Is your dog acting strangely during the coronavirus lockdown?
Has your dog been out of sorts during the lockdown? Our presenter Kylie Pentelow has been speaking to dog behaviourist Louise Glazebrook to find out how to keep our canine friends happy during the restrictions imposed during Covid-19.
Many may be enjoying the extra time we're spending at home - while others are struggling with fewer walks. Kylie started by asking Louise Glazebrook if dogs could sense that there's something going on.
Under the lockdown, we can only go out for exercise once a day for just one hour - which might mean our pets only get one walk a day. Kylie wonders if that is enough.
Louise Glazebrook points out that if there are more people in the household, that would mean more walks.
Louise Glazebrook says that whatever the age of your dog or what sort they are, they all adore sniffing. "At this time it's a really important thing because it's a stress reliever. It helps them release anxiety. It's also an amazing thing for them to learn about the world."
She says that, if you can't go far, try to take your dog where they can just get a really good sniff and then make sure at home that you are playing games with them.
Kylie also asked about being on the phone while walking the dog.
Listen to Kylie's other podcasts:
How to navigate relationship troubles while living together 24/7 during the coronavirus lockdown
Just how much do you need to clean your house to make it coronavirus free?
Under the Covid-19 restrictions, the Government does not require dog owners to keep their pets on a lead.
Louise Glazebrook tells Kylie that she is letting her dog, Pip, off the lead but she is making sure she keeps him close and won't let him go up to people. "Occasionally he's had a little play with a dog he randomly met but I call him away and I'm not interacting with that dog. I'm trying to be as sensible as I can and, unless that guidance changes, I'm following what they've said at the moment".
So what about at home? Dogs that have got used to being on their own a lot of the time suddenly have a full household because of the lockdown. Kylie has noticed that her chihuahua, Audrey, has become more territorial of late, barking at people passing by the window.
Louise's advice is not to actively encourage the behaviour. For example if your dog is barking at the door, don't then say "Who's at the door, then" - otherwise it will escalate.
Watch Kylie Pentelow trying to train her little dog Audrey
Louise Glazebrook says Audrey's territorial behaviour is understandable given the situation, "If they're not getting rid of some of that energy, they are going to direct it in other ways... We do have to make the best of a bad situation, basically."
In her interview with Kylie, Louise also offers advice about how to deal with Audrey's clinginess - following her to the bathroom, for example.
Kylie's next question is, "We're quite good with puppies to train them and spend lots of time with them. We don't really do that so much with adult dogs. What should we do to keep them entertained if they're not having so many walks?"
Louise says if your dog loves playing fetch that's great but if they don't, don't waste energy trying to teach them. They might like playing 'tugger' or 'find it' instead.
"I was teaching Pip to jump over my son in the garden because he loves playing with both of us. It's a real confidence booster for him because he's got both of us cheering him on. For other dogs that are really rambunctious, that would be an awful game because they would get overexcited."
Watch Audrey playing 'Find it'
Listen to the podcast for more suggestions, including how to avoid your pooch becoming overweight during Covid-19.
Useful links: