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
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.