It's Not All Bad!

Several months back, I wrote a blog post about some of the dangerous, misleading, and misguided pet videos you find on social media. Since then, I've had clients sending me all kinds of pet videos from their social media feeds, asking for my take on the content.  By and large, many of these videos are horrifying (kids sitting on dogs, people putting their babies on dogs while the dogs are sleeping, babies curled up on cat trees, kids kissing dogs on the lips, etc.), but there have also been a refreshing number of positive videos, showing good relationships between kids and animals, built on respect and love.  

One of my favorite accounts features videos of a dog name Elvis, a Labrador Retriever who arrives for spa days with his female owner.  I find Elvis's spa days almost as soothing as he does! Here's a link to one of Elvis's spa days with mom:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_YVVxNovyb/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

Now, there is also a wonderful video of her son who wanted to give the dog a spa day for his birthday. This was one of the videos sent to me that reminds that not all kids are put at risk and that many can be supervised around the family pets and treat them gently and with care. Definitely watch the video with the sound on to hear the dog's happy snores of content:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGbEbZwoOzi/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

In this second video you see a child gently handling the dog's face and feet, no squeezing the dog unnecessarily, no mishandling.  Yes, the child does kiss the dog, but the dog clearly enjoys the attention, no lip licking, gaze averting, or trying to escape.  The video shows a nice relationship between a child and a dog being supervised by a parent. The dog clearly trusts the child and vice versa.

So, why am I sharing this with you today?  Well, because it's summer time and the kids are home with the family pets.  Most of these family pets are used to the kids being around in the late afternoon and evenings, and a bit more on weekends, but now those same kids are home all the time.  For a lot of pets, summer time with the kids out of school is stressful. Here's what you can do to try to help ease the anxiety your pets may be feeling:

1.  Keep to the usual routine as much as possible.

2.  Give your dogs and cats frequent breaks and easy escape routes.

3.  Remind your kids not to bother pets while they are sleeping.

4.  Remind your kids that dogs and cats, for the most part, don't enjoy hugs and kisses, but they do enjoy snacks!

5.  Have the right snacks readily available for your kids to give your pets BUT ONLY WITH SUPERVISION!

6.  Put your kids to work helping fill water bowls, wash out bowls, wipe up spilled water, replace pet toys in the toy boxes, etc.  

7. Invite your kids when you walk the dog.

8.  Teach your kids to properly use a flirt pole to play with a dog or a wand for a cat.

9.  Teach your kids to get a dog or cat's attention first before approaching so they don't startle the pet.

10. Teach your kids to call the family pet to them using an upbeat voice and then wait to see if the pet responds. If they don't move toward the child, then the child should move on and do something else. Consent is the key!

And if you and your kids are tempted to try a spa day with your dog, take it slow.  These videos are perfect examples of cooperative care, teaching pets to accept routine handling (and some special handling like those cucumbers on the eyes!) as part of their lives. Make grooming, including nail trims and teeth brushing, part of your pet's everyday life and include your kids so that they know the right way to handle their canine and feline friends.

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

Here's Zelly practicing for her next spa day!