Animal organization Blue Cross warns dog owners to be on the lookout for signs that their pup is stressed, which she says could lead to behavioral problems.
Obvious signs that a dog is stressed include loss of appetite, aggression, having its tail between its legs, or backing up someone or something, says Blue Cross.
Subtle signs of stress that are more easily overlooked include excessive panting, walking back and forth, a dog licking his lips when not eating or drinking, and pinning his ears back.
The UK charity is concerned that thousands of dogs could be sold or abandoned if the signs of stress are misinterpreted as a personality disorder.
Subtle signs of stress that an owner may miss or misinterpret include excessive panting, walking back and forth, licking lips (when not eating or drinking), and pinning his ears back
“Signs of stress can be easily overlooked or misunderstood,” Karly Smith, animal behaviorist at Blue Cross, told MailOnline.
For example, we think that a dog that yawns is just tired, or that if it doesn’t eat, it just isn’t hungry.
“Both could, in fact, be signs that your dog is worried about something.”
Blue Cross is also concerned that some dogs may be stressed and develop behavioral problems if home routines start to change when the Covid 19 lockdown ends.
Dogs bought as puppies in the last year have only known what it’s like to always have their family around them.
The sudden change when owners commute back to the office can cause separation anxiety in dogs.
Owners should therefore acclimate their dogs to short half-hour periods of being alone now to get them used to the fact that they may be alone for much longer.
Obvious signs that a dog is stressed include loss of appetite, aggression, having its tail tucked between its legs, or backing up someone or something, says Blue Cross.
Over the past year, Blue Cross has received more than 500 calls to its policy from concerned owners in need of advice.
“A lot of the calls last year were due to pets struggling with changes in their routine, where people and families were more at home,” said Claire Haynes, another animal behaviorist at Blue Cross.
Dogs like a routine and the new normal can be confusing and stressful for them.
With routines starting to change again, this can be a shock and lead to more stressed pets and behavioral problems if the cues are not spotted early and treated correctly.
“In the most severe cases, stress can lead to undesirable behavior, such as aggression and health problems.”
In the UK, hundreds of dogs bought as puppies last year are left in lockdown by owners who claim they don’t have the time or resources to take care of them, it was recently revealed.
As some people have paid large sums of money for new dogs and puppies during the lockdown, and prices continue to rise due to demand, some owners may try to sell their dog online to get some of their financial investment back. to earn.
Vendors have flooded pet websites with ads for dogs between the ages of six and 12 months, and many young puppies are popping up in shelters.
Puppies in particular have missed a normal life for the past year – they couldn’t take training classes due to lockdown measures.
This lack of training and socialization only increases the risk of behavioral problems.
Blue Cross therefore urges people who may be struggling with a pet’s behavior to seek support and advice from a charity or registered trainer, rather than giving up and reselling the animal to a new owner.
Dr. Roger Mugford, an animal psychologist used by the royal family, has advised dog owners to take a 30-minute break from their pets several times a day to help them be alone when the lockdown ends.
Blue Cross also believes that owners should plan ahead and now gradually adjust their routines to ensure their pets are ready for ‘the new normal’.
In some cases, dog owners can take their pets on public transportation to keep them company throughout the day.
“ If you travel to work with your dog, practice walking the route with him or her so that by the time you return to the office, your dog can confidently travel with you on the train or subway, ” Smith said .
If you plan to leave your dog at home while you go to the office, make sure to rebuild the time you spend outside them so they can get used to you not always being there.
We never recommend leaving a dog at home alone for an extended period of time, so if necessary, make sure you arrange a dog sitter or someone who can trust your pet or build that trust so you can rest assured that you leave them together. .
“Start slowly making changes to your daily routine.”
For more advice, concerned owners can visit Blue Cross’s dedicated web page on stress in dogs.
Dogs will suffer from ‘extreme separation anxiety’ when lockdown is lifted after getting used to pampering, Queen’s corgi trainer reveals
Dr Roger Mugford, pictured in his Surrey home, an animal psychologist used by the royal family, said owners should prepare their pets for returning to a normal routine to avoid problems.
The Queen’s corgi trainer has claimed that dogs will experience “ severe separation anxiety ” when the lockdown is lifted after pampered puppies get used to having their owners at home.
Dr. Roger Mugford, an animal psychologist used by the royal family, said owners should prepare their pets for returning to a normal routine to avoid problems.
Speaking to The Times, the Chertsey specialist, Surrey explained that while people work from home, dogs can build up a ‘huge reservoir’ of over-dependence ‘which could cause them to suffer at a later date.
Left alone, dogs can chew the house, annoy neighbors with constant barking, urination and pooping inside, sometimes even injuring themselves.
“Put a webcam on your dog and you’ll see howling and pacing and other signs of distress,” he said.
He advises owners to take a 30-minute break from their pets several times a day so they can be more easily alone when the lockdown ends.
Fear in humans has increased during the coronavirus pandemic, which claimed more than 16,000 lives in the UK and infected more than 125,000 people.
Many have relied on their pets for emotional support, Dr. Mugford explains.
He said pets will see a “ huge shock ” when the lockdown is lifted, and they’ll need short structured training sessions in the meantime.
The trainer has been a helping hand to the royal family for years, helping train Princess Anne’s dog Dotty in 2002 after biting two children at Windsor Great Park.
He also visited Windsor Castle to help the Queen control her corgis and dorgis, which are Daschund corgi crosses.
Dr. Mugford, who also trains the dogs of celebrities and rock stars, was called in to help when the monarch had eight or nine dogs, and “ pretty dangerous ” fights broke out between them.
The trainer helped solve that particular problem, but said the Queen is a “ great dog owner and trainer, ” adding that she could have easily done his job in her younger days.
“She’s quite methodical and uses rules-based procedures,” he said.