When You Need Help, But Can't Leave Your House!

It's been a rough few weeks, right? So much misinformation out there about the spread of Covid-19 (the coronavirus), who is at risk, the symptoms, and even what to do if you think you might have been exposed. I know a lot of folks who are working from home in an effort to isolate themselves from both the virus and the panic. I agree that limiting unnecessary public interactions is likely prudent, I also know that this virus isn't going to go away in a month when the weather warms up; it will be around long term. We have to be in this for the long haul, practicing good hygiene and caring for one another. So, what does this have to do with your pets?

First off, they still need exercise. Please don't restrict them from getting their daily walks. Obviously if you are ill, they will miss the walks (unless someone else walks them for you), but getting them out for walks is low risk and good for your mental health as well as theirs.

Second, if your pet has a behavior problem, either one you've been putting off treating, or a new issue that has arisen, it won't go away on its own. While you may be hesitant to attend classes or seminars as that puts you in close physical contact with people you don't know, you can still get help. Many practitioners, including myself, offer remote assistance for your pets. I have clients around the country and around the world who I would never have had the pleasure of working with had it not been for my ability and desire to conduct both phone and video consultations. There is a lot that can be done via phone and video, believe it or not! If we do a video consultation, for example, I can see you and your pet, and you can see me if I'm demonstrating what I'd like you to do. While it may feel less than optimal, in reality, remote training and consulting can accomplish quite a bit and is by far better than doing nothing or hoping that you and your pet can wait until the world is a safer place.

I talked to a client on Saturday about this exact topic. She said she is still kicking herself for discontinuing puppy classes last year during the canine flu uproar. She attributes her now adolescent dog's fear of new places, new people, and other dogs to the fact that she missed socializing him during that critical period. While I agree that missing those puppy classes was not optimal, I also told her that he wasn't a lost cause. While we can't make up those experiences, we can make sure he has good experiences in the world now. She has to take him for walks and to new places so that he can learn that they are safe. It's really important for her to adjust her own attitude as her dog looks to her for comfort and reassurance. If she's panicking or worried or stressed, so is he! Dogs are much better at reading their human's body language and facial expressions than we are at interpreting theirs, and thus our own anxieties are often reflected in our dogs' behavior. Consequently, she and I will be working remotely on ways to keep her dog engaged when they are home, how to work on her confidence level with him out in public, and where to go to work with him that feels safe/low risk to her.

Our world has changed so much in the almost 30 years I've been a practicing animal behaviorist. Even the ability to have remote consultations with my clients beyond just over the phone is a wonderful development! Being able to help one another and take care of ourselves and our pets is important. Maybe we just need to get a bit more creative in how we get that done.

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

My office assistants are always supportive, even when they are sleeping on the job.