Around 2016 I started doing some dog and cat boarding on the side, to make some extra income, and because I love the furry critters. And my elderly dog Benny was really awesome, always got along with other dogs, cats, and even a rabbit! Best dog ever!!
As the pandemic hit people were working from home, and apparently decided to get puppies. Which was a really good time for that, since they were home and could give the puppies lots of attention and care in those early weeks/months. Good call, in my opinion!
But I never imagined the concept of “COVID Dogs” — basically dogs who were not socialized to deal with other humans or dogs. They love their own home and people, but have terrible social skills beyond that. And I started to get these dogs under my care, and was kinda shocked at how anti-social these dogs really were. I really had never spent even a minute thinking about how dogs learn to deal with other dogs and humans – and how they really are social creatures!
The main recurring problem was/is dogs who think they run the place! It’s like every Cesar Millan show — every time the solution is to teach the dogs who is in charge. Which is not my style, but seems to be necessary for some dogs.
And with certain troublesome dogs I wonder if the dog hasn’t been trained well, or if they think they can get away with bad behavior because I’m like the “substitute teacher” or “babysitter”? It’s hard to tell, but either way I don’t put up with doggie misbehavior.
Ok I do think a lot about society and politics, I do think a lot changed during the pandemic that we don’t really acknowledge. Dogs became anti-social. WTF?
I don’t really have a point beyond that.. but any input about how pets have changed, we’ve changed, whatever… it’s all good!
