“I went to the vet today – it had been so long since I was in the car that I didn’t care if they were taking me to a hotel where everything was sprayed down with bitter apple” – JJ
That is what it is like being a dog in the middle of a pandemic. The pandemic for us is not the disease that has caused the entire world to seemingly stop. Rather, the pandemic for us is the new world that has taken shape.
Going to the vet today was a surreal experience for me. Usually, Daddy brings me into the building, checks me in, and goes into the exam room with me. The new protocol, as some of you other doggies have probably experienced, is Daddy essentially handing me off to a vet tech in front of the building to go in for my exam. Our humans are no longer allowed inside the building and it makes me wonder about the future of veterinary business. Will the world change to the point where most routine exams won’t require an owner to be with us? Anyway, I wasn’t freaked out by everyone in the clinic being covered up in masks and other protective garbs. I assume for some dogs, this can freak them out somewhat! While I was running a slight fever (likely from my excitement!), my exam went perfectly overall. Yay me!
We have it lucky as dogs. Both of our parents work from home so constant companionship has always been a part of our day. Sometimes, it can be painful for them when we are wrestling in the background when they are on conference calls, but do you think we care? We need to be active to not be destructive. We need to use our energy to wrestle, chase, etc. so that we don’t use it to chew on your walls and scratch up your furniture.
This is not to say that the last several weeks have been easy for us. We still go for walks but they have been shortened as Daddy is adhering to social distancing rules and often turns around on streets if he sees a group of people outside (sometimes it is hard for kids to resist us, you know!). We no longer go to dog school, as those classes are indefinitely postponed. Doggie playdates? Nope. Our favorite Wednesday pastime is not an option as the humans try to stay safe and follow the rules of what is essential and what isn’t (by the way, it is our firm belief that our play dates are essential but the Governor won’t let us into the press conferences)
With reduced walks and no activities away from the house to wear us down, new quarantine policies have been put in place in our household. To be neighbor-friendly (we can be loud when we play!), we are put outside at lunchtime to do whatever we want for a solid hour. We also get evening time outside as well. We also get to play some brain games (that can be anything from hunting for treats to doing tricks) to further entertain us and keep us occupied. While physical activity is essential for any dog, you will be surprised how tired we get if you give our brains a good workout as well!
We just want all the humans out there to know that everything will be OK. We understand the pain and suffering. I am sure there are at least hundreds of dogs out there who are trying to help their humans get through an infection by acting goofy or just laying next to them to give them comfort. We understand that many dogs out there have loved ones who are likely quarantined away from them as their hero parents work the front lines to stop the spread of this awful virus and save as many lives as possible. We salute everyone who is putting their health at risk to help serve the communities and keep people safe.
We feel your new normal because your new normal always becomes our new normal. We have a long history of adapting to our humans’ lifestyle. If you are a night owl, we become night owls. If you get to bed early, we will do the same. We sometimes have to be placed in new homes, which comes with new feeding schedules. We adapt to that too. So, when you are feeling those moments of despair as if there is no light at the end of the tunnel, look to us. We will always shine a light down the tunnel for you. We have hundreds of years of experience in our job title as the world’s best therapists. The pandemic will end. Life will get back to some type of new normal. The dogs will be here for you to navigate the new normal.
Me: While there have been nights where the dogs have been antsy because we were unable to give them a full day’s worth of exercise, everything has worked out well overall. Having three dogs helps the situation as they can keep themselves entertained. They love to wrestle and play chase and ask for us to occasionally throw a ball.
If you don’t have this capability, just do the best you can to keep your dogs busy. As stated above, simple tricks require dogs to use up their overactive brains, and that alone can settle them down reasonably. A short walk is better than no walk. I will not advocate doing anything that is against the current guidelines or restrictions, but putting your dog in the car and taking him or her around the block will not harm.
This is a trying time for everyone. Most of us are finding new ways to get through our days. You are not alone if you are feeling overwhelmed. If you are one of the lucky ones to have a canine companion, I hope you can find some hope by looking at life through their lens, where even the worst of times can be turned into something somewhat positive.