Pets and their people in my city—in my state and neighboring states—have been stuck inside now for some days, in many cases, as a result of dangerous air quality caused by smoke from wildfires. Since spring, pets and their people all over the world have been getting to know each other a whole lot better after spending time together in the stay-at-home. But now we can’t go outside!
It’s another challenge that we people can’t explain to our pets. How do you think your pet perceives the pandemic? What has your pets’ behavior during the pandemic told you about them and maybe even about yourself? I asked friends on Facebook for their thoughts on this question:
What have you learned about your pets during the pandemic?
Colette Kase (Mexico) I learned that going for a daily walk didn’t make much difference to Rodney’s quality of life as long as I added some daily enrichment activities into the mix. Living in a city and forcing dogs into new territories, where they encounter dogs that they may or may not like, is not always of benefit to every dog.
Rodney was a street dog and street dogs tend to have very defined territories. I think dogs that have lived with humans their whole lives are more inclined to denote their territory with respect to the location of their owners. Dogs that aren’t as human-oriented, poorly socialized dogs, and dogs that have lived a free-ranging existence (I’ve had many ex-street/beach dogs) tend to associate territory with where they sleep and eat safely. So being forced to go off territory, which in his previous experience placed Rodney at great risk of attack by other street dogs, can make him somewhat over-vigilant and prone to reactivity if he is not managed carefully.
What Rodney has taught me is that some of my suspicions over the years have probably been correct. Not every dog benefits from walks if they are able to get the exercise and mental stimulation they require at home. Even dogs who can’t get that exercise at home may require some location scouting to find walks that make them feel most comfortable.
Photo by Colette Kase
Lynn Brezina (Illinois) Ask me again next year. I am very worried about all the puppies during COVID-19 with no one ever leaving them alone. I expect to see a lot of separation anxiety cases a year from now, or shortly after we all go back to life as we once knew it. It is so important for owners to teach their puppies it is okay to be alone. A regular crate-training routine—especially crating them when people are home—is very helpful in this regard.
As for my own dogs: Nothing new to report. I spend a lot of time raising and training my puppies with an eye toward preparing them for whatever I might throw their way on a daily basis. My schedule is variable regardless of the pandemic. I could be home, I could be out, I could be in and out on any given day. Not much has changed here.
Donna Weidert (Washington) Prince (cairn terrier mix), who turned 13 in May, has lost his hearing this year. He adores my husband, Dan, and seems happy that Dan is now working from home. He goes to the door of the office several times a day, just to check and make sure Dan is still there. Being home all the time now has made me realize how much Prince sleeps and how quickly the time has gone. Our time with him is limited and how sad that is.
Amy Shojai (Texas) I learned that our pets tune in to us on both an emotional and physical level. Had we not been home more and hyper-focused on Bravo, would we have recognized his limping as that serious? Thanks doG for being able to help him in this cancer journey that, in a strange fashion, resonates with us in a variety of ways.
Susan Ewing (New York) My Pembroke Welsh corgi, Gael—unlike any corgi I have ever had—tended to urinate indoors if we were gone for very long. Since the pandemic we are rarely away, and when we are out for a few hours, she is totally fine. We have had absolutely no problems. I think she’s glad to finally have some alone time!
Darcey Byrne (Washington) The girls (a flock of chickens) have enjoyed my presence since I retired in December 2019. They seem to really appreciate that we are home all the time now due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wait until they get a sitter next month!
Jill Gibbs (Montana) Alastor, five-year-old flatcoat retriever, learned that when I wear a mask, it is not necessary to try to pull it off my face. He didn’t figure this out until he almost broke my nose. I was never at home for any length of time because I was essential.
Trillium Schlosser (Oregon) My boxer/greyhound is anxious when we go outside right now—we have ash fall with live embers coming down. She barks at the embers, especially at night. I’m okay with it because she still responds to look at me, pees on command, and takes treats. My lab is responding to the boxer’s anxiety, but I expected that from her. Since her vision is so poor, she relies on the boxer for environmental cues.
Debby McMullen (Pennsylvania) That they really like it when I am home more, but they are confused by the whole “mom is working at the kitchen table” thing, especially when other dogs are barking or a squeaky toy is being used at the other end of Zoom. They do appreciate the LickiMats™ at that time, though.They really like the two enrichment walks per day thing. Initially they seemed to think that their sleep schedule was being disrupted. And now grocery trips are weirder. They took the whole mask thing surprisingly in stride.
Mark Cee (Washington) I’ve gotten to know my three cats’ unique personalities while I work from home. Jasper (three-year-old female), who sleeps on my head at night, likes to be in the office with me, but she keeps to herself. Francine (one-year-old female) loves to jump up in my lap when I’m in the middle of meetings and phone calls. Carol (?? year-old female) loves afternoon break time because that’s when I stretch out on my bed and she cuddles with me. They all have a routine as much as I do.
Gail Jackson (Missouri) That they really do sleep during the day while we work, if we are home or on-site.
Stephanie Milbrose (New Hampshire) That a few of them would be happier if we went back to work.
Teri Stripes (Washington) They both really do welcome their quiet crate time.
Gwen Jones (California) That they thrive with “mom” working from home. That our one people-loving dog is confused by social distancing.
Kathy Smith (North Carolina) I learned that Indy lives for (other than food) human contact. The dog literally whimpers when people won’t come pet him. He is a total fail at social distancing.
Gin Hughes (Oregon) That service dogs get depressed when they cannot go out and work as much as usual. My poor Bailey loves to go to “work” with mommy.
Janice Biniok (Wisconsin) I have learned how my dog feels being at home ALL day, EVERY day. No wonder the highlight of his day is getting out of the house to go for a walk! I will never underestimate the importance of getting my dog out of the house to do things ever again! I have now walked a mile in his shoes.
Carol McPherson (Wyoming) This time has taught me how adaptable our dogs can be. If they are robust and healthy, they can cope with more than we can give them credit for.
Sherry Al-Mufti (California) They’re really adaptable.
What have you learned about your pets during the pandemic? What has pleasantly surprised you? What was not a pleasant surprise? What could you have done differently long before the pandemic to avoid those unpleasant surprises? What could you start to plan for now? Our pets can adapt!
