Socialization and Social Distancing

(c) 2020 Alissa Mosier CPDT-KA. All rights reserved. Used by permission

With puppy classes on hold, and people practicing social distancing I have had a few clients reach out and ask what they can do to keep their puppy socialized, and to expose them to new things. I did my best to put together some things to do, this is not a definitive list, it is a list of things to try, things to do, and ways to keep busy. If you think of something else, feel free to give it a try, or if something is just not for your puppy, skip it!

First though, a warning. Socialization is about quality, not quantity. It is also about creating quality experiences for your puppy. You want to go slow, at your puppy’s speed, and make sure you are not overwhelming them. Watch their body language, are their ears shifting back, are they lip licking, is their brow furroughing? If they start to worry watch and see if they can resolve it, if they cannot back them up, can they resolve it with more space? No, then go on home, or stop, and try again later. Sometimes if a puppy has already done too much they just cannot handle another thing, or, sometimes they are tired, or sometimes they are worried. Forcing them through something will not make it positive though, and in fact it may make it worse. If you want to learn more about socialization and how to help your puppy I suggest watching the seminar Mindful Socialization by Suzanne Clothier. I was involved in the production and it was incredibly helpful to me as a trainer, and a dog owner.

Second, bring treats. If your puppy can enjoy a snack as things go on around them – yay! What a great day for a puppy. The treats may also help you work through a sticky point, or be needed to manage an over-excited or worried puppy and lure them out of a situation. If you are in a spot without treats, and things get scary, and your puppy is unfocused and barking, that may be experiences we have to undo later, so, use food and make it awesome as much as possible.

Here is a list of some suggestions:

• If you cannot get your puppy around different types of people, wearing different types of clothes, become those different people for your puppy! Start wearing hats, sunglasses, coats, wigs, Halloween costumes, masks, whatever strikes your fancy! Put on any weird thing around your puppy and make it seem totally normal.  Just please do not startle your puppy. Do not put on a Batman mask and jump out at your puppy, sit in front of her and let her see you put it on and take it off a few times. Same with the glasses, or hats. Let them see you change and realize that sometimes people look different, but they are still people.
• Show them seasonal clothes or stuff they would not see everyday! Put on a rain coat, open an umbrella, break out your pancho, roll a suitcase around, go outside and show your pup a wheelbarrow and a hose and a rake and whatever is in your garage!
• Break out some throw rugs, cardboard boxes, metal cookie trays, measuring cups, metal spoons, bells, balls, any weird things and put them on the floor as your puppy plays. Ask them to walk over weird stuff, to play with weird stuff and get used to different materials under their feet and in their mouth.
• Break out toys that make sound have flashing light, let them check those out. If you have ones that move or dance, all the better!
• Take out your lawn mower, rev it up, take out the weedwacker, rev it up. Chainsaw – sure! Let the neighbors think you are crazy (and feel free to send me video please – ha!). Inside use your coffee grinder, your blender, a food processor, vaccuum, carpet cleaner, whatever is different. You want to get really brave, put the fire alarm very, very far away and set it off and give your puppy treats while it happens.
• Just because you have to stay apart does not mean you cannot see people. Drive to the grocery store, go to the back of the lot where there is no one close, and people watch with your dog. You can also do this with the vets office or a pet center to watch the dogs come in and out.
• Bored neighborhood kids? Talk to their parents and ask them to ride their bikes by your house at set times so you can have your dog see them from a distance. Have them use scooters, throw footballs, bounce basketballs, ride a skateboard, make noises and be kids! Really want to go nuts? Ask them to wear costumes or hats and really give your pup some new things to see. From a distance! Don’t have kids? Go on YouTube and find some video of kids laughing, crying, screaming and being kids and at least play those sounds for your puppy, all while sharing some awesome snacks.
• Take a drive to the country, check out cows, horses, sheep, llamas.
• Drive your pup to a boat lock, look at the boats, walk on the weird surfaces. Go to the gas station and have them wait in your car as you pump gas. Take them to a drive through for coffee (well, coffee for you, puppies do not need caffeine!). Go to the places you hope to go when they are older, even if you cannot go near people, or you may not be able to inside, you can get them used to the ride and the area.
• Remember, quality, not quantity. Use the check-lists below if they help. Make memories, create positive experiences, have fun and take pictures. Puppyhood does not last forever and while this one will be a little non-traditional, it is still going to be awesome and you will miss it when they are big (minus the house training part).

https://suzanneclothier.com/guest-social-distancing/

Teaching “nibble heeling” - great for puppies!

Sharing from a post on FB by Rachel Kelly at Willorun Vizslas.

Here is a fun training idea for you. I call this “nibble heeling” where you are teaching a very young/green puppy how to focus on you while walking on the leash. Make it fun and you will both enjoy it. I rarely have to give leash corrections when starting my training this way. Over time your dog will focus for longer periods with less food needed. I use the same intermediate bridge + terminal bridge vocal support that I learned from a Kayce Cover workshop (Command followed by sound or word like “good good good” and then a big “YES!” With a reward given) and it works brilliantly with young pups. 

Add to your Puppy Supplies -- a Pooper Scooper!

Forgot to add this to my MV Puppy Supplies handout! A must have -- the pooper scooper with rake! Rake helps get the poop off the grass. I wish I had a $1.00 for each BB poop I've picked up over the last 7 weeks!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/PUPTECK-Pet-Poop-Tray-Rake/dp/B07L3RK2WR?ref_=s9_apbd_otopr_hd_bw_b3KZcaB&pf_rd_r=V7GJ4BPEJ3BNGK6KHVZ7&pf_rd_p=40137ee4-bc42-5670-a8dc-a0aa32dd9069&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-10&pf_rd_t=BROWSE&pf_rd_i=3052415011

Info on puppy pen setup for your new best friend

Puppy management is the best way to ensure success for your new puppy. This includes, gates/crates and setting up the puppy for success by providing a potty area or 24/7 "two eyes on the puppy" to take pup outside to potty. 

If you need to contain the pup while doing something else, below is an example of great setup. 

Future Owners: feel please ask me for clarification on how best to organize your puppy pen. Note - artificial grass is preferred. 

A lot goes in to bringing home a new puppy, including setting them (and you!) up for success as they learn what behaviors are ok when they live in a human house! 

One of those successful set-ups is a puppy playpen! This area will be a safe place for your puppy to spend time during the first few weeks after they arrive home.

A few things go into setting up a good puppy playpen, including where you position each station! Here is one idea for what this playpen might look like, although your individual house set-up should inform exactly how your pen is put together.

The bottom line is thinking about the behaviors you want your puppy to do (or not do), and setting up their environment to facilitate those good choices as much as possible!

Credit: https://www.facebook.com/summitdogtraining

PRIMARY SOCIALIZATION: DAY 20-WEEK 6

The BB's are going to be 5 weeks old tomorrow (March 2nd).

They have moved from the whelping box to their Puppy Party Palace (they actually have two) which is a linoleum lined gated area with potty, bed and play areas. They are learning to use the potty box area but with eight there are bound to be mistakes. Most of my free time is being spent as the sanitation worker trying to keep the area as clean as possible in the hopes they will eventually potty in a designated area (cross your fingers for me!). 

They are sleeping on a Kuranda raised bed covered in blankets and there are soft blankets on the floor (and pee pads) for traction and wetness control (urine). They also have a hard plastic crate to nap in if they choose (eventually there will be eight crates). 

They love the Puppy Toy Mobile (with hanging objects) and are having fun with each new toy/experience per day. 

For those familiar with Puppy Culture the puppies have done the "barrier challenge" to learn to problem solve for themselves which reduces frustration in adult dogs. Future puppy owners -- please be sure yo are watching the Puppy Culture DVDs (thanks!). 

PRIMARY SOCIALIZATION PERIOD: DAY 20-WEEK 6

The first socialization period begins at two-and-a-half weeks of age and lasts until six weeks of age. This is when the puppies learn how to be dogs, so to speak. They become familiar with all the species-specific behaviors that allows them to live and communicate with other dogs, such as different body postures and vocalizations. They also learn how to bite and what it feels like to be bitten. This is an important lesson for puppies to learn when they are young, so they do not hurt other dogs and people as adults. The mother also teaches the pups very important lessons on discipline and dog-manners. Puppies will also begin to move to specific locations to potty, preferring not to mess up the den or whelping area.

Puppies Learn How to Love Management - VIDEO

Puppies (and adult dogs) should learn how to accept and enjoy management as a skill. Regardless of our lifestyle, our dogs will need to be separated from us at some point. When we teach it as a skill, it gives us the ability to use it to help prevent naughty behavior like counter surfing, dumpster diving, and inappropriate chewing from happening and teach calm behaviors instead. Here is an easy training set up you can do with an x pen or a baby gate to help your dog learn that quiet, four on the floor, and independent play are all good things to do when confined. I recommend doing this exercise on its own before incorporating it into your normal routine! 3-5 minutes a few times a day can help your puppy learn quickly that confinement is great! Then, stick some treats in your pocket and reinforce your pup as they hang out in their safe place as you move around the space. 

For more information visit us: www.pawsitivefutures.com 

www.facebook.com/pawsitivefutures 

Instagram: @pawsitivefutures