kjoyce4A lot of people have gotten puppies to help them through the pandemic, and if that’s the reason you’re here welcome!
Socialization is one of the most important things to work on with your dog because the payoff lasts a lifetime (literally). But how do you socialize a dog when you aren’t allowed to socialize with other people?
First, lets go over the basic rules when it comes to socializing your pup, then we’ll share our tips for keeping everyone safe right now.
While it’s important to start early with your dog’s socialization, wait until they’re fully vaccinated to bring them around other dogs or heavily trafficked public places.
Once they’ve gotten all of their puppy shots, it’s time to make some new friends!
As a rule, in all dog training, you should be in control of the situation. That means having your dog connected and listening to you no matter what the situation is. It’s easy to go to a dog park and just let your dog free to explore, but when something goes wrong, it makes it so much harder for you to get your dog out of a bad situation.
So where do you start?
I’m sure since getting a puppy, all of your friends and family are begging to meet him or her. Start slow, don’t invite everyone over at once (not only because of COVID), you don’t want to overwhelm your newest family member.
Keep a calm environment and have plenty of toys on hand. Let your pup sniff out their new friends and ask your friends to avoid things like grabbing at the puppy or shoving their hands in the puppy’s face. Imagine how you’d feel if a giant came into your new home and started grabbing at you. Sounds scary right?
If the weather is nice, the outdoors are a great place to introduce people to your new pup. It gives the pup plenty of space to sniff around and get their energy out if they get overwhelmed. (And it cuts down on accidents you have to clean up from excited pees.)
Now you’ve introduced your pup to your human friends, what about dogs?
Socializing your pup with other dogs is so important, but this is the time to be picky about how you socialize your new pup.
When Chloe was young, she only socialized with my family dog (our golden who was 8 at the time and didn’t pay too much attention to her), and other Guiding Eyes pups in training. Because the owners we trained with were all on the same page, she very rarely had a bad experience with other dogs as a puppy and it shows. She thinks every dog is her best friend (for better or for worse).
What does this mean for you?
If you have a friend with a really well trained dog who you know isn’t dog aggressive (not just because their owner says they are because we all make excuses for our dogs), then try introducing them on leash. You should have the older dog sit and stay and let the puppy come up to them, if they’re getting along, go from there. Take them off leash in a fenced area outdoors, and give them plenty of toys to play with. Make sure both dogs are still able to listen to you, even if they’re playing.
It’s good to let puppies play in shorter spurts when they’re young. It lets them learn to calm down and can help you figure out when they’re actually tired. Puppies are a lot like toddlers, they’ll play until they fall over, but they get really cranky if they’re over tired. Let your pup play for five or ten minutes, then call them back and reward them for paying attention. Have them lie down or sit with you for a few minutes, before letting them play again.
If you can’t find someone with a dog you trust to play well with your puppy, then try finding a local obedience class. In addition to learning from a pro how to train your pup, you’ll (hopefully) find people looking to socialize their dogs as well. These classes are great for showing your dog how to work while there are distractions around.
All of this sounds great, but how do I do this in a pandemic?
With restrictions that differ by state, it really depends on where you live. If there are still obedience classes happening, great! If you’d prefer to limit contact to people in your pandemic bubble, pack walks are a great way to socialize your dog while keeping your distance. Find a friend with a dog (again one who isn’t dog aggressive and can set a good example for your pup), and go for a walk around the neighborhood. Pack your patience, because these can be a lot for a puppy at first. Make sure you do a little training ahead of time, so they’re checked in. Have your pups meet on leash, before making it clear that this is training time. The goal is to be able to walk together without your dog getting too distracted by its new friend. You can start on opposite sides of the street, walking together, and work up to walking one in front of the other before walking as close as your feel comfortable. Be patient, it usually doesn’t happen all in one walk.
Socializing your dog takes a lot of work over time. Don’t expect your dog to be able to go from playing to calmly lying down with the flip of a switch. Just remember the most important points. Go slow, make sure you’re in control of the situation, and make sure socialization is a positive experience for your dog.
Thanks for reading and good luck!
Disclaimer: I’m not a vet. These tips are based on my personal experience training and caring for dogs. If you have any medical or behavioral questions please trust the advice of your dog’s vet.
