Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1383989
13 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 16 JUNE 2021 OPINION PEOPLE around the world have been spending more time at home since the start of 2020. For many of these people, this seemed like the perfect opportu- nity to get a pet. In the UK alone, an estimat- ed 3.2 million households have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic. Dogs were the most popular new acquisition (57%) with cats a close second (38%). This sudden increase in pet ownership raises concerns about pet welfare. Puppies ac- quired during lockdown have been missing out on critical socialisation experiences and training, which is known to be associated with stress-induced behaviours ranging from nerv- ousness to fear-based aggres- sion. It isn't just the pandemic pets that may be showing signs of stress or behavioural issues. Life hasn't been normal for many of our dogs for most of the past year. They've had less interaction with other dogs, fewer visitors coming into the home and little time alone since the pandemic began. This has led to a noticea- ble change in dog behaviour. Growling, snapping or nipping children when approached and handled by them increased by 57% during lockdown. Goog- le searches for "dog bark" and "dog bite" increased by 48% and 40% respectively, suggest- ing some aspects of the lock- down period were particularly challenging for our pets. As humans, we tend to focus on situational stress – work deadlines, or paying bills. But stress can be caused by any- thing that upsets the body's hormone balances. The pres- ence of a stressor results in a hormone cascade, culminat- ing in the release of glucose that provides a burst of ener- gy designed to help escape the stressor. This sets off the fight, flight or freeze response. Stressors range from a phys- ical threat, such as a predator, to an unpredictable environ- ment, which our pets might be experiencing now lockdown restrictions ease. This isn't lim- ited to dogs and cats. Changes to routine, particularly feeding schedule, have been shown to induce stress in birds, sheep and horses. Is your pet stressed? Signs of stress in your pet may be obvious, such as destructive behaviour or vocalising. But, there are also more subtle signs of anxiety, such as panting or drooling, pacing, repeatedly checking windows and doors, or chewing or scratching them- selves. Lockdown may, unfortunate- ly, have a long-term impact on pets' ability to cope when left home alone. Dogs that had separation anxiety before the restrictions started are likely to get worse when left again as owners head back to work. But we also expect to see new cas- es developing, because other dogs, and particularly puppies, have learnt to expect company all day. Research last year showed 82% of dog owners surveyed noticed an increase in their dog whining or barking when a household member was busy. There was a 41% increase in reports of dogs being clingy or following people around the house during lockdown. All of these can be indicators of sepa- ration anxiety developing. Our tips The good news is, it's not too late to prepare your dog for lockdown easing, and to teach them vital skills that they can apply in any situation. If you're starting to spend more time outside of the house, you need to remember that this change in routine is stressful for your pets. Start preventa- tive measures now to avoid fu- ture problems. If you have a dog who was previously used to being left alone, make sure you maintain their ability to cope with this by introducing periods of sepa- ration during the day when you are in the house – such as plac- ing them behind a baby gate whilst you are working from home. Leave your dog at home for short periods of time. Build up the amount of time your dog is separated from fam- ily members gradually and asso- ciate it with something positive, such as a long-lasting treat. Monitor how your dog re- sponds, and shorten the time left if they show any signs of anxiety. Where dogs are already show- ing signs of separation anxie- ty (such as barking, howling, toileting or being destructive when left), seek help from your vet in the first instance. Avoid looking for "quick fix" solutions like anti-bark col- lars or punishing your dog on return. These approaches will likely exacerbate the problem and result in more serious and more difficult to treat prob- lems in the long run. Teaching dogs to be relaxed when left takes time and pa- tience, particularly for the pan- demic puppies that have rarely been away from their owners. But making the effort to show your dog that being alone is not stressful, using our advice, can prevent serious problems that are much more difficult to treat later in life. theconversation.com Stressed pets: how to keep your dogs relaxed when leaving them alone Niki Khan and Jenna Kiddie Niki Khan is Lecturer in Animal Science at Nottingham Trent University Jenna Kiddie is Head of Canine Behaviour, Dogs Trust, University of Cumbria