Sheltering In Place... With Your Dog!
Like many others, we’ve been sheltering in place since March. Both of our offices have been closed since March 16th, so we’ve been spending a lot more time with our pups on a daily basis. As our usual routines have been disrupted, we’ve tried to identify ways to ensure our pups are safe, healthy, and happy during these unsettled times. As so many people are dealing with the challenges of sheltering at home as well, we wanted to share the things that have been helpful for us, including:
Sticking to a routine
Getting exercise
Exercising their brains
Leaving them at home
Watching the treats
Making the most of working from home with pups
Stick to a Routine
You might be thinking, “but, wait… I thought you just said your routines were disrupted...” And they have been - since we’re no longer going to our offices, our usual schedule for meals, outings, play, and training have been totally upended.
It’s tempting to drop routine when it’s not necessary, but we’ve tried to keep the general shape of our schedule the same as much as possible - same number of outings and meals along with consistent bedtimes. Where we haven’t been able to keep things the same - timing, length of walks, etc. - we’ve established new routines and tried our best to stick to them.
Keeping your routines or making new routines while sheltering in place will create a sense of consistency for your pup, helping them feel comfortable despite changes to their routine. It will also make it a lot easier to go back to non-sheltering-in-place life, when things ultimately return to normal.
Exercise
Human parks and dog parks have been closed all over the US. While some are starting to reopen, we’ve generally seen dramatic restrictions on where we can go and what activities we can engage in. It’s likely safe to say people are generally moving around less.
But in the interest of mental and physical health, it’s important not to let yourself or your pup be too sedentary. Luckily, there are plenty of fun ways to keep moving!
Get Your Steps In
Depending on the city or town you live in, it might be safe to continue walking outside normally. If that is the case, take advantage of it and extend your normal walks for another mile or two!
Remember to wear a mask and make sure to maintain a safe distance from other walkers!
Take a Run
If your dog is up to it - and, again, if it is safe - try going for a run with your pup! This is a great way to add more exercise to your day and share a fun activity with your pup. If you want to learn more about training your pup to run with you, we wrote a guide to running with your pup that can be found here!
Get Social!
I imagine we’re not the only ones who have spent longer amounts of time than usual on social media since sheltering in place began. Rather than just scroll through Instagram and TikTok and double tapping all of those posts from your dog furriends (cause let’s be honest - we know you follow a ton of dogs), join in the activities! Try some of the challenges you see!
A good example is the toilet paper challenge, which gets your pup up and moving by challenging them to jump over steadily higher walls of toilet paper. We tried it out and were surprised by which of our pups was more athletic!
You don’t even need to record the experience (although it might be worth it for your own benefit!)
Mental Exercise
It’s really easy and natural to push yourself and your dog less during this time. That’s okay - we all need a break, especially during uncertain times! But don’t let your pup go too long without mental exercise (maybe only 2-3 episodes worth of Tiger King).
The simplest way to get some mental exercise in is to build training time into your routine. You don’t have to schedule big time blocks; in fact, 10-15 minute increments are perfect - they allow your dog to focus the whole time without getting bored! Mix it up and work on different skills during each block. If you’re working on new tricks, try to focus on one new trick per block so your dog can more quickly grasp what you’re working on.
As with physical exercise, you can also let social media provide some inspiration. We spotted some pups doing the “whack a mole” challenge and decided to give it a shot! Grab a box (we used packaging from something that was shipped to us), poke some holes on one side, and pick a decently sized treat/chew. Poke the chew through the holes and watch as your pup tries to snag it! Make sure you let them get it now and then so they don’t lose motivation. We were so surprised when the pups passed out after playing this game a few times - focusing on the treat and trying to snag it really tired them out!
If you’re having trouble finding free blocks of time for training or other activities, there are other quick and great ways to get mental exercise into your dog’s routine. Try out a puzzle feeder or snuffle mat to give them an extra mental challenge at mealtime. Similarly, kongs or other puzzle toys are a great way to make your pup’s playtime fun and educational.
Leave Them at Home Alone
Leave your pup home alone, even though you don’t have to!
In the spirit of full disclosure, due to various circumstances, we’ll admit that this has been very hard for us. Indeed, it may be nearly impossible for many people at this moment. If you’re under a shelter-in-place order, it might not be feasible for you to leave your home - do whatever is safest and stay at home with your pup if needed!
But if circumstances do permit it, try to regularly give your pup some time to themselves at home. This will help ensure they’re still accustomed to being left alone when we eventually resume normal life.
Don’t Overdo it on the Treats
Since sheltering in place, our work schedules generally consist of 20 minute blocks of work interspersed with trips to the kitchen to open the fridge and/or pantry to decide what to snack on next. Unfortunately, the pups also seem to expect that they’ll receive treats on the same schedule. In the interest of preventing them packing on the quarantine-15, we try to be mindful of their treat consumption.
Even if you’re able to give your pup long walks and lots of mental stimulation, the reality is that you’re probably still spending a lot more time on your couch, moving less. As a result, your pup might need to reduce their treat, or even their food, consumption. But don’t feel too bad about it - if you’re spending more time training, your pup is still getting plenty of rewards… and will maybe throw less shade your way when you don’t give them jerky every time you sneak off to the kitchen for a snack.
Make working from home with a dog fun
While we’ve spent much of this post covering ways to make life better for your pup during a prolonged shelter in place order, we’d be loath to forget mentioning that your dog makes your home life so.much.better! Your dog is more than just a warm body curled up at your feet and constant Netflix binge pal - they’re a great boon to your work-from-home life! Not only are they the perfect reason to take a mid-afternoon walk to stretch your legs and get some fresh air and a great way to de-stress after a tough day, but they’re also the surprise Zoom bomber that everyone LOVES!
Enjoy Every Moment
Life is uncertain at the moment and there are probably still a lot of curveballs coming. Now more than ever, it’s important to take comfort in the joyous parts of our lives. Our furbabies can bring us so much joy while we’re stuck at home… and with a little bit of effort, we can do the same for them!