3 ways the pandemic helped dog training (And 3 ways it didn’t)

The events of 2020 certainly altered the routines of our lives. The world of dogs has also been influenced by the global pandemic.

In some ways, dogs have benefitted from the changes. There is an upside! However, there has also been widespread, unwanted consequences.  Fortunately, there are pleasant solutions to the drawbacks. 

Let us look at some of the pros and cons of canine behavior during a quarantine. 

Pandemic Pros

1. Loose leash walking rules

   Social distancing, while training dogs to walk loosely on leash, has always been the norm for good dog training. Dogs tend to learn poor leash manners when they are allowed, entitled, or expected to greet other dogs or people on walks. This includes pulling, whining, barking, and lunging.  Whether your dog seems to like or dislike dogs or people on walks, they can learn to walk happily onward. This is easier to accomplish when other pedestrians give our dogs the space to practice impulse control on walks.
   For more on this topic, read our articles, “Why do you say not to let our dogs meet on leash?” and “ When do you allow dogs to meet on leash.”

2. Predictable daily training routines

   3 to 5 minutes, 3 to 5 times per day, is all that is required to attain most dog training goals. This can be done in the mornings and evening for those who still have jobs outside of the home. For those who are now home all day it has become even easier to incorporate this training.
   Some exercises require more overall duration, such as a settle lesson on a tether. However, it only takes a couple of minutes to set up, and thereafter it is a passive lesson.

3. Dog parks were closed

   They are now open, but at first, they were closed. Dog parks are highly likely to create, or exacerbate, a long list of behavior issues. Most successful dog trainers know that the easiest way to avoid critical setbacks, is avoid going to dog parks. To learn more about this topic, read this article by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers.  

Quarantine Cons

1. Separation anxiety

   Dogs who have become accustomed to the constant company of their people, are likely to experience stress, and even trauma, when the quarantine is lifted. We are already seeing a massive increase in cases of separation anxiety as well as a similar issue called, “isolation distress.” This increase is not only due to a new generation of “quarantine puppies”, but it is also becoming an issue for adult dogs. Fortunately, people can help their dogs practice separation during the stay-at-home order. A professional dog trainer can help you with ideas of how to do this. 

2. Under-exposure to new situations

   This issue pertains more to puppies and adolescent dogs than to dogs that learned about the world prior to the pandemic. In their formative months, it is important for dogs to form a positive, or neutral association with various stimuli they will encounter throughout their lives. This is the heart of good socialization.
   The problem of under-exposure existed before the pandemic, especially for puppies whose vets want the dogs to avoid touching the ground in public prior to six months of age. There are, however, many safe ways to help your dog experience the world, that also fit within approved safety guidelines for the humans.
   In Los Angeles, dogs and puppies are still allowed to attend daycare and boarding training programs. Contact “I Said Sit!”for more information on how we can help. 

3. Loss of life-long predictable routines

   Dr. Karen Sueda, a veterinarian behaviorist, was recently quoted in the New York Post, as saying, “Dogs thrive on consistency and predictability, as we all do, so any time there’s an abrupt change, it can cause stress.” For dogs, the pandemic affected the routines of eating, sleeping, pottying, and exercise. As a result, professional dog trainers are seeing an increase in destructive behavior as well as indoor potty incidents and various forms of excessive barking.
   It is our job to establish and maintain new predictable routines. These routines need to keep in mind the physical and mental needs of the dog. While our lives may seem to lack traditional structure, we can take extra effort to create structure for our canine companions. 

Suggesting solutions to each of the above issues is beyond the scope of this article.  Being aware of these “pros and cons” is a good start. Any course of action thereafter is going to depend on your dog, your household, your schedule, as well as the laws and ordinances in your local area. 

For every way in which the pandemic has helped dog training, there is a way for you to keep it up in the years to come. For the inherent drawbacks, and their negative impact on dog behavior, the time to act is now. For each of the above categories we suggest you contact a certified professional dog trainer.