If COVID-19 upended our routines and those of our pets, then the post-lockdown period has disrupted the daily lives of our furry friends yet further.
The stop-start, in-out nature of the new normal for pets
If the pet who shares your home had long been settled into a familiar daily pattern pre-COVID, then coronavirus restrictions meant you were home with them like never before. Now that society has opened up, suddenly, many of our pets have returned to spending their days alone once more.
If you had been furloughed but are now working from home, it means you are still there in person for your pets, but you probably don’t have the time to lavish as much attention on them any longer.
Separation anxieties for pets and owners
All that change plays havoc with the behaviour of animals. Separation anxiety is a common problem for dogs, cats, rabbits and even some birds and reptiles.
We might even suffer separation stresses ourselves if we’re now away from our pets for prolonged periods. Animals can pick up on our own tensions with the potential for compounded anxieties.
It’s a head-scratcher for sure. If your pet is struggling to adapt to all this change, there are steps you can take to alleviate their confusion, anxiety and resulting negative behaviours.
How can I prepare my pet for the post-lockdown routine?
Every animal is different, but preparing them in advance for a change in routine can help alleviate pet stress and separation anxiety when the next change comes.
You will have naturally fallen into a new routine during lockdown. This may have included more regular walks at new times of the day, such as work breaks and lunchtime. Perhaps your pet became accustomed to being fed when your first zoom meeting of the day ended or you had a snack together during the afternoon.
By gradually shifting your pattern to the one that will soon be in place, you can help your dog or cat to learn when it can expect company, food or a toilet break in the “new normal”.
Remind them how to spend time alone
Your pet will have enjoyed all the time that you had together when work was closed or you were working from home. You can build a new routine of togetherness as your daily routine changes.
If you will be confining your pet to one room once more, consider adding a baby gate to the door or a crate. You will need to slowly introduce this new daytime “home” and implement it firmly from the first day of the change. You might notice some negative behaviours for a while, but your pet should soon settle.
Then, after the time alone, find new ways to connect with your pet every day. Instead of popping to the shop on your way back from the office, consider heading home first, then take a walk together to fetch groceries instead.
Get a little extra help from nature
Natural calming supplements and sprays are great for keeping your pet calm whilst you are out of the house or in a different part of the home for longer periods. As you won’t be able to spray your home to maintain the calming effects all day long, a diffuser will deliver a fine mist throughout the course of the day.
At Pet Remedy, we stock a wide range of pet calming and pet anxiety products that can help to reduce the stress your pet may feel. Click here to find out more about how our natural de-stress products work to restore pet harmony.
If you are adapting to new routines yourself, ensuring your pet feels calm and relaxed is an important way to reduce your own anxieties.
