For those of you who’ve welcomed new dogs into your homes, you may be experiencing some pandemic puppy parent blues. Since many of our work schedules and habits have changed, we aren’t getting away from our kids and pets. We’re together almost all of the time. We need breaks to reset and refresh ourselves. Here are some suggestions for safe getaway spaces. 

Put that dog’s body in motion! Bored with the same neighborhood walks? Have a dog who’s still reeling from fireworks? I encourage you to try new destinations and exercise experiences. Take a look at fenced-in-yards for rent from a Sniffspot in your area. Use my link for a $5 credit!  Guess what? You can rent backyard pools as well. Some will even let you bring your dog so you can swim together! Checkout Swimply for more details. K9 Aquatic Center in Potomac, MD is also a great place to take your dog swimming. These destinations can also be great for reactive dogs and sound-sensitive dogs.

You’re not likely to be able to go to new dog friendly destinations daily, so be sure to let your dog take sniffy walks where she’s sniffing for 80% of the neighborhood walk. You could even opt for a half day of doggie daycare a couple of times a week. This will help you get a break from your lovable albeit exhausting furry best friend. 

 Put that dog’s body at rest! After physical exercise, give your dog a safe space to chill out. A crate or his bed would be a great place to give your dog a frozen long-lasting treat. Feeding your dog in his crate prevents kids from reaching for the dog while he’s eating and ensures he has some alone time. Encourage your dog to seek out his crate or bed whenever he wants to be left alone. Drop some treats in his crate when he’s not looking to inspire self-directed crate time.  Kids and other animals should not go into your dog’s crate or on his bed. This should be an easily accessible safe getaway space for dogs only.

Create a family-friendly schedule for your new furry friend. This schedule should include mental stimulation, physical exercise, and appropriate things for chewing. By creating a chewing,  exercise, and mental stimulation plan, you’ll buy yourself some much needed downtime while your dog snoozes the afternoon away. Need more ideas plus training and behavior advice? Reach out to me or one of my force-free colleagues. We want people and their dogs to have safe getaway spaces.