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As well as turning your life upside down, lockdown is also likely to be disrupting your dog’s usual routine. Here’s how to keep them entertained while minimising the risk of separation anxiety after lockdown.
Lockdown means we’re all spending a lot more time with our four-legged friends. While your dog probably loves having you around more, they might sometimes find it overwhelming having less time to themselves. To help relieve any stress this might be causing, be sure to build some regular alone time into their routine. Giving your dog a bit of space will also allow them to get used to you not being around all the time, which will help prevent separation anxiety from setting in when lockdown ends.
Playing games with your dog will stimulate them mentally while providing an outlet for any excess energy. You could try filling a KONG toy with natural treats or meat, as an enjoyable boredom buster that will satisfy your dog’s instinctual needs.
Another fun activity to try with your dog is a treasure hunt. Dot some dried meats around your home or garden and let your dog sniff them out. They’ll have a great time running around and tracking down their tasty treats, leaving you time so jump on that Zoom call or get on with home-schooling!
Where possible, try to stick to your usual way of doing things. Keeping your usual feeding and walk times (while being mindful of lockdown restrictions, of course) will help your dog feel settled and happy, even though life is a little different right now. Because of lockdown restrictions, you might not be able to do all the same things with your dog as before. Maintaining structure while providing other stimulating activities will help.
If lockdown is preventing you from taking your dog out as much as you’d like, tricks and training can be as mentally beneficial as a walk. At Nurturing by Nature, we stock a huge selection of natural treats that are perfect for training, as well as being delicious and nutritious.
Looking for some inspiration for new things to teach your dog? A professor in America taught his Border Collie, Chaser, to understand more than 1,000 words! The training involved showing Chaser an object, repeating the object’s name, then hiding it and asking her to find it. After three years, Chaser was able to identify each of the objects by name!
Chewing is a great, calming activity for your dog that realises endorphins and satisfies their natural craving to chew. Chewing on raw bones is also great source of nutrition and offers excellent teeth cleaning properties. Marrow bones are a delicious and natural recreational boney meal that your dog will love. Once your dog has enjoyed every last morsel of goodness from their marrow bone, why not restuff it with something delicious?
Please note that dogs should be supervised while enjoying their marrow bone. Leaving them with it for too long could lead to them damaging their teeth and gums. Do not feed your dog cooked bones as these can become brittle and cause internal harm if ingested.
At Nurturing by Nature, we understand that dogs need just as much entertaining during lockdown as we do. We offer a huge range of fresh and nutritious raw pet food, natural treats and toys to keep your dog happy, healthy and entertained.