[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
By Erin Britton:<\/p>\n
April 13th Update:<\/p>\n
After reading this article, go check out our Pandemic Puppy page for newer information including our “10 Genius Hacks to Socialize Your Puppy Safely During Covid-19”.<\/a><\/p>\n COVID19 is disrupting more than just our human interaction; our dogs are affected too! Some puppies may be isolated during a critical socialization period. How can we continue to give our dogs adequate physical and mental stimulation, as well as positive socialization experiences during this time?<\/span><\/p>\n Many people think of a pile of puppies running, wrestling, and playing when they think of socialization. In reality, teaching dogs to mind their social manners is only one part of proper socialization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Socialization done right teaches the puppy that the world they live in is safe and fun, through positive experiences with new sights, smells, noises, feelings, and environments.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n If you are not currently affected by COVID-19, you MUST still bring your puppy out for socialization experiences:<\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.avma.org\/resources-tools\/animal-health-and-welfare\/covid-19<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Continue to use safety precautions when out with your puppy:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/prepare\/prevention.html<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Every new puppy owner, whether affected by COVID19 or not, should practice a multitude of other socialization exercises that can be done in your home! The key is to expose your puppy to something new. It could be anything from a new surface (the bathroom floor) to your vacuum cleaner noise, from checking teeth and ears, to you wearing hats\/scarves. In each case, the idea is for the puppy to be comfortable in that situation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n New sights, smells, and surfaces<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Present a strange object such as a skateboard to the dog. At first, the dog may be scared of it, but when it musters enough courage to go closer to take a bit of a sniff, click, and then treat the dog for approaching it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Repeat this many times with this object, and many other objects, so that the dog’s confidence to explore increases. The same should be done for exploring surfaces and spaces, such as the bathroom floor, the stairs, crawling under chairs, etc. For people-shy dogs, this exercise can even be extended to being brave to go up and sniff strangers.<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s a great look at creating a positive experience with the vacuum cleaner:<\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CCNAv5aETho<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Scary sounds<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Sound Sensitivity is another key area to work on. Anxiety around thunderstorms and fireworks can be crippling. Use YouTube sound clips to socialize your puppy to scary sounds. Play the sound at a low volume, and feed, play, and engage with your puppy. When the sound stops, stop feeding!<\/span><\/p>\n We love the Sound Proof Puppy Training App! It has a great variety of sound clips to help you create positive experiences for your puppy. <\/span>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SoundProofPuppyTraining\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Grooming and Handling<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Touch your dog or restrain your dog. If your dog remains calm, click, and then feed a<\/span><\/p>\n treat. If your dog flinches, pulls away, or generally seems uncomfortable, stop, and try again but<\/span><\/p>\n using a milder, gentler version of what you did previously.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Check out this puppy socialization checklist, from Dr. Sophia Yin.<\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/drsophiayin.com\/app\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Socialization_Checklist.pdf<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Other resources:<\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/drsophiayin.com\/blog\/entry\/puppy-socialization-stop-fear-before-it-starts\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.clickertraining.com\/dont-socialize-the-dog<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n In brief, during this period where Puppy Socialization group classes are suspended, you still have a lot of work to do. Puppies running around and playing with each other only represents a portion of the important work you are responsible for doing. You should still be teaching basic foundation behaviours, and you\u2019ll want some advice on topics like nipping and biting, so that\u2019s what our Virtual Classes, Phone Consultations, and 1-on-1 Lessons (Both in-person and virtual) are for. Take advantage of your free time and get to work!<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.staging.whenhoundsfly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/2019_wellesley_DSC_0533.jpg” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” title_text=”2019_wellesley_DSC_0533″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Erin Britton: April 13th Update: After reading this article, go check out our Pandemic Puppy page for newer information including our “10 Genius Hacks to Socialize Your Puppy Safely During Covid-19”. COVID19 is disrupting more than just our human interaction; our dogs are affected too! Some puppies may be isolated during a critical socialization […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3947,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"By Erin Britton:\n\nApril 13th Update:\n\nAfter reading this article, go check out our Pandemic Puppy page for newer information including our \"10 Genius Hacks to Socialize Your Puppy Safely During Covid-19\".<\/a>\n\nCOVID19 is disrupting more than just our human interaction; our dogs are affected too! Some puppies may be isolated during a critical socialization period. How can we continue to give our dogs adequate physical and mental stimulation, as well as positive socialization experiences during this time?<\/span>\nSocialization Done Right<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
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From the American Veterinary Medicine Association:<\/span><\/h4>\n
\n
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Set Up for Success:<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
\n
Methods to Use<\/b><\/h3>\n
Looking for inspiration?<\/b><\/h3>\n
In Summary…<\/h4>\n
Socialization Done Right<\/b><\/h3>\nMany people think of a pile of puppies running, wrestling, and playing when they think of socialization. In reality, teaching dogs to mind their social manners is only one part of proper socialization.\u00a0<\/span>\n\nSocialization done right teaches the puppy that the world they live in is safe and fun, through positive experiences with new sights, smells, noises, feelings, and environments.<\/span><\/i>\n\nIf you are not currently affected by COVID-19, you MUST still bring your puppy out for socialization experiences:<\/span>\n
\n \t
\n \t
From the American Veterinary Medicine Association:<\/span><\/h4>\n
\n \t
\n \t
Set Up for Success:<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n \t
\n \t
Methods to Use<\/b><\/h3>\nNew sights, smells, and surfaces<\/span><\/i>\n\nPresent a strange object such as a skateboard to the dog. At first, the dog may be scared of it, but when it musters enough courage to go closer to take a bit of a sniff, click, and then treat the dog for approaching it.\u00a0<\/span>\n\nRepeat this many times with this object, and many other objects, so that the dog's confidence to explore increases. The same should be done for exploring surfaces and spaces, such as the bathroom floor, the stairs, crawling under chairs, etc. For people-shy dogs, this exercise can even be extended to being brave to go up and sniff strangers.<\/span>\n\nHere\u2019s a great look at creating a positive experience with the vacuum cleaner:<\/span>\n\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CCNAv5aETho<\/span><\/a>\n\nScary sounds<\/span><\/i>\n\nSound Sensitivity is another key area to work on. Anxiety around thunderstorms and fireworks can be crippling. Use YouTube sound clips to socialize your puppy to scary sounds. Play the sound at a low volume, and feed, play, and engage with your puppy. When the sound stops, stop feeding!<\/span>\n\nWe love the Sound Proof Puppy Training App! It has a great variety of sound clips to help you create positive experiences for your puppy. <\/span>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SoundProofPuppyTraining\/<\/span><\/a>\n\nGrooming and Handling<\/span><\/i>\n\nTouch your dog or restrain your dog. If your dog remains calm, click, and then feed a<\/span>\n\ntreat. If your dog flinches, pulls away, or generally seems uncomfortable, stop, and try again but<\/span>\n\nusing a milder, gentler version of what you did previously.\u00a0<\/span>\n
Looking for inspiration?<\/b><\/h3>\nCheck out this puppy socialization checklist, from Dr. Sophia Yin.<\/span>\n\nhttps:\/\/drsophiayin.com\/app\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Socialization_Checklist.pdf<\/span><\/a>\n\nOther resources:<\/span>\n\nhttps:\/\/drsophiayin.com\/blog\/entry\/puppy-socialization-stop-fear-before-it-starts\/<\/span><\/a>\n\nhttps:\/\/www.clickertraining.com\/dont-socialize-the-dog<\/span><\/a>\n
In Summary...<\/h4>\nIn brief, during this period where Puppy Socialization group classes are suspended, you still have a lot of work to do. Puppies running around and playing with each other only represents a portion of the important work you are responsible for doing. You should still be teaching basic foundation behaviours, and you\u2019ll want some advice on topics like nipping and biting, so that\u2019s what our Virtual Classes, Phone Consultations, and 1-on-1 Lessons (Both in-person and virtual) are for. Take advantage of your free time and get to work!<\/span>","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[3,54],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n