How to care for your dog during COVID

 

Making your companions feel at home

When we are all shut out from the world, the one company that you can adorably have is your love one – your dog. As much as they enjoy staying home with you all day, caring for your dog during your zoom calls and entertaining your dog within your house can get a little bit tricky.

 

Dogs have descended from wolves, who are wild animals. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that their blood relations prefer spending time outside as well. When our canine companions are out, they have greater freedom than they do at home.

 

 During their walk, they can, for example, relieve themselves anywhere and whenever they wish. They can sense the vastness of space around them, and regardless of whether or not they are on a leash, they believe they are free to roam and explore the world.

 

 Unfortunately, however, the world's current situation has limited our chances of caring for your dog and entertaining your dogs on long walks in parks.

We have highlighted nine points that can aid you during these times

 

1.      Sticking to routine: Your routine has likely been disrupted in some pretty significant ways.

 

In times like these, it can be tempting to let your pet's routines fall to the wayside, too. It becomes essential to try to keep your schedule as intact as possible.

 

Feeding, potty, and walks should all happen when they usually do, and if your dog is used to going in the car, it's not a bad idea to continue to take them for short drives.

 

Ask for good manners like sitting before going through a doorway; it's another essential way to maintain consistency in your pet's schedule and caring for your dog.

 

2.      Exercise: If you're allowed to leave the house for exercise, it's a good idea to combine it with a leash walk for your dog.

It's critical to stay away from crowded public spaces like dog parks and keep yourself and your dog at least 2 meters apart from other people.

If someone else is walking your pets, be sure they are also taking all necessary precautions.

One short walk each day is insufficient for some dogs. Make the most of your free time at home by keeping your dog physically active throughout the day.

Allow your dog to run around and play in your garden to provide sufficient stimulation.

 

Keep their nerves in check and channel their energy into something more productive—exercise. It's just as good for you as it is for your pet to be active during this period.

 

You may not be able to take your dog to the dog park for exercise, but there are still methods for him to burn off energy.

 

Even a trip to the mailbox can be beneficial to your health. Clear some furniture to make room for a game of fetch or tug of war if you're confined indoors.

 

If you have one, get out in the backyard and play a game of chase. Having scheduled play sessions at At the same time every day will encourage your dog to stay to a routine (pets love routine), as well as provide physical and mental stimulation while connecting with your companion.

 

While you are indoors and quarantining, you can make your dog run up and down the stairs as some exercise; organizing treasure hunts to find a hidden treat will also be an amusing thing to do with your pet.

 

Each dog has their unique skill; for example, Beagles have a strong sense of smell, hiding their favorite toy and letting their senses guide them to their treat.

Here are a few games to play with your dog

·        a. Tug of War

Tug of War is an excellent outdoor or indoor game for dogs. Not only is it fun and engaging, but the pulling and tugging also make good physical exercise.

So, to keep it engaging and fun, let him win occasionally. Don't forget to practice commands like "drop it," though.

 

·        b. Hide the Treat or Play a Game of Hide and Seek

Hide the treat is an excellent [brain game for dogs] since it requires them to use their problem-solving abilities.

 

Hide it in a difficult-to-reach location and rub it on a few areas along the path to leave a fragrance trail.

 

As your dog goes closer or further away from the goodie, use phrases like "hot" and "cold." Changing your tone from calm to eager for "cold" and "warm" and "hot" will also improve his listening skills.

 

Hide and Seek, like Hide the Treat, takes advantage of his scent-tracking abilities. Additionally, it allows him to practice instructions such as "stay" and "coming." Allow your dog to stay with you while you hide.

 

·        c. Agility Training

Agility training is excellent for both mental and physical stimulation. These can exhaust your dog more than a long stroll.

 

 Make an obstacle course using items from around the home in your backyard. You may put boxes in the way for him to leap over and cones in the way for him to weave between.

 

 Hula hoop-jumping is another option once your dog understands the concept; lavish praise and attention on him.

 

·        d. Chase the Prey

Chase the Prey lets your dog use his natural prey instincts in a non-destructive way. It also gives him the opportunity to practice impulse control by dropping the object on command.

 

 Using a flirt pole (a long pole, pipe, or stick with a rope attached), tie a toy or some other lure to the rope. Drag it slowly and occasionally stop rather than waving it around rapidly.

 

The slow pursuit helps your dog learn to focus. Let him catch the lure every so often as a reward. If he never wins, he may get discouraged and lose interest.

 

·        e. Fetch

Fetch is a fantastic game for active dogs. It gives them lots of physical activity while also satisfying their natural need to run.

 

Frisbee is a more sophisticated version of conventional fetch that is a little more difficult to catch than a ball.

 

Vary the height, distance, and direction of your throws to keep your dog cognitively and physically interested and challenged.

 

·        f. Treasure Hunt

 Hunting for food is a fun game for dogs and taps into a cat’s natural predatory instincts.

 

For dogs, hide treats or toys in various boxes and encourage your dog to hunt for them.

 

Let him watch you do this the first few times. Once he gets the hang of it, keep him out of the room while you hide the ‘treasure’.

 

The goal is to take baby steps, so they understand the game, and then you can increase the difficulty level. Other ideas you can try include letting your dog forage for some of his food in the yard or hiding his meal in small boxes, packaging, or toilet paper rolls and putting those into a larger box he can tear into.

If you don’t have boxes and packaging on hand, try laying a towel folded in half lengthwise on the floor and dropping treats inside as you roll it up.

Then let your dog figure out how to unroll it to get the goodies.

 

3.      Avoid Overstimulation

Dogs benefit from both outdoor and indoor sports, but anything that is overly violent or lasts too long might cause overstimulation.

Play sessions should be ended while both you and your dog are still having a wonderful time.

Then, instead of being exhausted and disappointed, he is looking forward to his next play session.

You'll keep your dog busy and cognitively occupied, but most importantly, happy, by playing these dog activities with him.

Find your dog's next favorite treat here if you need goodies for activities like Hide the Treat or prizes.

 

4.      One-on-one time

Transitioning to being home all day is a significant change for everyone, including your pets.

Try creating a new routine with designated time together each day. Dedicate about 15 minutes every day for a week; find a quiet space free of distractions, and while giving your pet undivided attention and caring for your dog, continue to pet them for about 15 minutes.

 

Add in praise or tell them about something that happened in your life. Carefully notice how your pet reacts throughout the week.

If you both enjoyed this time together, continue this as a daily routine and try to do different activities during the same time because, as mentioned before, pets love routine.

 

5.      Hygiene, Health, and Alone time

 

Caring for your dog and keeping your dog clean are vital to staying healthy. Dogs can be allowed just outside your house or into the garden to relieve themselves.

 

Clean your dog often, especially after coming back from outside, and make sure you wash your hands before and after playing with your dog.

 

It's essential to make sure your dogs don't gain too much weight from the lack of walks.

 

Keep your dog's usual healthy diet and avoid giving too many treats to keep them in shape.

 

You may be indulging in boxed mac and cheese and one too many brownies these days, but that doesn't mean your pet can't stick to their healthy diet.

 

Caring for your dog includes maintaining your pet's feeding schedule and stick to providing their regular food as much as possible.

 

If you're feeding your pet more treats than usual to reward them for being such a great companion (because, let's face it, they deserve it!), keep in mind that no more than 10 percent of a pet's daily calories should come from treats.

 

Since your pet may be accustomed to having time to himself while the rest of the family is away, make sure he gets enough rest during the day. Adding a lot of socializing to your pet's routine is not a smart idea.

 

Pets aren't the same as children. Owners are not required to keep them occupied all day.

 

So, parents, take a deep breath—your children may need activities to keep them entertained, but your cat or dog will be OK and may even benefit from some quiet time.

 

6.      Let Them Chew It Out

 

For caring for your dog during those conference calls, homeschooling sessions, or just moments when you need some rest, it can be helpful to give your pet a long-chew treat to help keep him entertained.

 

If your pet has a tendency to scarf down his treats, Kongs and other sturdy toys can be filled with peanut butter and then frozen for a longer-lasting distraction.

 

While these treats can be a fun activity for your pet, it can also be easy to overfeed them. Caring for your dog means keeping calorie counts in mind, and compensating for extra treat calories by feeding a little less at mealtime.

 

7.      Car Rides

 

Many dogs love car rides, and driving around with the windows down can be caring for your dog beneficial for you, too. So, take a break and go for a short drive around the neighborhood with your furry co-pilot.

 

If the weather allows, roll the windows down so he can really take in all the sights, sounds, and smells.

 

8.      Get Creative!

 

To keep pets occupied and happy during a time when venturing out for new toys isn't feasible, the only choice is to think out of the box with [DIY toys]

 

Provide fun toys that your dog or cat has permission to destroy; This can be something like a cardboard tube with kibble hidden inside, or a plastic bottle they can chew through to get treats from within. 

 

Having a productive way to get any destructive energy out can be beneficial—both for your pet and your leather shoes.

 

9.      Pet Forts & Box Tunnels

 

Who doesn't love the classic pillow and blanket fort? Get your kids involved by having them build a fort out of whatever you have on hand.

 

Hide a few yummy treats or favorite toys in the fort and letting the pet explore it on their own and at their own speed.

 

As fun as forts might be for children, remind them that dogs need to explore new places on their own time and in their own way.

 

If you've had a lot of packages delivered recently, you can repurpose those by building box tunnels, towers, and cities for small dogs to explore.

 

10.   Grooming services for dogs

 

You should be able to pick up and return your pet to you. If you need to see your veterinarian, make sure to contact them beforehand for guidance and an exam before going to the clinic, for proper

 

 

What to do if you are ill with COVID?

 

While social distancing restrictions are in effect, it is recommended that you avoid needless excursions for grooming or check-ups since this is a non-essential travel.

If you have coronavirus, current guidance is that you limit your contact with your pets and other animals, just as you would with other humans.

 

You should also avoid caressing, hugging, kissing, or licking, as well as sharing meals. This isn't because there have been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with the virus but because we still don't know everything about the virus.

 

While you're ill, another member of your household will need to take the responsibility of caring for your dog, and they'll need to follow good hygiene practices, washing their hands thoroughly after contact with your pet or any of their items, e.g., bedding, food bowls, etc.

 

If you are to be  caring for your dog or be around animals while you're sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with them and also wear a facemask.

 

Pets are our true companions, they stick with us through thick and thin no matter what, so taking good care of these angels is our very duty. Implementing all of this will make life easier, happier, and most importantly safer, for your dog and you. As much as taking care of your own pet is necessary, reaching out for some assistance is always better; That’s where we come in.

 

How can Augie help you?

 

We have an ideal mix of Products and Services that can aid you in your efforts to take care of your pets. We work with different pets viz. Dogs / Cats / Other pets

You can reach out to us and we can aid you. Looking forward to working with you

Have a great Day Ahead!!