LYNN — Is staying at home driving you crazy? Do you long for a return to your normal routine?
Just think how your pets feel. Their routine has been disrupted, too. By you!
“Who are these people in my house? I desperately need some me time,” they probably think.
“Dogs and pets crave their routine as much as we do,” said Karin Statkum, a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT-Knowledge Assessed) and a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.
Since this is National Pet Week, it seemed like the perfect time to ask Statkum, who has owned and operated Karin’s Canine Services on Essex Street for 16 years, to share her thoughts on improving the relationship between dogs and owners. She also trains at the Animal Rescue League of Boston, is a board member of the Patriot Pug Dog Club and a foster mom and behavioral consultant for Pug Rescue of New England.
Her household includes two “babies,” 15-year-old Mr. French — a pug, of course — and 5-year-old beagle-mix rescue Chompsky (cheekily named after Noam Chomsky, the philosopher/linguist).
When it became evident that most Americans would be working at home, many families adopted a dog or cat, thinking training would be easier while they and the kids would be around. Most shelters were quickly emptied of pets.
“Pets add so much to our lives,” Statkum said. “But a pet arriving in the home can be a bit overwhelming.”
Statkum said she’s counseled many pet owners stuck at home, sharing advice and training exercises by phone. Some clients have even opted for virtual lessons, via FaceTime, where trainer, dog and family can see each other and offer/get immediate feedback. She has reduced rates during the pandemic. When life is back to normal for adults and canines, her private in-home sessions and group training lessons will return.
“Puppy class is like group therapy,” she said, then laughed. “The key is stopping bad habits early. It’s important they start out on the right paw.”
Statkum uses positive reinforcement and gentle techniques in a dog’s training. Behaviors you like are rewarded and behaviors you do not like are ignored. If a dog has an “accident” in the house, instead of punishment use praise whenever the dog does its business outdoors, she said. Praise (“Good boy!” “Good Girl”), walks, car rides and games (Fetch! Tug of war!) can be used to reward your dog’s good behavior. Treats are most often involved.
“I look at it this way. If they served cheesecake at the dentist, maybe I wouldn’t mind going more often,” said Statkum.
Food, chew toys that’ll get dogs to work their jaw, and interactive food puzzles help puppies get into a routine. Every mealtime is a learning experience for a dog, Statkum said.
You can make your own games and puzzles. Statkum offers a few fun examples for good dogs. Take a muffin tin, put a treat in each spot and cover with a tennis ball. Or place a treat in the many cardboard boxes that are delivered to your house each day, to hide treats for a game of hide-and seek. Or family members can stand at opposite ends of the house and call the dog, rewarding him/her with a treat; pooches will soon be tuckered out.
“If you’re concerned about something, don’t hesitate to reach out to a trainer or a veterinarian. Don’t rely on the internet. I read a suggestion that dogs shouldn’t be given ice cubes.” That’s ridiculous, she said. When it comes to serving ice, dog owners can chill.
Eventually, most of us will probably return to our work offices. That will pose another issue for dogs, who will have gotten used to us being around 24-7. “It will be stressful for them. It will be a change for all of us, and by then they will love having us around.”
And, one hopes, they will all be “good” dogs by then.
