Puppy Socialization And Social Distancing
PUPPY SOCIALIZATION AND SOCIAL DISTANCING (PART 1)
This is a strange and worrisome time we are living in right now. The uncertainty of Covid-19 is effecting us all on a global scale. Hopefully you are reading this from the comfort of your home and you are healthy and safe. If your circumstances are not as such, please know I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Much of the United States and the world has been asked to stay home whenever you can, work from home if possible, and at the very least practice safe “social distancing” in an effort to stop the spread of the CoronaVirus. While this is extremely important for the safety of our senior citizens and those at high risk, as a dog trainer and behavior professional my thoughts always go to the dogs…and in this case the puppies! If you have a puppy at home between the ages of 8 weeks and 6 months old, then this is for you! Worry not, all is not lost - in fact I think your puppy may come through this even better if you don’t panic!
We all know how important it is to socialize our puppies during their “sensitive socialization period” (6 weeks - 16 weeks). This is the time when puppies brains are developing at a rapid rate and they are making permanent decisions about the world they live in. This is a time when fear is natural, but confidence building is as well. Introductions to novelty is critical and teaching your puppy about how they will live day to day for the next 15 years or so is of the utmost importance! So, how do we continue to socialize our puppies when the world as WE know it is changed, closed, quiet and calm? Well, exactly the same way we would before. In fact, I think that some puppies may actually have a better time as they aren’t being accidentally overwhelmed by large groups of people and other dogs too quickly. This is a perfect time to learn about how to socialize your puppy in my opinion! Even if your puppy is a bit older, follow along, as older puppies who didn’t get a lot of socialization early on often need a quieter, slower experience and this is going to be perfect!
FIRST THINGS FIRST - DON’T OBSESS ABOUT OBEDIENCE.
There is only so much time to help your puppy learn about how to navigate the world they live in so they grow up to be confident and feel safe. Helping them to form views and opinions about their experiences, learning that all of the new things aren’t scary but safe and that danger exists but not everywhere is priority (first 16 weeks). Teaching all of the other stuff like Sit - Stay - Come - and more, there is no time limit in that type of learning. If you have time to do it all when they are young, great, but dogs can learn technical skills all throughout their lives.
Puppies learn from every experience, however the very first experience is the most effective, so ensuring their early experiences are positive is critical. They live in your home, so let's start there…..Here is a list of common household items that you can and should expose your puppy to
Objects
Vacuum Cleaner / Roomba Robot
Broom
Hair Dryer
Trash Bags
Kitchen Appliance movement and noises
Washer /Dryer
Car (sounds and riding in)
Bicycle
Stroller
Skateboard
Scooter
Garbage Truck
Delivery Truck
People in the home wearing Hats
People in the home wearing Helmets
People in the home wearing Sunglasses
Delivery people / garbage collectors (people in uniform)
**TIPS**
Make sure each new experience is positive! Always start with the new item a few feet away from the puppy and allow them to approach if they are curious. Never force interactions or move items towards you dog as this could be scary, always allow your puppy to approach on their own. If they don’t want to, that’s ok. Try again another day!
If you have a noisy object you can use yummy treats to distract from the noise, however present the noise first - then the treat, so that the proper association is made. Toy play is also a way to create positive associations. Keep interactions brief, and only 1-2 items at a time. Remember to repeat! Just one positive experience is often not enough to make a permanent lasting impression, but its a start!
Noises and Sound Desensitization
Learning about the sounds of the world is an important piece of brain development. Helping our dogs accept everyday sounds as well as those that may come up suddenly is critical to confidence building. Luckily there are so many ways to expose your puppy to the sounds of the world without being in it! In fact the more control you have over the sounds, the better.
TIPS** Start sounds low, and gradually increase. If puppy seems nervous, lower or stop. Play during mealtimes, playtimes, while feeding yummy treats or doing other enjoyable things! Repeat!!
YouTube: Search YouTube for the types of sounds you are looking for. Below are some recommended searches and links to just a few of my favorites. Think about your life, location, what you need your puppy to hear!
Puppy / Dog Desensitization - Construction Noise
Canine Desensitization - City Sounds
Firework Sounds - Desensitization For Dogs
Storm/Rain/ Thunder - Desensitization For Dogs
Through a Dogs Ear - This site offers specially formulated music and sounds just for dogs!
Other ways to continue to expose your puppy to sounds, sights, and people while keeping a safe social distance is to go for a walk and carry your puppy if they are not yet fully vaccinated. Here they can see and hear cars and trucks, people walking, other dogs on walks and more! Or go for a car ride and sit in the car somewhere people may be gathering (grocery store, pharmacy etc). Let your puppy watch out the window, listen and smell. Exposure is more than just HANDS ON experiences, often this slower approach is more effective in ensuring your puppy has positive experiences and isn’t overwhelmed.
Remember you can help ensure the experience is positive by pairing it with yummy treats, a favorite toy and/or your comfort and petting. If your dog becomes too nervous, keep the interactions brief but do try again!
Join me later this week for more on Puppy Socialization and Social Distancing where we will discuss; handling and touching, enrichment and confidence building and introducing leashes, harnesses and more!
Feel free to comment below with your socialization questions or concerns.
Melissa Dallier
A Canine Affinity