Whether you’ve been working from home or working on yourself these past couple of years it can be scary to step out into the world and act like everything is normal again. If you had a pooch pre-pandemic or felt like you needed a little bundle of joy to get you through the rough times, your dog must realise that life outside of the comfort of its own home is safe and there’s for the sniffing. So, what’s the best way to show your dog all the things the world has to offer?
Slow and steady wins the race.
With socialising with your dog, it’s always important to make sure it’s a safe and fun experience for your pooch as well as the other dogs around you. To avoid aggression or fear in your pooch be sure to take your dog around your area and to the park on lead and familiarise your furry friend with their surroundings and get some gentle sniffs in without the overstimulation of meeting a lot of dogs at the same time. If your dog hasn’t met a large number of dogs before, it can be a good idea to maybe avoid the dog park for a little while until your dog is confident around familiar dogs like friends and family’s pets. It is also important to always keep an eye out for any aggressive behaviour when socialising with new dogs to prevent negative behaviour.
Take them to new places
The best way to not be scared of the world is to see it in all its glory. Whether that means popping your pooch in the car while you go and pick up your takeaway or taking them over to your friend’s house for an hour or so, familiarising them with new and unique places will help them feel at ease in more places than just on top of your favourite pillow.
Praise praise praise!
If you’ve had a successful walkies sesh, that is something to get jazzed about! Every positive interaction deserves a piece of chicken and a scratch behind the ear because how fun is making friends and seeing the world? The funnest.
Enrichments
When you do decide to leave your pooch at home for a long period of time, be sure to leave them with plenty of things to do. Whether that is a giant pig’s ear that they can work on all day or a treat puzzle for them to figure out while you’re gone, keeping the mind stimulated while you’re away is essential. It can also be helpful to treat your dog when you leave the house so they see it as a positive experience rather than a stressful one.