Blog Post
Puppy Socialization -- What to do in the midst of Covid-19
The importance of puppy socialization cannot be over-emphasized. The experiences your puppy has up to the age of 16 weeks can vastly impact their behaviour as adult dogs. Socialization means exposing your puppies to a variety of sights, sounds and smells, other animals, problem solving, handling and having them learn to be comfortable and happy in our human world. Socialization doesn’t just mean playtimes and dozens of people petting your puppy but learning how to accept and be comfortable in the environment in which we live. But how do we do that when we can’t get ‘out and about’.
Here are some ideas to keep your puppy busy gaining confidence and socializing in a ‘not so traditional’ way. Here’s a list things you CAN still do! And there are lots!
- Vet clinics: although most clinics have closed for non-essential services, there is still an opportunity to park your parking lot remaining inside and let your puppy observe people and their dogs that are still going in and out.
- Kids in the neighbour’s yard: with kids being off school or learning online, there will be more opportunity throughout the day for your puppy to hear kids playing, running and yelling in their yards. They also may be able to see them depending on what type of fence you have.
- Dogs on TV: I know this seems strange but as a professional dog trainer, it’s amazing how many dogs react to dogs and other animals on TV (thank you Telus!). You may even want to set up National Geographic or find a dog movie on Netflix – there are lots out there!
- Confidence Course: what the heck is that? Find a space in your house where you can set up everyday household items all over the floor that your puppy can explore through. This could be pillows, blankets, towels, kids toys, plastic containers, water bottles, yoga blocks and mats, balls, hoola hoops, pylons, old pieces of carpet (any changes in surfaces in general are great) – really anything you have around the house that is safe for your puppy to walk through, see and smell. If you hide their kibble amongst these items, it will entice them to explore that much more and using their nose to find food is not only great confidence building but great mental stimulation that will tire them out so you can get some word one while they nap. Be sure to closely supervise this activity (as well as all others).
- Food dispensing toys: instead of giving them a bowl for their food, build confidence and help develop their little minds as they problem solve. The classic rubber kong: https://amzn.to/2xNdhGI is great if you mix some wet food in with your kibble so you can really pack it in there. I’m also a huge fan of the Kong Wobbler: https://amzn.to/2U4aEJk -- super easy for the humans (just unscrew the bottom and throw your kibble in) but a great challenge for the pups as they have to knock it around to get the food to come out.
- Box game: all those amazon purchases you’ve been getting? Keep the boxes (make sure there are no staples!) and hide treats and kibble in them. Your puppy will stick their head in, climb through them and push them around. Games like this can be just as entertaining for you as your puppy so pull out your camera for those memories – they don’t stay puppies forever!
- Handling: get them used to handling ALL OVER! This includes ears, mouth, feet and tail. If your puppy is uncomfortable with any part of their body being handled, touch that body part and then feed them a treat right away. If they are VERY uncomfortable, fill a kong with cream cheese and let them lick while you’re touching them.
- Treasure Hunt: hide their kibble all over the house and then go help them find all the bits! Think behind doors, beside your coffee table legs, under the edges of area rugs and sitting on top of your baseboards.
- Appropriate toys: make sure they have proper chews and I love the types of toys that challenge they’re brains. This is a particular fave of mine – it challenges them to get all the fun little squeaky squirrels out of the stump: https://amzn.to/2QtVfj8. Balls, no stuffing squeak toys and other teething type toys are also great!
- Sitting at a bus stop and watching the world: you can still keep your social distance but letting your puppy see the buses and other traffic go by as well as a variety of people and the doors that open and close on a bus are all great socialization experiences!
- A downtown walk is also a great way to expose them tall buildings, people, traffic and maybe the occasional dog (this is not the time to be ‘meeting’ other dogs but it’s good for your puppy to see them). Their risk of diseases like parvo is minimized because you’re not on grass. Be cognizant that your puppy’s joints can’t take a lot of walking on concrete so keep these walks short and don't let people approach – we’re still working on social distancing.
- Our friends at Pet Planet Beddington: 100 Beddington Blvd NE #110, (403) 226-5326) are doing a curbside delivery, so you can call in to pre-order everything your puppy might need and they can have it ready for you, take your payment and put it in your trunk or back of your car. There’s lots of stuff for your puppy to see even if you stay in the car and you can get their supplies at the same time!
Our mental and emotional health is being challenged with the state of the world so spend quality time with your puppy – they’re guaranteed to make you smile!
