Latest / The Puppy Training Podcast / Episode #253 Anxiety, Fear & “Pandemic Puppies” — Providing Emotional Support

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Episode #253 Anxiety, Fear & “Pandemic Puppies” — Providing Emotional Support · The Puppy Training Podcast

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Does your dog show signs of fear, anxiety, or maybe you have what's called a pandemic puppy who didn't get properly socialized?
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_00: Today we're talking about that and how to help.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Puppy Training Podcast.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Amy Jensen, founder of Baxter and Fella, the online puppy school.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: Here we are all about helping you create the best possible experience raising a puppy.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: From training tips to practical tricks, all aimed at fostering a happy, well-behaved dog who truly feels like part of the family.
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_00: So if you are ready to enjoy the journey and strengthen the bond with your dog, let's get started.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome back to the puppy training podcast.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Amy Jensen.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_00: I'm a certified professional dog trainer.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_00: And today we are diving into a really important topic, one that affects more dogs than you might think.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_00: So let's talk about these puppies or dogs that have grown up during the pandemic, and now it's years later.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: They're going into their adult years, and they might still struggle with some fear, reactivity, or separation anxiety, and it's not necessarily their fault or yours.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: So don't put that on your back.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: But let's look at why this happened, how to recognize early signs of fear and anxiety in your dog.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe it's not even pandemic related.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe your dog just has signs of fear and anxiety.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: And then what you can do right now to build some resilience in your dog, no matter their age.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_00: So let's get started.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_00: During the lockdown of the pandemic, families all over the world brought home new puppies.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: It made perfect sense, right?
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: We were home, our routines have slowed down, and dogs offer comfort during an uncertain time.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_00: But here's the challenge: those puppies missed out on normal early socialization experiences, things like meeting a variety of people or seeing other dogs, hearing traffic, visiting new places, or just staying home alone while the family was out.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: There were so many of us that were just home all of the time that that was a problem.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: Now, a few years later, we're seeing some ripple effects.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: So we're starting to see dogs who panic when they're left alone, puppies who might bark or lunge at strangers or dogs.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: By the way, teenage dogs do this too.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_00: So you might have a pandemic puppy or you might just have a teenager.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, there's nervous reactions to everyday sounds or changes in the environment, maybe some stranger danger.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_00: If this sounds familiar, you are not alone.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: These are learned emotional responses.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: And the good news is they can be changed with the right support and training.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: And that's what we're here for.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: We want to help your dog feel better about the world that they live in.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_00: Now, before behavior problems grow, there are often small signs.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_00: These are what I call the whispers before the shouts.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: Your dog is telling you things through their behavior, right?
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: So things we can watch for would be body language.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: Tucking their tails, pinning their ears, a lip licking, that might not be one that you think of regularly, but yawning, okay, when they're not necessarily tired.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: They're just relieving some stress.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: Even that shake off.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: You know, when a dog gets out of the shower and they shake off all the water.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: If your dog does that when they're dry, they're starting to tell you, okay, I'm relieving some stress.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: I'm taking a deep breath.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_00: I'm trying to manage my emotions, right?
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: There might be some avoidance, maybe turning away from things or refusing to take food or trying to leave a situation.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_00: Now, when they're on leash, that gets kind of tricky and dogs can get frustrated about that.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_00: There might be some vocalizing, maybe whining, barking, or even growling if they're uncertain about someone or something.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_00: Your dog might freeze, meaning they stop suddenly or they refuse to move on leash.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_00: If your dog is showing these signs, it's not defiance.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_00: It's usually discomfort.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: Your puppy is saying, I'm not too sure about this.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_00: So listening to those whispers early helps us prevent the louder problems down the road.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: The goal isn't to make your dog fearless, it's to build resilience.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_00: That means that they have the ability to recover quickly from new or uncertain experiences.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_00: Now, here are three foundational steps you can start today with your dog.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_00: Number one, safe socialization.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_00: We want to introduce new experiences gradually.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_00: Think quality, not quantity.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: We want to let your dog observe first from a distance that they're comfortable with.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_00: That distance is key.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: And then we reward calm curiosity.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: So if they are willing to explore or look at something or go check it out, we reward that.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_00: Now we watch people or dogs from afar, so we keep our distance.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_00: Anytime our dog looks in that direction, reward them.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: We can visit new environments like parks or pet stores during quiet hours.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe we pick one of those locations and we go there more frequently.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_00: So not necessarily introducing a bunch of new locations to your dog, but just pick one new location and work on that location.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_00: And then once they're comfortable in that location, we can add another one.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: And going again during quiet hours or when there's fewer people, that will allow you to create that distance so that your dog feels comfortable and safe.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_00: And of course, we want to pair each new experience with things your dog loves.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_00: So that could be food, it could be play, it could be appraise, okay, just saying good dog, good boy, right?
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_00: These all create positive associations with the world.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_00: Now, predictability and routine is important.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: So anxious dogs thrive on predictability.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_00: So keep feeding, walking, bedtime routines as consistent as you can.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: The holidays are coming up, so I know things are going to get a little bit off track, but do your best.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_00: It just helps your dog feel safe and know what to expect.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: Pandemic puppies grew up with constant company.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_00: So independence training will be really important.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: We want to start teaching them now that alone time is okay.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're starting with an older dog, even that struggles being away from you, we can start slowly.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_00: We can start with seconds, even if we need to, and then we can work up to minutes, and then we can work up to hours.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_00: So we want to practice short separations, just walking out of the room for a minute and coming back and doing that repeatedly so that they build up trust.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, she's coming back.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, we want to leave something special with them that they love, like a toy or a food puzzle.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_00: Uh if you know your dog's favorite item, or maybe you have a bone to work on, or it's something that they love to chew on every day, save that for these moments when you're going to practice this alone training.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_00: And then we'll build duration gradually as your dog can handle it.
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_00: These small steps will help prevent separation anxiety and increase your dog's confidence.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_00: Now, when a dog is afraid of something, say strangers, a vacuum, or being alone, we can use two powerful tools to change how they feel.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_00: Number one, we call it desensitization, which means introducing the trigger at a low enough level that your dog stays calm and relaxed.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_00: That's really important.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_00: If we're trying to desensitize them, it's not helpful to go to a high level that our dog's already stressed at.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_00: The learning can only take place if the level is low enough that our dog is not feeling that intense emotion.
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_00: So that's where the distance comes in, right?
• 6:41
  SPEAKER_00: Next is the counterconditioning, and that means we're pairing a trigger with something our dog loves, like food or play or praise.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_00: For example, if my dog is afraid of strangers, I'm going to have a person appear far away that's far enough that my dog's noticing but not reacting.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_00: And then I'm going to feed them some food rewards.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_00: The stranger disappears and the rewards stop.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_00: Over time, my dog is going to associate, oh, strangers make the food appear.
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe they're not so bad.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this approach helps shift the emotional response from fear to anticipation of good things.
• 7:16
  SPEAKER_00: And that's the heart of modern force-free behavior change, which we love here at Baxter and Bella.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_00: Now, while you're working through training, management is important.
• 7:24
  SPEAKER_00: We don't want to work against ourselves, okay?
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_00: That means we want to set our dog up for success by preventing overwhelming experiences.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_00: That might be avoiding putting our dog in situations that trigger big fear responses.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_00: We want to create that distance where they feel safe and can still learn.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_00: And then over time we can decrease that distance.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_00: We want to give them a quiet space to retreat to.
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_00: Always give them an escape.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_00: Let them retreat.
• 7:47
  SPEAKER_00: Teach them that walking away earns rewards, right?
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_00: They don't have to confront or face their fear.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: We don't want any of that aggression to start.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_00: So just teach them they can, if they're nervous about something, they can look at it and walk away.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe that's a crate or a cozy bed if you're in your house.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe that's if you're on a leash walk, just walking the opposite direction.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_00: We also want to use enrichment activities daily.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_00: So things that will mentally exercise our dogs, especially as we enter these colder months and we're inside more often.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_00: Get out those food puzzle toys, right?
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_00: When you do take your dog out for a walk, let them sniff.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_00: Set some training goals and so that you have something to work on each day and your dogs engaged in activities where they have to think and do.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe you set a goal to achieve your dog's AKC K9 Good Citizen title this winter, or maybe you get on our website and you have a goal to go through all of our games and activities, or we have a just for fun section with some tricks.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_00: Teach your dog some fun tricks this winter, but get them mentally engaged.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_00: That will help.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: Remember, there's no rush.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_00: Emotional growth takes time and gentle consistency.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_00: If your dog's anxiety feels unmanageable, like they panic when left alone, they're growling at family members, or they can't seem to settle on their own, don't wait.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_00: Please reach out to us for help.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_00: We are happy to coach you through these issues.
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_00: Also, it might be a good idea to check with your veterinarian, make sure that their health is good overall, and then they might have a veterinary behaviorist that could help you as well.
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_00: Getting help early does make all of the difference.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_00: Now, pandemic puppies didn't get the start we hoped for, but they can absolutely thrive with understanding and support from us.
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_00: So start where your dog is today.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_00: Listen to their signals, celebrate small wins, every calm walk, every relaxed moment, every new experience handled with curiosity instead of fear, that's progress.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_00: You're helping your dog learn that the world is safe, and that's the most powerful gift you can give them.
• 9:37
  SPEAKER_00: All right, you guys, thanks for being here today.
• 9:39
  SPEAKER_00: If you'd like more hands-on help building your dog's confidence, check out our socialization class.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_00: We teach this live via Zoom actually this Saturday.
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_00: If you're listening to this podcast as it comes out, if you're late to the party, that's okay.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_00: It's available in our members-only area on demand anytime you want.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_00: We also have a reactivity class.
• 9:57
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're struggling with leash pulling, barking, lunging, you're noticing your dog is nervous on walks, that reactivity class is a good one.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_00: These are all included in our membership.
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_00: So visit our website for details.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_00: I hope to see you in class.
• 10:10
  SPEAKER_00: And then thanks for listening to the podcast.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you have a great rest of your week.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_00: Happy training.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for tuning in to the Puppy Training Podcast.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: I hope today's tips help you feel more confident and excited about raising your dog.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_00: Remember, with a little patience and consistency, you can create a loving bond and a well-behaved pup who's a joy to have in your family.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_00: If you found this episode helpful, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with fellow puppy parents.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_00: For more resources, visit Baxter and Bella online.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_00: Until next time, happy training.