PRESIDENT of the ACT Companion Dog Club Anne Robertson is the proud owner of Kilti, a four-year-old Irish setter.

The dog has a generalised anxiety disorder that developed when it was 15 months old because of environmental factors and negative experiences.

“She was very susceptible to responding to those experiences negatively. It wasn’t that she didn’t know how to behave, it was that she was mentally and emotionally not able to cope under the circumstances,” says Anne.

Anne sought the help of Narrabundah vet Dr Isabelle Resch, a member of the Australia/NZ College of Veterinary Scientists in Animal Behaviour. 

“I sought help from Isabelle to determine whether there were physiological factors that were contributing to Kilti’s behaviour and she confirmed it,” says Anne.

Isabelle has concerns that with the recent lockdown and people returning to work, she will see more pets who develop anxiety disorders.

“We’ve already had a few issues with separation anxiety and I think there is going to be an increase in incidents,” says Isabelle.

She says every species behaves the way they do because of genetics, the experiences that they’ve had and the environment they live in.

“Kilti has a lack of confidence around dogs that she doesn’t know, but her circumstances changed during the lockdown and I noticed that she really missed the social interaction,” says Anne.

Isabelle says that when a pet’s routine is changed, a new standard is set.  When the ACT suddenly went into lockdown, routines changed and many pets became used to having their owners around 24/7.

“When you go back to work 40 hours a week, you’re radically changing the environment the dog is in, they have expectations and we’ve just totally turned that upside down,” says Isabelle.

“I can’t see that it would be different for any other species, I think it’s more the fact that we don’t recognise it. We don’t understand or perceive their emotions because we don’t really talk cat or lizard or guinea pig.”

Anne says: “The deterioration in Kilti’s behaviour was when she was travelling in the car, she would see dogs on the street and she would explode and would give the appearance of being an aggressive dog.” Isabelle says this is a really common sign of anxiety. Dogs become reactive and aggressive, which is an intimidation tactic, but barking is not always the strategy.

“It’s not just noise. Some dogs will be very destructive and it’s pretty obvious when your house is torn apart or the neighbours are complaining, but there’s subtle signs, too. If your pet is pacing or panting or sitting at the door waiting then that is just as bad,” she says.

Kilti has been on some medication and has undertaken behaviour modification strategies to help her better cope.

“Medications are very useful, they’re not sedatives. We’re trying to balance the brain chemistry and the effect of the medication is to give the animal a brain that can think and learn and focus,” says Isabelle.

Isabelle suggests a few strategies to help transition pets during the return to office life.

“People should try and gradually transition the pet slowly, go out for an hour or two without them. Make sure that the pet has something really positive or yummy like a food-stuffed Kong toy,” says Isabelle.

“Play with your pet before leaving home, 10 minutes teaching pets a new trick supports their long-term wellbeing. Go for a 30-minute walk, hide some treats or create a sandpit for dogs that like to dig and have someone drop over during the day.”

Isabelle also says home cameras are crucial.

“Set up spy cameras, use them to gauge what the pet’s emotional state is when you’re not at home.”

Isabelle says a pet should sleep for most of the day when you’re not at home, except for the occasional bite to eat or drink.