Social Distancing and Your Pup
Updated On: Friday, November 15, 2024 05:40:20 AM America/Los_Angeles
We’re sure that you’ve been following the COVID-19 crisis ever since it radically overhauled our everyday lives. You’ve probably been cooped up in your home for a while- especially if your governor has declared a shelter-in-place order. This probably means that (if you’re able to) you’re working from home. You’re also likely spending less time commuting and more time social distancing from your human pals (we really hope you are!)- but luckily, you can still hang out with your furry ones!
There are lots of ways to have fun with your pet while you’re helping to flatten the curve. Who knew that staying home (or at least 6 feet away from other people) and playing catch with your pup could save lives? A great thing about a shelter-in-place order is that you can still leave your home for essential activities like grocery shopping, exercise, and walking your pets.
Taking your dog out to use the restroom and to get exercise outside is a great way to have fun with your pet. Scope out wide open areas with real grass and minimal crowds where your dog has plenty of space to run and potty. Bring a frisbee or their favorite ball, a few treats, water, a water dish, and a poo poo bag, and have a playdate! Not only is this a great way to get out of the house and get some exercise, it’s a great opportunity for you to get some fresh air and de-stress, too. If you live in the city and it's hard to find a good patch of grass while maintaining social distance, try an indoor potty option like DoggieLawn!
Play creative games indoors with your puppy! You can have fun inside, too! If your dog likes finding things, why not entertain them with a little challenge? Fill your dog’s toy full of their favorite dog-safe treat, hide it somewhere within their reach, and set them loose to try and find it! Time sure does fly when you’re having fun!
Teach your furbaby new tricks! Some people are spending their newly acquired downtime to learn a language or how to play a musical instrument. Now, your dog obviously isn’t going to be learning French or how to play Nocturne on a piano anytime soon, but you can teach them some great new tricks! Start with easy commands like sit and heel- and then you can graduate to more difficult ones like lie down, roll over, and shake!
Potty Training! This is also a great opportunity to work on housebreaking a pup who still potties wherever they please, too. Since you’re home, you can devote a little more attention to ensuring that your puppy is using only approved potty places, whether it’s on the DoggieLawn you’ve got under the window in the living room, outside in the backyard, or even if you need to train them how to get your attention so that you can take them for a walk. It’s always a great idea to potty train your pup so that they can help you keep your house germ free.
And remember- between playing with and caring for your furbaby, make sure to wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap!
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon
