Please note - there is no evidence that Covid-19 can be contracted by canines, or that the virus can be carried on a puppy's fur between humans.

This is a difficult time to be raising a puppy, but all is not lost.

It's obviously not possible to socialise your puppy with new people at the moment, as we are not permitted to meet up for a chat.  So, maybe you could ask your neighbours for help perhaps?  If you have the type of fence between your garden and your neighbour's garden where they could meet and greet your puppy over or through it - that's a good intro to a new person.  Ask your neighbour to avoid going over your puppy's head with their hand, if at all possible.  You can keep your two metre social distancing, and when your puppy has interacted with your neighbour, try recalling them away from the "distraction" of the neighbour.  Keep your puppy on an extending lead if you want to be totally sure they will recall away from your neighbour.

And remember that socialising a puppy is also about life stuff, as well as people and dogs, so maybe try some of these:

•         Everytime someone in the family goes out in the car, get them to take the puppy for a trip.  This will help avoid travel sickness, or at least eliminate it a bit quicker.

•         Sit outside your home with your puppy in a securely fastened play pen, or on a lead, and watch the world go by for a while.  This will help to habituate your puppy some of the outside sights, sounds, and smells.  Have some tasty treats in your pocket so you can reward your puppy when they are relaxed.

•         When you take your puppy to the park or on country walks, take your time and let them experience as many different things as possible - walking on bridges over roads or water; watching/listening to ducks/swans; walking on different surfaces; watching and listening to traffic in the distance; walking past farmyards or fields of animals - remember to keep your puppy on a lead at all times when you're out, particularly around livestock.  Reward your puppy for being relaxed.

•         Wear different hats, coats, glasses/sunglasses etc., and walk around the house with your puppy.  Get the rest of the household to do the same.  If you live on your own, ask your neighbours to wear different things near the garden fence so that your puppy thinks that all humans have many guises.  This will prevent them feeling scared the first time they encounter sunglasses or hi-viz jackets etc.

•        Get some articles from the garage/outhouse/shed and put them in the garden or on the patio for your puppy to explore.  Please remember to use only safe articles, and supervise your puppy at all times.

•         Sit in the car with your puppy outside supermarkets etc., and let them watch people, cars, life, etc.

• Take your puppy on a lockdown "expedition" - let them explore the hoover, laundry room, caravan/camper, garage, garden, patio, zumba step, workout/gym room, etc.  As with all activities, this must be supervised.

• Practice visits to the vet by doing lots of body inspections on your puppy.  Place a non-slip cover on a table and pretend you're the vet.  Ask the rest of the family to do the same.  If you live alone, ask your neighbours to try a body inspection - if this is possible over a garden fence without injury to any party.

• Purchase a sounds CD online, or play some of the videos on You Tube for your puppy
  

•         Lastly, remember that not all canine Functional Characters can be socialising the same... "It's Not Just About The Breed"

Enjoy your puppy, and Good Luck

Heather Stevens  KPA-CTP   MCFBA 

Behaviour & Training Specialist