How to train anxious animals after Covid took an emotional toll on pets too

The pandemic not only took an emotional toll on humans, our pets are feeling anxious and depressed. Here are the signs to look out for.

Separation anxiety happens when animals don’t feel safe and secure on their own.

If the mental health of Australians took a savage knock during Covid, so did the emotional state of our pets.

While pets with behavioural issues are constantly being reported or treated at the RSPCA, animal behaviour and rehabilitation specialist Dr Gabrielle Carter says a lot more have presented over the past year, particularly dogs.

Most of the problems we’re seeing are anxiety based, expressed as aggression towards other dogs and people, and boisterous behaviour,’’ Carter says.

There are Covid puppies – dogs born during the lockdowns who haven’t been able to get normal exposure to the world and social experiences which can lead to social anxiety when interacting with other dogs and people.

There are also older dogs who were well socialised but weren’t able to practise those skills and were just put outside to amuse themselves during Covid.

“The most important learning period for dogs is 4-14 weeks of age, and for cats it’s 2-7 weeks,’’ she says.

The most important learning period for cats is 2-7 weeks.

“This is when they work out who will be their social companions and they learn about the world – what is scary and how to adapt and survive successfully.’’

PETstock ambassador and pet behaviourist Lara Shannon agrees that everything dogs experience in the first four months of their lives will cast them for life.

“That’s when 80 per cent of their memory is formed, so it’s crucial,’’ Shannon says.

“A lot of people just don’t know what to do with puppies. Online classes are fine to teach your dog how to sit or drop but not for handling underlying anxiety. People haven’t been getting out, talking to trainers, and we had a lot of first-time owners during Covid just muddling their way through, reinforcing bad behaviour which, when you go on to have a 30kg dog, becomes a problem.’’

Shannon suggests independence training for pet owners who are no longer working from home and a companion for their dog. While still at home, gradually enforce separation from your dog three to five times a day by putting it into another part of the house with interactive toys, a chew bone or baby door so they can see you – and walk them morning and night.

Doggy day care and a dog walker may be other options or, while you go out for the day, leave a treat treasure hunt in the garden to keep them occupied. She also suggests throwing kibble on the grass rather than in a bowl, so they have to forage for their food.

“If we give them plenty to do, they’ll be exhausted and happy to sleep the required 14 hours a day,” she says.

“During Covid, a lot of dogs didn’t get this opportunity which led to behavioural problems too.’’

it’s crucial to help an anxious dog feel safe.

Carter says it’s crucial to help an anxious dog feel safe. Giving positive behavioural directions is helpful and, if a dog is anti-social, have some roast chicken at hand to feed the dog once you’ve removed it from the threatening situation. It will gradually start to associate the fear with something more pleasurable. The same technique works with visitors to the home – remove the dog, give it a treat, and gradually reintroduce it.

“Separation anxiety happens when animals don’t feel safe and secure on their own because they haven’t learnt,” Carter says.

“When you’re home, leave your door open so the dog has a choice to go outside or inside and, if there’s food outside, they’ll choose that option.’’

Medication may also help in certain cases.

COMMON 2022 BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS

Dogs: Anxious when barking, escaping, being boisterous, licking its lips or yawning.

Cats: If the tail is straight up, they’re friendly and want to interact. If hanging down, they’re angry and may lash out. If their pupils are big and ears are flat back against their head, they’re scared. Other signs of anxiety include not using their litter tray and spraying.

Horses: As a herd animal, they need company. When anxious they whinny, run up and down the fence, resist entering a float, wash bay or wearing a saddle.

Birds: They need company and 12 hours of sleep; 12 hours awake so need a darkened room to sleep and exposure to natural light in the day.

Guinea pigs need company constantly.

Guinea Pigs: Need company constantly or they get very distressed.

Rabbits: When kept in a hutch, they’re susceptible to anxiety from predators such as cats. They need to be supported when picked up, with hands at the front and back and held close to the body.

Originally published as How to train anxious animals after Covid took an emotional toll on pets too