FARMING: How to relieve pet stress during lockdown

My Pet Stop in Follingsby Lane, washington held a Fun Dog Show which attracted lots of dog owners and their pet dogs. As well as fun games, there were various competitions and agility courses.

Dogs until recently have been limited to one walk per day. They can’t take part in activities that they are used to, agility for example. Group walks with friends and family, and their waggy friends, mean they aren’t socialising in a way they are used to. As always, as well as physical exercise, it is really important to make sure your canine friend is getting enough mental stimulation. This can reduce anxiety and some unwanted behaviours that come with it. Though there are lots of great things out there to buy, we can also easily make things from items we have at home! Hiding treats in cereal or egg boxes works well. A muffin tray can be used to put treats in then, pop tennis balls over the treats. Scatter feeding is great too and can be done in the house or in the garden.

It is important that dogs have a place to escape to, a safe place, especially if there are noisy children in the house. They need to be able to take themselves away and feel safe and secure to relax. A

crate with a comfy bed and some treats and toys is a great safe haven.

Cats are particularly susceptible to stress and can begin to display some unwanted behaviours, for example scratching furniture or carpets and spraying urine around the house. These are visual and

scent markers that can help them feel secure in claiming their territory. It is important to give our feline friends some enrichment to help reduce stress. Playing with them and grooming (if they enjoy

it) can help. Create interactive toys out of toilet roll or kitchen roll cardboard tubes. Scrunch some paper into them and hide some of their treats or normal food so that they to have work to get the reward. Ensure they have a place where they are allowed to scratch, as this is normal behaviour for a cat. It only becomes a problem when they do it in places we don’t want them to. Cats feel safer when they are up a height so popping some comfy bedding on a cupboard for example will give them a place to escape to, even better if you can give them a little hide to retreat into. They love to be able to see you without you seeing them!

Lastly, let’s not forget our small furies! Egg boxes or toilet roll and kitchen roll tubes filled with hay and some yummy treats can provide enrichment, and make things a bit more interesting. A paper bag filled with hay and herbs can be a real treat. A treat ball that you dispense their food into is another simple way to help their mental wellbeing.

Following some of these steps will hopefully make your life, and your pet, more enjoyable at this difficult time.