We are living in very new and challenging\r\ntimes. The spread of the coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) has developed\r\ninto a full pandemic and we are learning new phrases and finding ourselves in\r\nnew situations in our efforts to help slow the spread of the virus. Social\r\ndistancing and self-isolation are now commonly used in the media and in our\r\ndaily lives, whereas about three or four weeks ago, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d have been hard pushed\r\nto find anyone that really knew what they meant!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
These are certainly difficult times. We all\r\nneed company in our lives and the ability to get out and about. These simple\r\npleasures are now being seriously challenged, with the vast majority of us\r\nbeing encouraged to stay home and avoid all unnecessary contact with others and\r\nunnecessary trips outside of the four walls and garden fence we call home. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
So, what if you own a dog or two? How does the\r\ncurrent situation affect you and your pal(s)? What can we do to make the best of\r\nthe extra time we have to spend with our four-legged friends? In this post,\r\nthat\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s exactly what we are going to look at \u00e2\u20ac\u201c tips and advice about what you\r\ncan do so that you and your canine buddy get the best out of these trying\r\ntimes. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Dogs (and Cats) Are Not Affected by the\r\nVirus<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Firstly, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s important to be aware that you can’t catch the virus from pets and according to the WHO, there is no evidence that your pet dog or cat can pass on the new coronavirus<\/a>. However, be cautious while out walking your dog as there is some indication that dogs may be able to carry it on their coat and so transfer it from one household to another, just as we can on our hands. Consequently it’s important to avoid letting them mingle with other owners and their dogs, do not allow other dogs jump up on you and remember to always use good hygiene practices around animals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Tighten Your Bond<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s likely that your normal day to day life\r\nis filled with going to work, doing daily chores and visiting friends and\r\nfamily. Even if you are the most committed pet parent, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s likely you still\r\nonly had a certain amount of time that you could spend with your furry friends.\r\nHowever, many of us are now in a situation where the amount of free time we\r\nhave to spend with our pets has increased exponentially. And if you have to\r\nspend time away from people, we know of no way better to spend it than with our\r\npets. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Although you will probably need to spend a large percentage of the time indoors, unless your area is under a strict lockdown situation you should be able to walk your dog, as long as you follow the guidelines about interactions with other humans. Some ideas for outdoor exercises to strengthen the bond with your dog<\/a> may tempt you to try something new. Just remember to use your head and follow the rules of social distancing, as well as general common sense. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n We don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know about you, but we feel there is\r\na certain joy to be told you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to keep up the normal social niceties\r\n(and don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be tempted to)! You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to stop and chat to other dog owners.\r\nInstead you can go to the local park, or a less frequented area and focus on\r\nmaking the most of time spent with your waggly-tailed pal. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n As dogs are pack animals who love attention\r\nfrom others in their pack, especially from you as their pack leader, they will\r\nappreciate the extra time you spend with them. As a result, although things\r\nwill certainly be strained and difficult in many ways until the spread of\r\nCoronavirus and risk of catching it decreases, now is a great time to develop\r\nthe relationship that you have with your dog. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Put Them Through Their Paces <\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Has there been a specific trick or part of your dog\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s training that you have not had the time to focus on due to the commitments of your normal daily life? Now you can get those tutorials, those treats and toys and get to it. Check out our post on \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcNational Train Your Dog Month\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/a> which includes lots of insights into dog learning and the do\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s and don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ts of training your furry friend. Our \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcTraining Humans\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/a> series is another great place to start learning more about the why\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s and how\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s of training your dog. YouTube is also a fantastic resource for dog training techniques, and by the end of it all your pooch could be the next Lassie! <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Our Favourite Training Tasks<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n There are many things you could teach your dog, some essential tasks or behaviors and others just downright fun! Remember to have some handy treats to reward them for the correct behavior and to help reinforce the learning experience. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcPotty\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 training<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If\r\nyour pup is still less than perfect when it comes to their toilet habits, now\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s\r\nyour chance to set up some dedicated time to nail this habit for good. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n