirus pandemic wanes - LA Daily News
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