Pets: Demand for dog trainers rises as pawrents seek help for their pandemic pups

At home, one-and-a-half-year-old Mischief is the sweetest pooch anyone would ever meet. But, if someone visits home, or if he is approached by a friendly stranger on his walk – the Beagle gives the person a fierce stare and barks incessantly until his parent Kshitij Shrivastava holds him and calms him down. “Mischief is a quintessential pandemic pup,” points out his Delhi-based trainer Lavesh Mishra, referring to a generation of dogs that was brought home by parents during the lockdown or just before the pandemic set in. “They are just not used to the experiences which are regular for other dogs,” Lavesh adds. But with offices slowly reopening and employees being gradually asked to say goodbye to the WFH setup, Kshitij finds Mischief’s behaviour a matter of concern.
In the new normal, just as loneliness increased, the number of pet adoptions rose and along with it, a new set of behavioural issues for these pandemic pups. It’s no surprise then that canine behaviourists and trainers across the country are flooded with calls to sort out issues related to socialising, separation anxiety, loneliness and aggression in pets.

From nearly no work, to hands full – in 14 months
With the COVID-19 outbreak, dog trainers almost ran out of work last year. “In the first two months of the lockdown in March 2020, we didn’t know if we would be able to continue doing what we love. But the year also saw a boom in pet adoption. We realised that we can also create online modules for first-time pet parents to virtually guide them through dog parenting,” recalls Manasvi Chudasama, a seasoned canine behaviourist from Pune. Once the unlocking phase started, ‘pawrents’ started seeking out their services to address behaviour concerns that started surfacing due to minimal socialising. “Whether it was adopting Indies or bringing home foreign breeds, almost 40 percent of the decisions were short-sighted. Most first-time parents didn’t know how to go about behaviour training. So, the need for trainers rose. Now, most of us have asked parents to book sessions in advance. Some are on the waitlist too,” she adds.

Another trainer, Harshad Pol, says that the call volume of clients has gone up drastically after the lockdown. “As the dogs started going out for walks, they showed reactive behaviour, like barking incessantly or snapping at people, or they became timid and scared. Parents are concerned about such behaviour. So, from 7-8 calls a day back in 2019, I have started receiving about 15-20 calls daily now – all about behavioural issues and separation anxiety,” he shares.

In 2021…

- There is 60-70% rise in demand of dog trainers

- Trainers are handling 13-14 calls a day as opposed to 6-7 until the lockdown

- Separation anxiety and behaviour issues are the priorities

(As told by dog trainers and behaviourists)

Social distancing rubbing off on pooches too
BeFunky-collage (5)
More than a year of social distancing has kept humans from hugging each other or shaking hands. To some extent that has rubbed off on these pandemic pooches as they have learnt from a young age to keep distance from humans, say canine experts. Canine behaviourist and trainer Diksha Thakkar explains, “At the age of 3-6 months, puppies are in the socialising window – an age when there is not only physical, but mental development too. Since their parents were following social distancing as per COVID-19 protocols, the pets have learnt the same.” She adds that this has led to social aggression in some pups, a situation that most parents are not equipped to handle by themselves. “There was this one-year-old Cocker Spaniel, whose parents gave me an SOS call. When we met, the pup barked continuously for two hours while we tried to understand his behaviour. One of the leading causes for this was the fact that he was just not used to seeing humans apart from his parents and the house help,” says Diksha.

Separation anxiety a big concern for working parents
BeFunky-collage (2)
Another major reason that has kept the trainers on their toes is the widespread separation anxiety. “My two-year-old French bulldog Theo howls his lungs off if my wife and I are out for too long. If one of us is away and the other one is in the bathroom, he would keep sitting on the bathroom mat with sad eyes and howl if they took too long. After talking to other pet parents, we figured he has separation anxiety. Because our offices may open anytime soon, we reached out to an expert so that we can address the situation while we have time,” shares Sharad Pathak, an IT professional.

Experts also add that separation anxiety is a big worry for pet parents. “About 60% of the calls I receive are about dealing with separation anxiety. This is a concern not just for the pandemic pups, but also adult dogs who got used to their parents’ constant presence at home during the WFH phase. So, parents are investing in systematically dealing with the concern,” adds Harshad.


"Raising a dog needs discipline. First-time pet parents end up over-pampering their pooches instead of teaching them good behaviour. Just like kids, pooches need nurturing in which they can learn right and wrong

Manasvi Chudasama, canine behaviorist and trainer

From 7-8 calls a day back in 2019, I have started receiving about 15-20 calls daily now – all about behavioural issues and separation anxiety

- Harshad Pol, a dog trainer

pet

Easy and doable training tips:

- Keep your dog constantly engaged mentally and physically

- Get them enough exercise so that they are physically fit and satisfied

- Get them to meet your neighbours so that they they don’t feel socially anxious around people

- Encourage them to see, hear and play in natural surroundings

Limit treats to training rewards. This is an excellent way to make sure your dog views treats as special rather than expected. It’s also helpful in keeping your pet from becoming overweight or obese. Feed a species-appropriate diet, and partner with a holistic or integrative vet to maintain your pet’s well-being.

End of the article

Comments (0)

Visual Stories

  • Life Style

    High cholesterol: Symptoms and risk factors

  • Entertainment

    10 celebs, 10 viral pics of the week

  • Entertainment
    #Rakshabandhan: Sandalwood celebs with their siblings
  • Entertainment
    Marathi celebs' moments with their siblings
  • Entertainment

    Gym pics of namma actors

  • Life Style

    Homemade facial bleach recipe

  • Life Style

    Traits of the most interesting people

  • Life Style

    How to strengthen your relationship with your siblings

  • Entertainment
    Raksha Bandhan: Tollywood actresses and their loving brothers
  • Entertainment
    Happy Birthday Chiranjeevi: Retro pictures that prove he’s the OG style icon