Now that it has been announced that face coverings are to be mandatory in shops and supermarkets from this Friday and masks becoming more and more common on the streets, the RSPCA is offering dog owners tips on how to help their pets adjust to the ‘new normal’.
Lorella Notari, head of the charity’s clinical animal behaviour team, said: “For many pets, seeing people in face coverings will be a new experience and some may feel anxious or afraid. Dogs use our facial expressions to understand what we are feeling and so having our faces covered may be strange for them.
“To help during this time, we’ve pulled together some training tips to help your pet feel happy and relaxed around people wearing face masks. We would advise that, when introducing pets to face masks, you do so gradually and to only progress if your pet is happy and relaxed.
“These tips can be particularly helpful if your dog tends to be shy in the presence of new people or unfamiliar faces.”
To see the advice, go to www.rspca.org.uk/coronavirus
