While we humans have struggled to cope with the current pandemic, our furry friends have really benefitted from our increased time at home.
They have received more snuggles, more belly rubs, more treats and more love – even if you didn’t think that was possible! And even though we want to continue giving them all of this attention for as long as possible, it can be extremely overwhelming for them to go back to being alone all day very suddenly. This is why it is best for you and your family to begin preparing your pets for the time when you will go back to work and school now.
Below are some suggestions, according to an article from Today.com:
- Start off with short outings without your pet
- Begin by taking short trips to the store, walks without your pet, or any activity that will have you out of the house for no more than a few hours. If you gradually increase the time spent away from your pet, it will really help them to not feel so anxious or abandoned.
- When coming and going, maintain a calm demeanor and tone of voice
- This will help to make sure that your pet stays calm and doesn’t begin to associate you walking in/stepping out as something to get anxious or excited over. When you are coming and going, just make sure to give your pet minimal attention, no more than a few rubs, and walk out as normal.
- Consider leaving some music on
- One of the biggest things your pet got used to during quarantine was the increased noise levels in your house for most of the day. Just like with your physical presence, taking this away from them suddenly will cause distress as well. It may be soothing for them to have some soft music playing in the house while they are alone. The TV being turned on may also make them feel some normalcy, but that unnecessary expense on your electric bill may not be worth it.
- Keep them on a routine
- As hard as it might be to keep your pets on their normal routine while yours was ruined by the quarantine, it is very important to at least try to model it as closely as possible. This gives your pets a sense of rigidity, and the comfort of knowing that there are some things that won’t ever change, like their eating times, walking times and sleeping times.
Call us at Doggie Styles today if you have any questions about how to best acclimate your pet back to their pre-quarantine life, and to schedule an appointment!