Will My Dog Freak Out Once Quarantine Period Is Over? Yes, Say Experts

During the global novel coronavirus pandemic, most of us have been on a worldwide lockdown. Being forced to work from home for months on end, our dogs have become used to us being around all day.

They get much more attention comparing to usual circumstances, and even if they do not get all the playtime they want, they are still used to us simply being in their company for hours every day. But what happens as lockdowns ease and we have to go back to the office? Will our diligent dogs be able to handle it?

Our canine companions do very well under routine, it allows them to feel safe and they can predict what is going to happen next. When we break the routine and return back to work, our dedicated dogs are likely to suffer from separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is also known as a triggered behavioral response from our dogs when they are suddenly removed from their parents.

We certainly do not want our dogs to severely experience this when we go back to work and there are ways in which we can lessen the impact for them. Veterinarian consultant, Dr. Sara Ochoa, has a few tips for us:

• One of the things we can do is keep our dogs in a separate room when we work. By doing this they get used to the sense of being alone over time.
• It is also important that we should not give our four-legged family members too much extra attention during this time, as it will be more difficult for them to adjust once it is gone.
• We can also leave out toys, make sure we leave the house regularly, and try other forms of training.

These are great ways to keep our dogs feeling safe and sound, even when we can’t be there.

Feature Image Source: Pixabay