The COVID-19 pandemic has many of us wearing masks whenever we go out. But how are dogs reacting to people walking around with their noses and mouths covered? Is your dog becoming more cautious or guarded during its walks? Have they been unable to recognize close friends or family members due to the mask?
Many dogs around the world are finding it difficult to navigate a world where face masks have become the norm. As a result many dogs will have to learn how to interact with people wearing masks. Helping your dog adjust to seeing people with masks on is actually quite simple! Just follow these 5 easy steps and your dog will be fine in no time.
Step #1 Show the Mask to Your Dog
First, hold your mask and let your dog sniff it to his satisfaction. It could be that your dog is interpreting face masks as part of a person’s face, instead of recognizing it as a covering. By letting your dog examine it, your dog will understand that the mask isn’t part of the person’s face. Feed them treats and lots of affectionate praises during this step, so that they form good memories with it.
Step #2 Put the Mask As Your Dog Observes
Ensure your pet is watching you while putting on your mask. Keep talking to him softly so that they understand that you’re underneath the mask. After donning the mask, give him lots of treats and praise to offer reassurance that it’s completely safe. Your dog might be confused upon hearing your sound without your face in sight. Being positive towards him in such situations can develop his confidence in people wearing masks.
Step #3 Use Other Reward Cues While Having the Mask On
As dogs mainly use facial expressions and body language to understand your actions, you need other ways to communicate with your dog. Dogs generally take smiling faces to indicate approval for their actions. With the mask covering your mouth, you’ll need other ways to praise your dog.
For instance, you could switch to verbal praise or touch to communicate. Dogs are capable of understanding subtle cues from your face. Your eyes can reveal emotions like ‘angry’ and ‘happy’ to them. Spend some time figuring out what other reward cues they respond to so that you can communicate effectively with them.
Step #4 Have Someone Else Around During the Training
After you’ve trained your dog to recognize you with a mask, you should move on to controlling their emotions in the presence of other masked people. You can ask your family members or friends to play with your pup first, followed by them implementing the steps mentioned above. This procedure can be repeated multiple times with different friends and family members, thus helping the dog understand that humans with masks are not a threat.
Step #5 Walk Around Public Spaces Along with Your Pup
Finally, you’ll need to acclimatize your dog to the idea of seeing other people walking around in masks on the streets. If you reside near a place with high foot traffic levels, consider taking your pet for a calming walk. Evaluate their reactions to others wearing masks and face coverings. Keep praising and offering treats to your dog throughout this whole experience to assuage their concerns.
Be attentive towards your dog’s reactions while out in public. Should they start showing signs of aggression or stress, take them away to a quiet place and help them relax before walking back again. Training your pet to become more comfortable with new, challenging situations is a great way to bond.
It boosts your pet’s confidence levels and strengthens their love and affection for you. Once you’ve trained your pup to handle situations where they might come across crowds of people with face masks on, you won’t have to be worried about them having anxiety while the two of you are out in public.
Original Source: Gallant