Saskatoon dog trainer sees rise in pandemic pups not being properly socialized
As a professional dog trainer, Meghan Oesch specializes in correcting poor behaviour. But, she says during the pandemic, she’s been receiving a lot of calls about the animals not being properly socialized.
“The biggest problem right now is nobody went anywhere and nobody gave these dogs the opportunity to just see the world,” Oesch said.
Oesch runs Crazy Tails Canine Services in Saskatoon, which offers everything from pet grooming to doggy daycare and training.
As more people head back to work and start taking their dogs out to places, Oesch said training classes for basic obedience are being booked three months in advance.
“They’re starting to notice a little more behaviour problems or a little bit more training problems and so that prompts calls to us to deal with specific things like separation anxiety.”
It’s something dog owners and dog walkers say they have also noticed while out at dog parks.
“You have different dog personalities, you have different people that know different experiences and I think the problem is a lot of people don’t have dog on dog experience,” said Amanda Woelk, a dog walker.
Joel Vermette, who helps with dog walking and dog sitting through Rover.com, has experience dealing with all types of dogs and says he is very familiar with “pandemic puppies.”
“They’re apprehensive and usually only socialized towards their owner and I find that makes them either protective or apprehensive and fearful, and those are bad combinations in a dog that leads to aggression and spontaneous outbursts.”
Last week, a small Terrier mix was attacked by two large dogs at Sutherland Beach Off-leash Dog Park and died of its injuries.
That incident has prompted calls for owners to ensure their dogs are properly trained and socialized before going to an off-leash park.
“A dog park is not a place to go if your dog doesn’t have the social skills to be able to interact with other dogs regularly and enjoy those interactions,” Oesch said.
Instead, Oesch recommends people first take their dog to a training class or somewhere like a pet store to meet other people and dogs.
“They don’t have to meet every single person, they don’t have to meet every single other dog, but definitely a few good experiences and just getting them out and seeing the world, going for a daily walk outside, visiting a pet store, those kinds of things can make a world of a difference when socializing with a dog.”
The City of Saskatoon requires all dogs attending a dog park to be well-behaved and be able to obey basic commands like “sit” and “stay.”
It also requires owners whose dog becomes a nuisance to other people or animals to restrain the dog and remove it from the off-leash area.
The City said it has received many requests for an off-leash dog park dedicated to small dogs — something its Community Services team is in the process of securing funds for.
It’s a move Oesch supports and says will help prevent injuries and accidents from happening
“Even the most well-intentioned big dog can still cause harm to a small dog even if they don’t intend to, even if there’s no aggression, there’s no behaviour problems whatsoever. It’s just a matter of body size, right? It comes down to the fact that little dogs are more prone to getting hurt, they’re a little more sensitive obviously and things can happen.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.