“We have been holding reviews until June,” said the owner of The Canine Social Company Ltd.  in an interview.
Like many in the pet industry whose businesses were overthrown by COVID, Hatfield’s biggest challenge now is to manage the growing separation stress of workers and their pets as more people return to the office.
Carefully inspect the dogs to make sure they are fit for the daycare center east of Greektown, Toronto.  While most dogs were approved in the years before COVID, only 40 percent of applicants are currently accepted because their high stress would bother other four-legged clients.
“It’s kind of (like) the phenomenon of children going to kindergarten for the first time and grabbing a parent’s foot,” he said.
Almost half of the dogs he sees are anxious these days.  Most are puppies that have never been separated from their owners, but even some larger dogs show that they prefer to be home on the couch.
This animal stress comes after the pandemic that overturned the pet business.  Retail stores were forced to close periodically during successive waves after non-essential services were declared, and demand for dog walks, daycare and boarding ran out as pet owners worked from home and stopped traveling.
Through all this, Canadians added pets to their families in record numbers.  Pet breeding increased by 70 percent during the pandemic, while shelter-related euthanasia cases have been virtually eliminated for dogs and drastically reduced for cats.
COVID “has really proven how much Canadians love animals,” said Barbara Cartwright, CEO of Humane Canada, whose members include Humane Societies and SPCAs across the country.
Fears that there would be a wave of pet deliveries as Canadians returned to work have not materialized so far, he said.
Melanie Patterson, owner of Pamper the Pooch, is welcoming furry visitors back home, as demand for small dog boarding and cat visits has risen following the disappearance of bookings during the pandemic.
“I would say they are definitely back to where they were before COVID, if not a little better, because of the new customers that seem to be coming,” he said.
But caring for these dogs can be difficult because many are not used to being alone or close to other dogs.
“I had a dog here who literally sits in a window for a whole day, just crying, waiting for his (owners) to come back for him.”
Dogs are not the only ones under stress.  Patterson said she had to help pet owners for the first time who are worried about separating him from their puppy.
“I communicate a lot more, I send a lot more photos, videos, text, whatever form of communication my clients want just to reassure them that their dogs are doing well.”
Pandemic puppies pose an additional problem because many are not well-socialized and can feel nervous with walkers and bark or bite in frustration, said Nicola Smith, owner of We Wag Toronto.
Anxious pet owners are increasingly turning to technology or distractions to keep their pets busy or monitoring their behavior while alone at home.  They buy remote cameras with delicatessen distributors, two-way cameras with microphones and applications that allow video calling at home.
The use of CBD oil for calming dogs is also increasing.
Anxiety in animals can be manifested by constant barking and gait, urination and defecation and in extreme cases destructive behavior.  Owners can also be extremely stressed if they live in a multi-tenant building, with eviction threats as well as guilt over the animal’s misery, said Andre Yeu, founder and chief trainer of When Hounds Fly, a dog training service in Toronto.  and Vancouver.
Treatment may help, but it may take weeks or months to gradually increase the separations before the dog is sure he will be left alone.
Animal Behavior Specialist Dr. Colleen Wilson says videotaping a dog can help you identify if you are suffering from separation anxiety or some other problem.  Telemedicine can also be useful in assessing animal behavior because separation anxiety is often misdiagnosed.
“It’s great because the true feeling of an animal is when there is no stranger in your house or you do not bring your dog to a veterinary clinic,” he said.
Wilson said studies have shown that pets are often stressed because owners are anxious.  Therefore, calmness will shape appropriate behavior in pets.  And adopting independence training that follows a slow approach to getting an animal used to being alone will avoid problems, he said.
Some Canadian companies have opened their doors to workers’ dogs.  Vancouver-based technology company HootSuite, which has hosted pets for years at some of its global offices, said the practice helps relieve stress for both animals and workers.
It is also a great benefit to attract and retain workers in the midst of a tight labor market, said Carol Waldman, director of global facilities and real estate.
“Anything we can add to make it a better employee experience and encourage mental health, well-being and happiness in the workplace, I think we are really trying to keep evolving in these areas,” he said.
The company also runs a pilot free dog walk service for one hour a week.
Carolina Heyman, director of technical support at Tier 2, says Nessie’s mini goldendoodle, which she acquired during the pandemic while Hootsuite’s offices were closed, loves going to the office.  And Heyman said she is relieved of her anxiety by not being asked to leave her dog at home.
“I would probably work more often from home because it is important for me not to leave her alone all day.”
This Canadian Press report was first published on April 17, 2022.