Tell Me You Have a Pandemic Puppy Without Telling Me

Six years ago, everything stopped.

I remember exactly where I was. High school, working at a grocery store since I picked the essential worker route. The lines were all the way to the back. That day it felt like Landis turned into Costco that night. No one was lingering, crazy conversations, just packed aisles and full carts.

Then just like that, life slowed down.

Not a little. A lot.

So much time that people started getting creative in ways no one could have predicted.

You probably saw it too.

A priest baptizing a baby with what looks like a water gun. I still laugh thinking about it. It just feels right for Easter weekend. I would do anything to be in that room when someone first said that idea out loud and everyone just went with it. Somewhere in the corner I know someone was flipping through pages in the bible real fast just to double check. Guess it checked out.

Then there is the haircut one.

I am not even going to lie this one left me stuck for a second. At some point you just have to respect it. I guess a fresh cut really was that important. I can only imagine the sound every time they moved. Anything for a fresh cut for your zoom date.

And then the last one. I am speechless.

Idk

I always say "if you think it, someone has done it." The Pandemic just proves that point over and over again.

But dogs and some cats were suddenly living their best life. I say some since I know some cats act like they could careless when we are gone.

Dogs got walks in the middle of the day. Owners home all the time. Extra treats. Extra attention. Couches became shared space. Beds became shared space. Everything became shared space. The only place where 6 feet didn't matter.

Then came the pandemic puppy.

I saw it with my own eyes. My parents got one. My clients got them. Everyone had the same idea. If we are home, now is the time.

Puppy Ryder

At first, it worked out perfectly.

Think about the routine from the dog’s point of view.

Wake up. Your Mom and/or Dad is there. No rush. No crate. No being left alone. Maybe they stretch on the floor and you join in. Maybe you nap from eight to noon without a care in the world.

Then food shows up. Maybe even some leftovers.

Another nap. Then a walk. Then more hanging out. Then another meal. Then TV. Then bed.

Every day felt the same. Calm. Predictable. Safe.

Happy Dog

Happy Life

Now fast forward.

Those puppies are five, six, even seven years old.

And everything changed again.

People went back to work. First a few days a week. Then full time. The house that used to feel full now feels quiet. Too quiet.

Dogs notice that shift fast.

Dogs are routine driven. When their routine changes, their behavior changes.

That is where we see it.

Clingy behavior. Following you from room to room. Watching the door. Waiting.

Separation anxiety.(A lot) Barking. Destructive habits. Accidents in the house. Stress.

To them, it does not make sense.

Where are you going?Why are you leaving?When are you coming back?

They remember the version of life where you were always there. That version is still real to them.

This is not bad behavior. This is confusion.

Studies show dogs that were raised with constant human presence during early development are more likely to struggle with being alone later. They were never taught how to be alone. That is a skill, just like sit or stay.

The good news is it can be worked on.

Daily walks in Pottsgrove

Start small.

Leave for short periods and build up. Keep exits calm. Keep returns calm. Give them something to do while you are gone. A walk before you leave helps more than most people think. It takes the edge off like letting air out of a balloon.

Consistency matters more than perfection.

And this is where I come in.

At Sanatoga Pet Services, I work with a lot of pandemic puppies that are now adult dogs trying to adjust. Midday walks, routine visits, and just giving them a break in the day makes a huge difference. It gives them structure again. It gives them something to expect.

Mid day let outs

It gives them a version of that old routine back.

If your dog has been struggling since your schedule changed, you are not alone. I see it every day.

Reach out and let’s get your dog on a routine that actually works for both of you.

Because a calm dog is a happy dog. And a happy dog makes life a lot easier. 🐾 Call or text now 610-906-9620.