How To Keep Your Dog Simulated

Cork Animal Behaviour Clinic has seen a 50% increase in dogs suffering from separation anxiety.

Liane, who now does a majority of her consultations online, told Cork Beo: “There are some positives and then there are negatives to this situation.

“The positives would be that people do generally walk their dogs more. So there are certain issues that we see less of in regards to under stimulation, like excitability for instanced.”

She added that pet owners can use this downtime to really get to know their pets a bit better, and find out what they really need.

Liane says that one of the main negative effects of lockdown on pets is the issue of separation anxiety, and the clinic has seen a 50% increase in dogs suffering from being away from their owners even for short periods.

“People are around their pets more often, so we do see more separation-related behaviour issues like hyper attachment, right up to separation anxiety.

“The reason for that is that puppies in particular never learned to be away from the family, or to be away from the owner, and that's a big problem".

How to keep your dog simulated. Liane advises dog owners to “give their dog some time alone during the day as well, especially with puppies”. “We're so conditioned to keep them stimulated and give them something to do all the time,” she said.

“But what we're forgetting very often and especially with puppies and dogs that are still developing, is that they need some downtime as well.

“I'm always telling new dog owners that they need to be away from the owner maybe in a crate, maybe in a different room, even for a few hours in between doing exercises doing work and giving them food even in order to prevent those issues because they are preventable.”

A sign that your dog is suffering from separation anxiety can be quite easy to spot, according to Liane.

“The first thing I would look out for is your dog following you around the house. If a dog is asleep in their bed the owners leave the room, and the dog follows them, that is not normal." As well as overstimulation, some dogs can often suffer with under stimulation".

“There are breeds that are more prone or predisposed to under stimulation, energetic breeds such as collies would be number one on the list.

“Springer spaniels, staffies - those are dogs that need more stimulation in most cases. They're also more intelligent breeds.”

Stimulation is more than just a couple of walks a day, says Liane.

“Even if the owners go for walks with the dog, it doesn't mean that they're still balanced, because like a dog like a collie for instance, also needs a lot of mental stimulation. “The mental simulation can happen inside the house. Things like brain games for instance, like the Kong, it’s an awesome tool for puppies.

“You're looking for games that play into the breed specific capability of the dog. Most of the time we’d be looking at something where the dog can actually use their nose, because it does have a big effect on the brain if a dog is using their nose in order to solve a problem.

“Obedience training for a few minutes a day is great for stimulation, just basic obedience commands, but also teaching them tricks - that's fun for the owners.

“If there's kids in the family, it’s great for them as well to have more structured interactions with the dog rather than just excited to play and cuddling.”

Liane issued the following advice for those looking to provide their dog with some company:

“When choosing a companion for an existing animal, it's very important to look at the temperament and the energy level, and often the age of the other dog as well. So if somebody has an older dog that is already struggling with physical issues like arthritis, it is very, very difficult for that animal to cope with a puppy that wants attention constantly.”

Liane said that another issue she sees becoming more prevalent after lockdown is dogs struggling with socialisation.

“After lockdown I think this will become a massive issue, socialization both towards other dogs and socialization towards people as well.

“The first thing I would say is if a dog is insecure about another dog, don't force them into direct interaction,” she said. is if a dog is insecure about another dog, don't force them into direct interaction,” she said.

is if a dog is insecure about another dog, don't force them into direct interaction,” she said.