The Real Truth: Why We Are Seeing A 'Pandemic' Of Aggression, Fear, And Anxiety In Dogs.
Too many of our dogs are suffering ! That is a fact we can no longer ignore. Covid-19 is only part of the story. Yes, we dog trainers are seeing a rise in reactivity, aggression, fear of going outside, and all kinds of anxiety since the pandemic hit us all in 2020. But the truth is, behavior problems were already growing before then and have been on a steady rise for the past many decades.
“Covid Puppies”
More and more people have chosen and are choosing to share their lives with a ‘pet’….this of course exploded during Covid-19. “Covid puppies” are now having a whole range of problems due to lack of socialization. Many dogs can’t be left alone for even 5 minutes without crying, whining, barking, screaming. A vast majority of dogs are reacting to everything and anything: Barking, lunging, growling, etc. What is most disturbing are the dogs who now have an extreme fear of the outside world. Some are to the point of being paralyzed at even taking a step out the door!
That is both heartbreaking and alarming and we should….we MUST take action to address the REAL underlying issue at blame for our dogs’ suffering!! Are WE HUMANS to blame? If not, WHO, or WHAT is?
How To Keep Children Safe Around Dogs
Recently, we have had a couple of clients with small kids who experienced their dog suddenly nipping, lunging, or biting their kid, apparently ‘out of the blue’. This is quite a common problem for families with small kids and dogs. Kids like to hug, kiss, and reach out to touch in sudden quick movements. Most kids squeal, shout, jump, run, and attempt to put things in the dog’s face, etc. They like to take things away from a dog, or tease the dog.
Unfortunately, these are all things that dogs don’t generally like. It is important to understand that a dog never does anything without something triggering his behavior. It could be something very subtle or unnoticeable to the untrained eye. It can be something in his environment, like a dog barking outside and your kid runs by at the same time. It can be something your child has done on a few occasions that the dog doesn’t like and then suddenly snaps. It can be something physical. Perhaps she is in pain. When a dog reacts, aggressively or fearfully, it is usually due to a perceived threat.
How To Improve Leash Reactivity In Your Dog
What do you do when taking your dog for a walk was supposed to be relaxing, enjoyable, a way to de-stress for both of you, but in fact it has become a stressful, frustrating, and embarrassing event because your four-legged friend at the end of the leash can’t stop barking. lunging, and ‘losing it’ every time he sees another dog or person? When that otherwise sweet dog of yours, who loves to give kisses and cuddle with you on the couch, suddenly turns into a demon-like monster you don’t recognize?