Fact or fiction: has your dog become more needy or aggressive during the pandemic?
Many pet owners have started working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. While they have been excited to see their dogs every day, 60 percent of pet parents have reported seeing behavioral changes in their canine companions. These changes include hostility or being more demanding of their owner’s time.
Has your dog become more needy or aggressive during the pandemic? We’re here to break down these behavioral changes and let you know if they’re fact or fiction so you can understand how to help your pup during this stressful time.
Fact: Some animals have changed their behaviors during the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful for everyone involved, and your pet is no different. If you’re feeling pressure from working from home or the new complications the novel coronavirus has caused to everyday life, your pup may be picking up on that stress. Your dog may be showing they’re stressed in a few different ways, including frequent yawning, licking their paws, or nervously pacing the house.
Fiction: Your pet isn’t clingy; they’re just excited to spend more time with you
Dogs are innately opportunistic animals. As a result, your pup may be taking advantage of you being home all the time to get extra attention. If your puppy is demanding to go outside all the time, or continually wants to play, it might not be that they’re suddenly more needy than usual. They may be excited to have you all to themselves. You might find it helpful to set boundaries so your pooch knows when they can have your attention and when they can’t. One way to teach your dog to accept these boundaries is through crate training.
Fact: Some animals are more nervous about having you home all the time
On the flip side, some pups value their alone time and might feel a bit overwhelmed that you’re home more. If you have young children that are typically at school during the day, your dog might feel exhausted, especially if your kids like to roughhouse. Even more so, your dog might hear everyone moving around your house and think that there are intruders, which makes them seem like they’re more aggressive when they’re just trying to defend their family.
Fiction: Territorial barking is not a sign of increased aggression
If your dog typically barks at your postal worker, you might notice that they’re barking a lot and at everything. The truth is that Fido may not be newly aggressive; instead, he may be trying to protect your home from all the new threats that are outside your front door. Now that gyms are closed, and people are working from home, your neighbors will probably be going for more walks, which means there’s added foot traffic. Your dog is monitoring that foot traffic and is barking to let them know that your home is protected.
Fact: You can help your dog be more relaxed while you’re working from home
If you think that your dog is more anxious about the changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are things you can do to make them more comfortable. Here are a few examples of changes you can make to help your pooch relax:
- Maintain a routine for feeding and walks
- Exercise your dog frequently
- Give them time to themselves
This routine will give your pup some daily structure and provide a balance of activities so that they can be mentally and physically well. Further, ensuring your dog has regular alone time can help them feel more themselves and let them relax without thinking they’re required to cater to your needs.
If you’ve noticed that your dog has become more needy or aggressive during the pandemic, you might be right. Many dogs are feeling stressed or upset as their owners have started working from home. However, you might be recognizing actions that were already in place that you never noticed while at work all day. Recognizing which behaviors are fact or fiction can help you set up a plan to ensure your dog feels comfortable and confident for whatever comes next.
