Animal charity shares tips on how to care for dogs while at home

Dogs Trust has issued some tips on how dog owners can keep their furry friends active despite being self-isolating.

Because of the coronavirus outbreak, the Government has advised people to distance themselves from others and leave their homes as little as possible.

Taking dogs out on their walks is considered a necessity and is therefore allowed; However, people are asked to avoid popular dog walking spots.

For those who are struggling with self-isolating and caring for their dogs, the Dogs Trust has put together a list of things that owners can do to keep their pets happy, “without stepping outside your front door.”

A treasure hunt: owners can hide some of the dog’s favourite treats in different rooms around the house to see how quickly they manage to locate them.
Play games such as: Catch? Fetch? Tug of war?
Create new toys such as: a snuffle mat which is “an enrichment toy that encourages your dog to sniff and search out hidden treats amongst the mat.”
Build a new cosy and comfortable dog bed for them to sleep on.
Teach them some new tricks!

Currently there is no evidence that the virus responsible for COVID-19 can be transmitted from dogs to humans (or vice versa), but the Dogs Trust aim to keep taking guidance from the World Health Organisation and to inform people of any changes.

The British animal welfare charity also reminds people to wash their hands before and after handling dogs, as well as avoiding kissing, being licked or sharing food.

In particular, “if you have tested positive for Coronavirus we would recommend limiting physical contact with your dog as much as possible – as hard as it may be.”