Lockdown effect on dogs: How canine behaviourist Saba Poonawala deals with pet issues

Meet Chennai-based canine trainer Saba Poonawala, who is using positive reinforcement techniques on ‘lockdown dogs’

Have you seen a Labrador retriever that does not want to retrieve? Or a rottweiler that is scared of cats? Welcome to the world of ‘lockdown dogs’, who have had limited exposure to the outside world due to the pandemic, since March 2020. “People bought dogs during this phase last year because they had time and thought that it would help them deal better with stress, anxiety and boredom. What some of them did not realise is that having a dog is a 15-year rigorous commitment that comes with multiple challenges,” says Saba Poonawala, Chennai-based canine behaviourist and trainer. She adds, “These dogs behave like Alice in Wonderland when you take them out in public.”