Bandit's Buddies: Puppy Socialization While We are Dealing with Covid-19

Navigating Puppy Socialization in These Difficult Times

Since adequate socialization is critical and there are new social norms in place for now, we have to re-evaluate how to give our puppies these critical life experiences. There is no evidence that dogs can become ill from the Covid-19 virus, so postponing or avoiding early socialization might not be necessary or in the puppy's best interest.

There is much more to socializing than meeting people and dogs at close range and it is not imperative that your dog be near people to reap the benefits of socializing. You can let your dog see, hear, smell and experience information from a distance of many feet, or even yards and it will be just as good and possibly better than closer encounters. Public parks, hiking trails, and neighborhood strolls, etc. make it easy to keep your distance while socializing and practicing skills with your fully vaccinated dog.

Puppies have an excellent sense of smell so they do not have to be close to new people, dogs or items to get the full benefit of having a positive first encounter with them. Experiencing something new from well within their comfort threshold will make it an even better first experience. Puppies can benefit from seeing new people at a distance and even from inside your parked car with you. Taking a puppy on a ride gives the puppy lots of chances to experience vehicles passing on both sides of the car, as well as all the sounds associated with traffic. When the car is parked, seeing and hearing shopping carts from inside the car with you is a great way for puppies to get that experience at a comfortable level. Sitting with you in a parked car in a business parking lot is an easy, safe way for the puppy to see many different people, hear new sounds, and process new information for a solid foundation in socialization that will be beneficial for the puppy's entire life.

If taking your puppy for car rides around town isn't covering enough items on your socialization checklist, another safe, easy source is right on your mobile device or computer and can be found on YouTube. There are many videos and soundtracks available that include common sounds that are good for a puppy to hear early in a safe, comfortable situation. I have several saved in my YouTube playlist. A link is at the bottom of the website: MyBestBuddyDogTraining.com. Always remember to start off with low volume and plenty of training treats to make a positive association for your puppy. If your puppy seems uncomfortable, stop and try again later with lower volume, less disconcerting sounds and better treats. Your goal is always to keep your puppy feeling safe, comfortable and happy, even when hearing, seeing or smelling something new. The more careful socializing you do when your puppy is young, the more self-assured your adult dog will be and that is well worth the effort now.

While we all practice social distancing, enjoy this time with your puppy and be creative with socialization while staying safe. If you have any questions or concerns, your Canine Life Coach, Robin Sockness is just a text, phone call, message or email away.