Puppy Socialization While Staying at Home During the Canine Respiratory Virus.

There are still many unknowns about the Canine Respiratory Virus that is currently going around, and many dog owners are choosing to keep their pets at home to keep them safe. This is a great tactic when you have a dog who is already socialized and will be ready to be around others when they are out and about again, but what about puppies that are brought home during this time? Puppies require socialization in their early months of life, and not being around other dogs and humans can have a negative impact on their development. If you are keeping them home to lessen the risk of exposure, it’s critical that you work on socialization at home. Here are some ideas to help!

Dogs:

Go outside in your yard and watch people walk by with their dogs. When someone is walking by and your puppy is excited to see them reward with lots treat and praise. Make it a positive experience.

Once the dog is out of site and moving away, slow down on giving your puppy treats.

You can do this same thing in the house by having your puppy look out the window or even go on walks from a distance.

People:

Do all these same things when you see people walking. Give lots of treats and praise. You should also take your puppy in the car with you for a drive or to the grocery store. When your puppy sees other people, reward them.

Other socialization:

Make sure to hold your puppy in different positions a few times a day. Make sure to touch the ears, feet, tail, and mouth. This way, your dog gets used to being touched in these different places. Doing so will make your puppy comfortable and desensitized when you go to the vet.

Also, get your puppy socialized and desensitized to different objects, surfaces and noises. Such as having your puppy walk on smooth and rough surfaces. For noises, make clapping sounds, banging, vacuuming, beeping, honking, etc.

Get creative with things that you have around your house.

We offer private dog training sessions if you need help socializing your puppy. You can learn more at https://www.amysmtndogtraining.com/privatelessonpackages and book your lessons.