Dogs During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Partnership Should Take Priority Over Ownership

10 Tips for Dog Owners

Over the years, numerous books have been written about how to create the best possible relationship between dogs and humans.

One of the most recent is titled Put Your Paw in Mine – In Training, Companionship, and Partnership, written by Ditte Young, Helle Hoffmann, and Lea Nor, all of whom have extensive experience with dogs.

We asked Ditte Young to share 10 helpful tips for dog owners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

10 Tips

We asked dog expert Ditte Young to identify 10 points she believes are especially important to keep in mind, particularly when families are spending as much time with their dogs as many are during the current coronavirus crisis.

1. The moment you get a dog; you become its daily trainer.
2. Partnership is more important than ownership.
3. Dogs are very much creatures of habit.
4. Your dog is your mirror.
5. Don’t raise your voice.
6. Your dog is communicating with you all the time.
7. It is extremely important that your dog gets plenty of exercise.
8. Your dog also needs time alone.
9. Pay more attention to your dog.
10. Dogs and humans must maintain their close bond.

Ditte Young believes that the three most important things to remember, especially during a time when many people are spending nearly every hour of the day with their dogs, are that you are your own dog’s daily trainer, that it is important to see yourself as your dog’s partner rather than “just” its owner, and finally, that dogs are very much creatures of habit.

“The moment you bring your dog home; you automatically become its trainer. Your dog copies everything you do and everything you ask it to do,” she tells Jyllands-Posten, continuing:

“The more you repeat things with your dog, the more you teach your dog what you want from it. Your dog wants to make you happy and do well, which is why praise is such a strong motivator.”

In this regard, Ditte Young emphasizes that giving your dog plenty of praise is not wrong. She believes it is essential to focus on what the dog does right rather than what it does wrong.

Beyond this, Ditte Young also emphasizes that the relationship with a dog should be based on partnership rather than ownership.

“In any partnership, it is important that both parties are understanding, accepting, and loving toward each other. You cannot build a healthy and lasting relationship with your partner if you try to change who that person is, whether it concerns their appearance or their personality traits,” she says, emphasizing that exactly the same principle applies to the relationship between dogs and humans.

“Learn to love and support your dog’s personality just as it is. Your dog loves you for who you are and does not question your personality traits.”

Dogs Are Creatures of Habit

Finally, Ditte Young also emphasizes in her 10 tips that dogs are, and always will be, creatures of habit, and that they learn what is permitted through repeated experiences.

“That is why it is important that you do not establish routines for your dog during the COVID-19 pandemic that you will be unable to maintain once the pandemic is over,” she explains.

For example, she says an owner might take their dog on two or three long walks every day during the pandemic but then have to stop when life returns to normal. This would confuse the dog.

“Your dog thrives on structure, and clear boundaries help ensure that it has the best possible life with you,” Ditte Young emphasizes, adding:

“Remember that your dog lives in the present moment. So, if you want to maintain these new, positive habits, you must continue to reinforce them by consistently motivating your dog to remember them.”