Stuck at Home with Your Dog? Beating the Corona Prison Blues

Stuck at Home with Your Dog? Beating the Corona Prison Blues

In our last disaster preparedness blog, we spoke about what to do when you need to evacuate with your pet. But what do you need to do if, instead of leaving, you're forced to stay inside? We have some tips to help keep you (and your furry fam) sane and healthy.

Similarly to prepping a GO bag, the same type of materials should be stocked up on for an extended period of quarantine or self-isolation.

  • Food
  • Medicine
  • Potty Accommodations
  • Training Treats
  • Puzzle Toys
old fashioned dog food label 

Have the Essentials on Hand 

Food, water and any lifesaving or regularly given prescription medicine are necessities to have on hand. If you can, stock up on at least 2 weeks of food and a month of medication. The situation going on in the world currently is dynamic, so anywhere from 2 weeks to a month of food would be a good idea. Depending on what your vet will prescribe you medication wise will dictate how much medicine you can have on hand.

For many people during this difficult time of self-isolation and shutdown during the COVID-19 outbreak, this can be an expense that can seem unmanageable if facing the time without pay. Many shelters are offering free dog and cat food as well as food assistance programs for those who need some help during this time.

Check in with your local shelters to see what donations they need as well as how they can help you as a pet owner.

NOTE: We at Scollar completely understand the fear of this situation that can lead to stockpiling. We don't recommend buying enough food for the year or indefinitely. None of us are the only people in the world and it is important to take care of each other during this time, which means leaving enough for others on the shelves.

chihuahua sitting on pee pad

Give Potty Breaks

This one is a tricky situation for some people depending on where you live. If you live in a house with a yard, bathroom habits get to stay the same for your doggos (and kitties!) If you live in an apartment on the other hand, depending on your building's accommodations, your furry fam may need to use the bathroom indoors.

To convince a pet that normally goes to the bathroom outside, that it is ok to go inside is a process. For dogs, the most important thing is maintaining routine. If your dog always poops on a walk, get the leash out and lead them over to the spot you've designated "temporary potty". As for what you can use to absorb their ~business~, we recommend puppy pads, newspaper, or even astroturf.

Create Activities for Dogs

Dogs love activities and need a certain amount of exercise every day to remain the healthiest they can be. Since walks might be out of the question depending on where you live, there are quite a few options to keep doggos busy.

Puzzle treat dispensers can be quite expensive if you buy them from a store. However, they are also super easy to make out of things you have lying around your home!
  • Have a leftover cereal box that is just going to go in the recycling? Put some stuffies or treats inside and tape it up. This will help your dog get some destructive energy out without hurting anything in your house that you'd like to keep whole.
  • Making a tennis ball with treats inside is very easy, but best done carefully as you will be using a knife or scissors. Take a tennis ball and cut along some of the exposed rubber in between the green felt. The slit should be between 1-2 inches long, just long enough for the slit to open when your dog chews on the ball and allow treats to fall out (slowly). Watch the instructions HERE.
  • A game that doesn't involve any extra supplies besides some kibble or treats is treat hide & seek. Make your doggo sit (or put them in a different room depending on their patience level) and hide pieces of dog friendly food around your house. This allows them to use multiple senses and gives them a task which will tire out both their body and mind.
  • Looking for more? Check out some fun options HERE!
woman snuggling tan dog in living room chair

Remain Positive

This is a time of uncertainty and fear for people across the world. There are scary things going on in the world, but also positive things. If you want some good news on your instagram timelines, here are some of our favorites: All of us at Scollar are here and we are happy to chat with you about anything, from our products to the best flavor of ice cream (I say strawberry!) Reach out to us to chat. Be careful, be kind, and be conscious of each other. 
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