Preparing dog for when life goes back..

[Takingontheworld]

Ddog was never left alone long. Perhaps half an hour a day, if that. Once a week up to 4 hours, sometimes not.

He hasn't had a single minute alone for 10 weeks and in the process of DH being furloughed, has become so bonded to the dog in a way he didn't have previously. He's besotted with him having had all the time he usually misses out.

This is going to be a nightmare.

How do we prep the poor dog from a broken heart when we start returning to school and work?

We all went out for an hour today and it’s the first time our dog has been alone since about March 15th , he was usually left for a couple of hours a couple of times a week . He was absolutely fine , as soon as he saw us all putting shoes on he went and sat on his bed ready for his treat and when we came back had moved himself into the front room . He actually looked a bit put out that we came back so soon I think he was enjoying some me time .

I have gone out and had my coffee in the car just so they hear the door close etc and are alone.

Start now. Leave him home alone and go for a walk, even if it's just to the end of the drive and back. Then slowly build up to longer periods of time.

If he really struggles could you hire a dog walker for the days where it's going to be four hours? As a dog walker myself, I often take dogs out for a couple of hours to break up the day, or just go in and sit with them for a while and let them out so they're not alone.

I think a LOT of dogs are going to struggle when things go back to normal.

I've wondered about this, I had to train my rescue Lurcher out of separation anxiety when we got him and think I'll be doing the same again!
Lockdown is Dog heaven!

Teach hour dog to ADORE stuffed kongs (lots of great recipes online) and once he’s really enjoying them start building up his tolerance to being left gradually so a really yummy kong and step out of the room ( if he’s really not good at separating or house for 3-5 mins. The key is to keep it all super low key so he’s not bothered about you leaving and keep building up. Make coming back low key too. Make sure he gets kongs when you aren’t leaving him too so they don’t start indicating that you’re about to leave. Work to his tolerance and he should be back to where he was pre lockdown relatively quickly.

We're entirely open plan so nowhere to hide. 😂

The days he is left for 4 hours are random and unpredictable so can't always get the dog Walker in last minute. She comes once a week, or did. On a particular day that I'm home with the children alone all day and it's just too difficult as they're little.

Gonna feel weird taking walks without him as it feels such a shame (also he's turning into a fatty since the snip) but seems we have to