The Training Your Dog Needs Right Now
Erik Lam/stock.adobe.com
For most people reading this, it is currently rainy or snowy and cold outside. The holidays are over. There’s light at the end of the COVID-19 Pandemic tunnel (although things are still bleak right now, the vaccines are rolling out and there’s every reason to believe that things will start getting better - and maybe even “back to normal” this year).
That means you’re more likely to be working at home or at least spending more time inside your house because of weather. But the weather will improve and you might be heading back to work at some point.
It’s entirely possible that the dog you got in the last year has NEVER been left home alone since you’re having groceries delivered or at least one family member has been home with the new dog every single minute since she joined your family. You may not even know yet that your dog has separation anxiety.
Or maybe you’ve had your dog since before COVID and he had no problem in the past when you went to work, out to dinner, or to a movie. But your dog has gotten really used to you being home all of the time. You may not realize that your dog is about to be very upset when you leave.
So, NOW (while you have more flexibility) is the time to work on this.
If you got your dog/puppy in the last 13 months…
Set up a camera so that you can see your exit door and as much of the room around it as possible. You can use your laptop that has a camera in it, your iPad, or your spouse’s (or kid’s) phone. Set up a free Zoom meeting and log in with that camera and your own phone. And head out the door, leaving the dog alone entirely. Watch to see what he does. Does he look interested in your leaving but generally okay? Or does he look upset? How can you tell? Watch his body language AND his behavior. A relaxed dog will look relaxed - they’ll have a loose wiggly body; their tail will be in its normal position. An upset dog will have a stiffer body, their tail might be down or even tucked under their body, their ears may be drooping or pulled back in a way that doesn’t look like your pup does when hanging out with you on the couch. Dogs who are relaxed might nap (maybe near the door), go eat/drink, play with toys, or even cause a little mischief like counter surfing or getting into the trash. A dog with separation anxiety will act differently. They might pace (and generally be unable to settle), vocalize (whimpering, barking, howling), try to escape (often with damage around door frames or the flooring around the door), they might eliminate inside (though solidly house trained at other times), they might refuse food/water when left alone (even their favorite treats), and they might drool, vomit, or have diarrhea (signs you might expect on a body under stress just as humans under stress might get upset stomachs or headaches).
If your dog looks upset when left alone, you may want to start working on separation anxiety training. There are options from “do it yourself” plans to “full-service” plans where you get customized daily training instructions from someone specifically trained on treating separation anxiety training. There are different fees to match the different levels of support you get - but both options can be very effective.
Separation Anxiety can resolve quickly - or take many months. So, now is the time to get started working on this.
If your dog looks relaxed when you leave - congratulations! Read the next paragraph to make sure your dog stays comfortable being left alone.
If your dog has previously been comfortable being left alone…
If you’ve had your dog since before COVID and she never had a problem being left alone, you might expect that she’s going to be fine when you go back to working out of the home, spending time in grocery stores, or going out for date night to dinner and a movie. But she might have gotten really used to you being home and will be upset when you leave. So, what do you do?
Go back and read the instructions above for setting up a camera and watching your dog during a trial absence. Go for a walk around the block or just go sit in your car and watch your dog on camera. See how he does while you’re out for a while. If your dog looks comfortable, congratulations! But stay outside for a while. We want to make sure your dog has practice being left alone for longer periods - not just the amount of time it takes to go get the mail. Take a good book. Do this a couple of times a week for different amounts of time to keep your dog in practice.
If your dog looks uncomfortable, get help. This problem is quite modifiable - but it won’t likely get better all on its own. I recommend working with a CSAT - a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer. I’m happy to help myself or to refer you to another CSAT.
What else should you be thinking about?
Let’s assume your dog is comfortable being left home alone. What other training should you be considering right now?
How does your dog do with fireworks or the sound of thunder? There’s typically less thunder in Winter, so now’s your chance to teach your dog to be comfortable with thunderstorms before Spring comes. And we’re between holidays that typically result in fireworks - so if your dog appeared afraid during the last round of fireworks, now is your chance before the next holiday. I frequently see blog posts and questions in dog owner groups on social media a few weeks before July 4th (in the USA). But it’s too late then for anything other than management and medication. Start now to actually teach the dog that those loud booms are no big deal.
No problems with separation anxiety or sound sensitivity? Yay!
Is your dog muzzle trained?
I think we should be wary of proclamations that start off with “all dogs should…” Still, I think muzzle training is usually a good idea for most dogs. If your sweet and friendly dog gets an injury (think broken leg from an accident) and goes to the vet for help, she might snap at the vet during treatment. And I don’t blame her. She can’t say, “ouch, that hurts when you do that” so she might react in a totally normal way to say that - snapping. For the safety of everyone in the room, your dog might be muzzled. So, in addition to being in pain, your dog might be stressed by the muzzle. My dogs are comfortable wearing a muzzle JUST in case this day ever comes. A muzzle won’t be a big deal for them.
Tom Mitchell, a dog trainer from the UK points out in one of his classes that, dogs of all types and all ages at some point may need a muzzle for reasons other than aggression and training them in advance is preparing them for when it's their greatest need. “There is kindness in that," he says.
And I agree. Don’t wait until the dog requires a muzzle to slap one on them and upset them even more than they are. Teach them now to either not care about - or even to really like - wearing a muzzle. It’s probably easier than you think and I can tell you how.
Now, while you’re working at home, spending more non-working hours at home, between fireworks holidays, and while your dog is healthy, NOW is the time to train your dogs on these things.
Oh, one more thing:
If you have a puppy under five months old, your first priority should be socialization. Teaching a dog to feel safe in the presence of new people, things, animals, and events is critical. Fear is easy to install and difficult (and sometimes impossible) to resolve. The best thing you can do to set your dog up for a lifetime of fewer behavior problems is to get him socialized while he’s young. If you’re not sure how to do that, feel free to ask.
As a matter of fact, if you need help with any of the training described above, let me know. If I can’t help you myself, I’m happy to refer you to a qualified trainer who can.