Let me tell you a couple reasons why you might not want to do it or let me explain how it’s going to be a little bit more challenging during these times of quarantine and safer at home orders.
The first thing that we must consider is that puppies require socialization. How are you going to socialize your puppy when you’re not even supposed to be leaving your house or getting within 6 feet of people?
You’re going to have to get really creative if you want to have a well socialized puppy. When we talk about socialization from the trainer’s point of view it’s not just about exposing your puppy to other dogs and giving them puppy play time. We are talking about showing them the world, showing them garbage trucks, showing them people of all types, showing them shopping centers, letting them see kids playing at a playground and so much more. Half these things just simply can’t be done. I don’t have all the answers as to how you can do the other half responsibly right now but here are my thoughts:
- Everyday go on a walk and take your puppy on a different route, to a new neighborhood. Carry your puppy if you have concerns but get that puppy out so it can experience as much of the world as you can show it during these formative weeks.
- If you have a short errand, take someone from your family and go to the store to pick up something, let the puppy stay in care with family member and have them give tasty treats. Car rides are important, so they get used to the motion and visual stimulus.
- Have a trusted friend? Loan your puppy to them for a few hours. Your puppy can’t get coronavirus and if you are worried you can always give you puppy a bath when you get your puppy back. Baths are another experience to make fun for your puppy. I really like smearing food on a lick mat or a suction toy in the bath during grooming for new puppies.
- Sound is good to explore too. Play all sorts of music and start the volume low. There are also streaming sources for puppy socialization soundtracks that have city sounds, kids playing, fireworks, vacuums and more. I have no idea if it transfers to the real world to be honest, but I don’t think it can do harm if you start the volume low, make it positive and slowly increase sound and types of music.
- Use interesting toys and feeders to keep them mentally stimulated. I am a fan of food puzzles, slow feeders and snuffle mats.
The most important thing to remember about socialization is that it should be done slowly and ease into it, treats are a great way to make sure it is positive. One easy way to see if your puppy is overwhelmed is if it stops taking treats or if the body language changes and they seem unsure. Things like hiding behind you, crouching, or more obvious as suddenly barking at the new encounter are all clear signs you’ve gone too far. That’s ok, but stop and think what went wrong and how can you ease into it next time. Socialization is not simply exposing your puppy to new experiences, the whole point is to make the first encounters controlled, on your terms, and end on a positive note.
My second big concern for puppies acquired during this time of work from home is that your puppy needs to learn how to be left alone.
As fun as it is to cuddle and love them all day and all night, please I implore you to start teaching them how to be alone. Use a crate, a playpen, or a safe area with a baby gate. Give them a long-lasting chew like a No-Hide treat and leave them in their puppy safe space. Start by doing it while you are there, and they can see you, but you need to slowly expand that time and distance. Eventually go get the mail and leave the puppy inside then move up to take your own walk without the puppy. Your puppy might whine and bark a bit but if this goes well they will adjust and that will go away. Signs you need to talk to a trainer is if your puppy is so stressed it is biting at the gate or crate door, will not relax after a short period, won’t eat food or chew treats in its area to name a few things to look for.
If you are going to be going back to work at the office, you will want to start working on duration sooner than later. What I don’t want to happen to your puppy is that you spend every moment with your puppy during safer at home orders and then you go back to work when the time comes and your puppy then experiences extreme stress and doesn’t have the coping skills to be left alone for hours on end.
I know your aren’t supposed to be going places unnecessarily so I don’t have a perfect solution but these are some of the concerns I have been expressing to friends and people who have been calling me to talk about what to do with their new puppy. As a trainer I would much rather coach you through this than see you in your puppy’s adolescent period with some side effects of a lack of socialization or see you in a few weeks with a puppy who won’t stop barking while you are at work and you are getting complaints from the neighbors.
I have offered some useful tips and ideas but if you are worried about if you are doing it right or want more help, we are offering remote support training via phone or Zoom on a limited basis to ensure social distancing. contact us to learn more.
Links contain Amazon affiliate links to show some idea of what products we like. I know Amazon and Chewy have a backorder but look around and find what you need. Keep your family safe and do the best you can with your puppy if you bring one home during this strange time in our lives.
