So many good questions. About how to socialize puppies. About whether to go to dog parks. So few good answers.
But here’s a perspective that I hope is helpful: Risk management. It’s all about risk management.
FOR PUPPIES what are the risks if you have a puppy and can’t follow the usual guidelines for socializing your puppy? What are the risks if you do? We all know the risks by now of not following the advice about social distancing and avoiding contact with others as much as possible. We’re all (or should be) trying to avoid this freight train of a virus flooding medical facilities such that people end up dying simply because there were no beds, doctors, nurses or ventilators available. It’s not going to stop the virus from spreading so much as it will stop a surge in cases that overwhelms our ability to deal with it medically.
The risks to our puppies of social isolation are less dramatic, but exist nonetheless. Some young dogs who are isolated during early developmental periods will develop a fear of unfamiliar people or other dogs. Some will become aggressive. Many, of course, won’t. But it’s hard to predict exactly how any one puppy will respond to having social contact restricted.
So . . . Here are some thoughts about how raise a healthy puppy in this very unhealthy climate:
WALKS WALKS WALKS Strictly speaking, “socialization” refers to a young animal learning to identify members of its tribe. But as currently used, it’s been broadened to mean exposing young dogs and cats to a variety of stimuli, from unfamiliar people and dogs, to new sights (statues!), sounds (train whistles! trucks!) and smells (perfume?!). Take your puppy on lots and lots of walks outside, trying to vary the sights, sounds and smells as you do. This is easier to do, of course, in the country or the suburbs where there are fewer people, but do all you can to get your pup out and about while maintaining a safe distance from others. We took the (leashed) BCs out last Saturday on a trail that we’ve seen one other couple on in about 6 trips total. This time the tiny parking lot was full, and people were parking on the road. About half of them had dogs with them. Silver lining! So many happy dogs!
Granted, it’s harder to walk a young puppy on leash than an adult, because that means you’re also training it to walk on leash. Silver lining number two! (With acknowledgement that you may need a more relaxing walk later after the pup has gone to sleep!) Your walks can be the equivalent of your puppy class exercises–I love training “in context,” so ask your pup to sit, stay, lie down, leave it, etc while out walking. That’s when you’re going to need it any way, right?
HAVE A COSTUME PARTY Part of “socialization” is getting puppies used to the vast variety of humans that they are going to meet. And to dogs, “variety” often equals “shape”, so have a stash of hats, coats, sunglasses, feathers–you name it–in your car or garage and return home to greet your pup looking like Elton John. Please send photos.
CROSS FIT YOUR PUP Young dogs who live in the country experienced a vast range of environments and substrates. They have to push their way through tall grass, get stuck on wild raspberry thorns, run through mud and gravel, and negotiate downed trees and branches. But they sometimes don’t learn to navigate slick floors, rooms with ceiling fans (oh the horror) and noisy appliances that go on and off. City and suburban dogs grow up with that, but haven’t learned how to scramble their way over a wood pile, or slink under a hedge.
Think about what your pup has to do physically to get around in his world, and create challenges that not only expose him to a variety of challenges, but that also help him develop strength and coordination. And, of course
TRAIN WITH LOVE AND PATIENCE Your pup is learning whether to trust you or not, plain and simple. Do all you can to train using positive reinforcement, understanding that the trainee always gets to say what is reinforcing at the time. What any individual wants varies at any given time, so always ask yourself what is the best way to reinforce your pup at that moment. To chase you after coming when called? A super good piece of food for responding correctly to Leave It? A belly rub after lying down on cue? Your pup will tell you, honest. You just have to pay attention.
CAN YOU SAFELY HAVE YOUR PUP PLAY WITH ANOTHER? We’re back to risk management here, and to everyone making the best decision that they can. Can you set it up so that you and the other owner stay well apart? Are you sure you won’t both need to jump in and separate the pups at some point? Has the owner and the pup isolated themselves for two weeks? Can you wipe your pup’s coats down with soapy rags after they play? What risk category are you in? Only you can decide what is best for you and your pup, and what level of interaction you feel is safe for you, your pup and the community.
AND WHAT ABOUT DOG PARKS? Is it safe to go? Are they even open? Dane County, WI dog parks are open, while Decatur Dog Park in IL are closed, so be sure to check before you go. If your favorite park is open, going or not is again a question of risk management. What do you lose by not going? What do you gain?
IF YOU GO, use the obvious precautions about touching anything–the gate, the latches, picnic tables. Use an approved sanitizer to clean your hands. Touch any public areas with something you can dispose of. Wash your hands before and after. Stay at least six feet apart from other people. (This means that you simply shouldn’t go if you have a dog that you have to manage physically rather than by voice. If Moxie runs up to other people and jumps on them, you can’t go get her. If Sammy plays a bit rough, how are you going to stop him?
I’d be very cautious myself about going to a dog park, but I do have sympathy for those who have dogs who pretty much implode without some off leash exercise. If that’s you, read what I wrote for puppies above, and last weeks post that encourages us all to teach our dogs new tricks. (Dogwise has some great books on trick training if you need some new ideas.) Take it from someone who lives in snow/blizzard/sleet country: Teaching a dog a new trick tires them out as much as a long walk.
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: Like everyone, we are doing our best to adapt to the strange world that we live in now. Jim and I are grateful for so many things, including that we live in a beautiful place in the country where we can walk out our door into the fresh air anytime we want. Granted, right now, that often means massive quantities of mud needs to be washed off of dogs when we come back in (I’m talking to you Skip The Mud Sponge), but still. Lucky us.
Jim, the oak tree, cruises along steadily, while I, the wind, cycle between We Can Do This Warrior Mode, and Does Sucking Your Thumb Count as Touching Your Face? (Answer not required.)
I am ridiculously lucky to have flowers blooming in the house right now. Given the bleakness of the usual March Mudmare going on, they lift my spirits every time I see them. This first one is a Christmas cactus that missed the party in December, but is doing it’s best to make up time.
Lucky me with blooming African Violets in the house! I just happen to have the perfect window for them, and once I moved them to it, all it took was a little fertilizer to wake them up.
This deep purple one is very special, because it belonged to my friend Donna’s mother, who passed away a few months ago. Donna asked if I’d rehome it, I said yes and she brought it back on the plane with her. Since then it’s flourished, and has graced us with these gorgeous flowers.
This is an orchid from a dear friend, and after a rough start, is blooming like crazy. Generally I think of myself as an African Violet Whisperer and an Orchid Killer, but after moving this one to the kitchen window, it went crazy. Not really a convenient place for a plant, but, hey, I’ve gotta keep my priorities straight.
By the way, Jim bought the flowers in the background from the supermarket when he went out for our now rare grocery runs. I know they are not considered an essential item, but we all have our definitions of essential, right? I’m admittedly a bit greedy about flowers, it feels like they help me stay sane.
What are you greedy for? And how are you doing? Sending love and warmth to all of us in this very special global village.
Kat says
D’Artagnan is four and we’re still doing our best to give him new experiences and challenges. Playground equipment is great for that. When we visit a park that is free of children we encourage him to climb on the equipment. I can do it without touching anything except his leash and we can wipe down his paws afterwards. Playground equipment is made of so many different textures and materials and wobbles, and spins, and… I thought the suspension bridge in one playground would require some coaxing since it is decidedly strange as everything shifts depending on where you put your weight. I’m not sure he even noticed it wasn’t solid ground he was so blase about it.
Yesterday he visited an empty dog park where he could run full out with no obstacles. Then another dog came and the two of them had a really good time running together. The humans stayed 20 feet or more apart (big park) and the dogs raced around. When the third dog showed up and was clearly terrified of D’Artagnan we leashed him and went on our way. She wasn’t a dog I’d have been bringing to the dog park given her nervousness in general and her terror when confronted with a white monster three times her size was a clear sign things could potentially go bad quickly so we did the responsible thing.
Really, for us the hardest part is managing D’Artagnan’s interactions with other people. He is a Therapy Dog, his JOB is literally to be petted by everyone that he meets. He loves his job so we’re trying hard to avoid anywhere that he’ll run into people. Otherwise we have to make sure to wipe him down thoroughly which takes quite awhile and a lot of wipes.
I love all your blooms. I’m less about color and more about smell. Right now my yard smells of violets and winter daphne. It smells so good.
Diane says
Bright side….teaching opportunities. “No jumping” in my case means do NOT go crazy when you see another dog or person. Working pretty well, but he did run up to a neighbor for pets and he received them (ugh). I just wasn’t fast enough for his pent up energy. Sad because he wants friendly interaction and I do not want to allow it at this time. He doesn’t understand me when I say “there’s a big sick out here and you have to listen to me when i say no” (I know, too many words but I also need release!). Frankly, it’s hard for me to understand as well – not the distancing as that is necessary at this time- just the whole thing. Be safe all.
Lovely flowers. I have orchids and African Violets blooming and it makes me feel good. And I’m lucky I have a dog… who would probably prefer that I wouldn’t I talk so much.
Carol says
What do you use to fertilize your African violets? They’re gorgeous!
Robin says
The virus is putting a damper on us trying to meet a dog we’re hoping to adopt, so I’m distracting myself with books and training webinars. I would like to add that open stairs are a great thing to add into the repertoire, since a pup that’s confident at the stairs to the bedroom may balk on the way up an outside staircase that can be seen through. I also recently discovered the socialization cds that have sounds of trains, sirens, thunderstorms, and more that are perfect for training! Found them online, too; as soon as it’s not irresponsible to order more packages to the house, I’ll try one out.
Thanks for the insight as always, and the pretty flowers!
Teddy says
Kat: I love the idea of playground equipment. We may try that. Thank you! Our 1-year-old loves Agility (no jumps, just ground poles) and although we have set up PVC pipe “jumps” in our back yard, I think she would get a kick out of the swinging bridge that I THINK is in one nearby playground. We’ll go see!
As mentioned, our dog is a 1-year-old and I like to think that since we adopted her from a rescue 8 months ago, she has had a GREAT puppyhood — lots of classes and doggy daycare and love and new experiences. Now we’re on lockdown in Chicago, and I feel so bad for her lack of canine company, but I’m telling myself and her that she now has to be in Domesticated Dog Boot Camp for a month or so, learning how to be primarily a domesticated dog and not primarily a puppy who gets to play with other dogs on a regular basis.
I do think that we ARE patient and loving, and we throw in lots of walks, back yard play time, and enrichment activities. Kibble “Easter egg hunts” for her meals are the hands-down favorite. She has to “hide” in her open-door crate, maintaining a stay, while I go around the house hiding small piles of kibble, then she gets praise for staying, and then told “Go Look!” and off she goes!
In this realm, the thing I am weighing is whether to adopt another dog. If this is the new normal, should we get some canine company for her? (I am not asking for an answer, just expressing my question.) . We’ve had up to three dogs at a time. When we had our first of the earlier pack of three, we perhaps too hastily adopted the second, thinking the first dog wanted company. It turned out, No, actually, dog friends outside the family would have been plenty, thank you. He did not need another dog at home. They did get along, and it worked out fine, and we have no regrets, but it DID teach us to be careful about assuming that the first dog wants full-time canine company at home. This is a long-winded way of saying that we’re weighing what to do, with the uncertainty about when doggy daycare / dog friends will be available to our dog again.
Thank you for the post! Sorry mine was so long, but I’ll post it as is…..
Stay well!
Jane says
My dil and I leashed up our family of Labs and neighborhood-walked for a long time yesterday. The dogs barely walked – their sniffing was earnest and compulsive. Sniffing is a regular part of our walks, but this had an intensity beyond normal. Then AHA!! I realized that many more people than ever before are dog walking now. Keeping recommended distance, folks are walking with spouses, children, DOGS!! It has been an unusual sight for us, and for the Labs it was an explosion of new smells. My dil imagined Royal saying to Cora and Quinn: “Hey, guys – Skippy was here. He is usually in the house all day!”
Laura Anne says
Because the warm weather is when copperheads are active, I love that cold weather allows me to let the dogs run in the approximately 3/4 acre wooded part of our yard, which is normally fenced off to them. Every AM, as bleary eyed me has the first cup of coffee, four eyes are staring at me-“Now? Now??? NOW???” Such joy as Winston and Tomi run around, , sniff, jump over fallen limbs and logs that are left on the ground.(the less cleanup, the more habitat for birds. And, yes, snakes.)
Grace says
Perfect timing for this post (for me anyway)! I volunteer at a local Humane Society in south central Texas, and we recently took in a litter of 5 owner-surrendered Chihuahua mix puppies. All boys, 1 brown & tan, 2 solid tan, and 2 black & tan, with 1 from the 2 pairs having wire hair (so there’s some terrier in there somewhere). Our shelter is at full capacity and closed to the public until further notice. As a dog trainer, I know how important environmental socialization is for the puppies so started working with them as soon as they got their first set of shots. Ordinarily I use one of our 2 isolation rooms, fill it with all kinds of objects (dog toys, cardboard egg cartons, baby hair brush, plastic tumblers, small whisk & dustpan, etc.) and work with each puppy one-on-one as they investigate & interact with the objects. But since our other isolation room is occupied by another intake, I put most of the objects in the cargo area of my CUV and did it there instead. Not as much room as I would have liked but having 3 “walls” and a roof were less overwhelming than being in a large grassy area under a big open sky (yikes!). All the puppies did well, and they were curled up napping (and processing) when I left for the day. Another advantage at this particular shelter is access to the shelter resale shop, which operates much as a Salvation Army or Goodwill resale shop. Whenever one of our dogs is ready, it’s a great place for them to wander around (on-leash of course) and investigate all kinds of things, with a few customers that they can approach (or not). When you talked about dressing up like Elton John, I realized that the resale shop, especially now with no customers and the doors locked, is perfect when they are ready for a big adventure. The resale shop has a warehouse area, common area, and reading room that I can easily block off. With all of the things that people have donated (housewares, clothing, hats, shoes, kids toys), and socializing with the kennel staff, these little guys will get a pretty good start.
Paula says
Ha Ha! My Christmas cactus is blooming too!
Beth says
I’ve been wanting to get a new dog after I lost my 2 9 months and 3 months ago. The time just wasn’t right. Now I’m almost ready, but this virus has made it difficult. Where do I find one? Shelters that I know of have sent their dogs out to fosters. How can you meet a new dog with distance from the foster? What happens when the dog goes back and forth between you? Same question with a breeder…. (though I prefer to adopt). I’m retired, so going back to work eventually isn’t an issue).
I met you once in Marin Co. CA a couple years ago, and have read your books and blog since. I live in MN now and have thought of checking out some of the sheepdog trials you have mentioned. I would love to see that in action. Thank you for all the information and for sharing your life. Be safe and well!
Kat says
I love this post! So many good ideas- My puppy is 9 weeks so I am trying to decide the risk vs benefit of socialization and not fully vaccinated yet. I carried him to the statues by our train station to get sights and sounds of that. But about walking outside and not vaccinated yet…..we live in a suburban area where my guess is that most people’s dogs are vaccinated. Still too risky to walk him on the sidewalk outside my house and around the court I live on? Thank you!
Trisha says
Argh, no “truth” here! Just individual decisions re risk management. If it were my puppy I’d take him out. Anyone else?
Trisha says
To Beth: All good questions, wish I had all the answers. If it were me I’d wait several weeks to see how things sort out, but contact the shelter and let them know you have an interest in some of the dogs being fostered. Good luck!
Trisha says
💐👏
Trisha says
Brilliant work Grace, re helping the puppies get a good start at your shelter!
Trisha says
Jane: I love this reminder of how the world has changed for dogs in ways we don’t normally think about! We took a hike on Saturday on a trail that is usually empty, and there were lots of people out. (Not too many to make it unsafe though, everyone was very careful about distancing.) But such a surprise to see so many people in this normally empty area. So funny thinking about urban/suburban dogs going crazy over new smells!
Trisha says
Teddy: What a lucky dog you have!
Trisha says
Robin: Stair idea is a good one, thanks!
Trisha says
Carol, re fertilizing African Violets: I use Shultz African Violet fertilizer. Have had the tiny bottle forever, a tiny bit goes a long way!
Andy says
Great post, I’d been wondering about puppy socialization during this crisis!
For dogs in general – James Ha (my professor) is encouraging dog owners to do separation exercises because he foresees an uptick in separation anxiety cases when everyone goes back to work/school/etc. He says even a few weeks of being home constantly is enough to develop stronger attachments that can make adjusting back to “real life” precarious for dogs. I’ve been trying to follow my usual going-to-work rituals at least a few times a week to ensure Cecil remembers how all that works.
Trisha says
Cyber greetings to D’Artagnan, and hopes that his own social distancing troubles are over soon!
Honey Loring says
The American Veterinary Association has just published an article about petting dogs and COV-19. It says the risk to people is very low because a dog’s coat is porous and it’s hard for the molecules to hang on. Worth reading yourself so you can make your own decision.
Nannette Morgan says
Another way to socialize a young pup without all his/her vax is to put the pup in a baby carriage or a doggy carriage. Another thing to do is go for car rides and sit in a grocery parking lot so that the pup can see different people while feeding tasty puppy treats. I use this for my fear of people dog clients as well.
Another fun thing to do for any age is to pack a picnic for you and one for your dog and drive to a park and sit in your car enjoying your picnics.
Trisha – I have my annual spring wild California poppies growing in my yard along with all my other colorful plants. Wish I could attach a photo 😉
Tails Around the Ranch says
Your houseplants are amazing, and definitely just what the doctor ordered for snowy/muddy March.
As for practicing safe, social distancing while walking dogs, I recently adopted the cutest [adult] furball Old English Sheepdog. Norman is beyond adorable with his half white/half grey panda face and naturally people want to come up and pet this lovable giant (he’s a BIG boy). I’m more than a bit apprehensive having people pet him during this virus crisis. While it’s my understanding that dogs can’t catch it, couldn’t viruses linger on a furry head and be picked up when I pet him? Just wondering what your thoughts are on that potential contamination. Stay safe and keep smiling.
Trisha says
Great ideas Nannette, thank you!
Trisha says
Excellent point, thanks so much Andy.
Judy Thompson says
Hi Trish — this is a cautionary dog park tale. Feb 10th we took our 2 goldens (1 yr & 2yr) to the dog park that’s two blocks away. The park has two dog parks. One for dogs over 25 lbs and one for over 25 lbs. While there— a small 6 mo old golden puppy went over to play with a 1 yr old pit bull. When the pit bull got aggressive with the puppy the owner separated them and leashed up the pit bull and the owner of the golden puppy took his dog to another area of the park. When talking with the owner of the pit bull, she said her dog did not like small dogs and that puppy shouldn’t have been in this park. About 10 minutes later she unleashed her dog just as a 4 month old husky entered the park. The pit bull ran over and got the husky pup by the throat and was shaking the life out of it. While I was getting my goldens out of the park my 79 year old husband (whose on blood thinners!) tried to pry open the jaws of the pit bull and got bitten by both dogs. Some guy with a throw wand came over and beat the pit bull over the head with the wand and got the pit bull off the husky puppy. Being concerned about all the hand wounds and blood of my husband sustained; we left the park. At emergency they made him fill out a dog bite report and an officer from animal control got involved. Since we could not find the owners my husband had to go thru 4 rabies shots. Shots are given in arm now and not too uncomfortable. And thank goodness we have good medical insurance. Both dog owners were located about a week and a half latter. The pit bull had its shots but the puppy had not. I personally would not bring puppy or dog under 25 lbs into a dog park with big dogs. We don’t have to worry about dog parks for a while since we’re in Sacramento, Calif and are seniors that are asked to stay home. We’re getting a lot of gardening done.
Renee says
Thanks so much for posting this, Trisha. So many great ideas. I am a regular dog park visitor with my dog, Colby, but we have been away from the park for several weeks because she’s had a mild muscle strain. She’s doing great now, but just as I was given the go ahead to start increasing her activity, the virus and social distancing requirements have begun ramping up. So, we take a lot of walks and have worked a lot on her leash manners, which had deteriorated over the winter. There are so many more people and dogs out now, partly because the weather has improved and partly because of the current situation. But, it’s easy to maintain a good distance and still be friendly and interact with neighbors. I’m also heading out for hikes, and spending time working on her recall in the yard. (Been working on that recall for a long, long time now – maybe it’ll get to 100%!). While I’d love to go back to the dog park, Colby can sometimes be a little too pushy in her play and at those times I do need to reach in and grab her. Better to just stay away and keep everyone safe for now.
I have mixed feelings about letting others pet Colby right now, so I’ve landed on what is a compromise for me. There are a small number of close neighbors who greet her with a pet when we are outside – and with a 6 foot leash and the length of my arm we are able to maintain a good distance. I trust that these neighbors are as obsessed with hand hygiene as I am, and I hope for the best. I did a little research on this, and the AVMA at present seems to think that the risk of pets spreading the disease through their fur is unlikely (see the following link): https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=9548687#.XmpvnC4MkKM.facebook
Donna in VA says
Try growing African Violets from a packet of seed. So much fun to see the varieties that emerge.
Dog Parcour is a fun and inventive activity. Jump on/over a stump, walk/back up on the log, crawl through the opening.
We have also been doing a game I’ll call “scatterboxes”. It’s a variation of nosework. Variety of cardboard boxes and containers, scattered around. Always the bait the same 2-3 with smelly (salmon jerky in my case) treats so scent does not linger on the “decoy” boxes. You can start easy then make it hard by how many/where you put the boxes in small or large area. Could also start introducing novel/odd objects into the mix for puppies to get accustomed to.
John says
My dog Saber literally explodes with energy if he doesn’t get to run free for at least two hours a day. I take him out at ungodly hours in the morning so he can run free and use up his energy.
Keeping him in in is a challenge in itself, but during these trying times we all must do our bit to try cut down the spread of Covid 19. I entertain him with games and training in our backyard during the day which helps a lot.
Trisha says
Thanks for the link Renee!
Trisha says
Donna in VA, thanks for the great parcour ideas. And violets from seed? Ooooh, be still my heart! But i have limited space at the magic window… But maybe when we can go out (I already miss the plant nursery!) I’ll pick some up. Of course, there’s always the internet. Hmmm. Gotta go, bye.
Trisha says
What a nightmare of a story. I hope your husband is all healed up and that the owners were held responsible for the damage their dog did. Let’s be safe out there . . .
Trisha says
To Tails Around the Ranch: First, please bring Norman over here. I’ll take care of him, honest. (As if you’d ever give him away!) As a few others have noted, the AVMA has stated that the risk of getting Covid-19 from petting a dog is very low, the virtual particles apparently (and anti-intuitively) cling to hard, smooth surfaces versus porous, rough ones. At least, that is what is being said now, and I should add that we really are in the early stages of this disease outbreak. If it was me, I’d restrict petting only to people I know well who have been extremely cautious over the last 2 weeks, and keep a soapy cloth in a plastic bag and gently wipe the area of the dog that had been petted (not too soapy–no soap in a dog’s eyes!). Would that brief action really help? Don’t know (a far cry from washing your hands for 20 secs.) Otherwise, I myself would pass on the petting, in part because it would be hard to keep a 6 foot distance away from the “petter” and still be there for my dog in case he needed me. Hope that helps.
Bill Larson says
So, the COVID Effect. For the past several months, Waylon (our Gr. Pry Rescue) and I have done our thrice plus one daily walks in our little ‘hood. A dead end road with a nice loop walk in a very quiet residential area. Kinda the postal carrier thing going on. Neither snow, nor rain nor dark of night….. We were out walking. Usually alone. Oh, we’d meet the occasional intrepid traveler but for the most part winter kept folks inside.
Along comes COVID and some nicer weather. Folks are getting out to walk, and walking in OUR ZONE. They are on OUR ROAD ! And Waylon isn’t pleased. We keep trying to incorporate some basic training while walking but now, with nice weather and the COVID Effect, there are so many distractions !
Oh well, guess we will work on meeting strangers while trying to maintain that 6’ safety zone.
Since Waylon doesn’t much care to be petted by strangers, this should be an easier training session than most !
Karen C. says
Thanks for your wonderful blog Trish! After reading several of your books I knew it wouldn’t disappoint. We have 8 month old Australian Labradoodle named Piper who we love to death. She is our first puppy, very loving but also quite an independent spirit and has made us well aware of our shortcomings as puppy trainers! Piper wants to be friends with every human she encounters and will still try to jump up on people to greet them. On a leash she’s like a locomotive pulling freight cars with me being the freight (I’m tiny 🙂 but my husband has less trouble).
We live on Staten Island in NYC and based on our experiences, though limited, I don’t think now is a good time to bring a dog to a dog park. The possibility of encountering irresponsible owners is too great. At a time where we are supposed to staying at least 6 feet apart from each other that could easily become difficult. I really feel for the people and pets who are stuck in small apartments but public health still must be considered. NYC, especially Manhattan, is dense and it can be very hard to maintain adequate space between people. I’m so grateful to have an enclosed patio where we can play with Piper and where she can get some exercise!
You expressed my feelings exactly when you said that you feel like flowers keep you sane! They certainly feel essential to me and now when we are spending so much time at home they lift my spirits in a way few other things can. Keep posting your amazing photos. They bring color and light to these trying days!
Trisha says
Here’s to flowers Karen C!
Lauren says
I have an unfinished vax puppy too. She had her first lot at 8 weeks and she’s now 11 weeks and can’t get her second batch. We live in a really small semi rural village so it’s really quiet. I’m unsure what to do for the best. I’ve carried her out on walks but all she wants to do is join our other dog on the floor which I’ve not allowed her to do. But we don’t see anyone so I’d have to drive out to more populated areas for her to experience other people/dogs/cars ect 🙁 I’d like to let her run around on the fields but I don’t think I want to risk it … Ugh, it’s all so confusing and overwhelming …
Margot says
Thank you so much for sharing this! I have been agonizing about my 12-week-old puppy becoming a poorly-socialized mess (we picked her up one week into our social isolation), and this puts my mind at ease, both because we are being so careful, and because there ARE things we can be doing. Now I get to tell my 3 children they get to have a rolling costume party, all for the good of the puppy. Thank you!!
Tricia Perez says
Hi Trisha,
I am bringing home my first puppy (a Rhodesian Ridgeback) this July. He is going to be a big boy and it is so important that he is well socialized to humans and animals big and small as well as able to tolerate being home alone on the 1-2 days a week he is left alone until school is out. I feel overwhelmed! I want to do everything right.
I love all of tour suggestions but I am wondering about having “strangers” come to the door and renter the house. How do I accomplish this during Covid? Will dressing up as Elton John do the trick or should I look for volunteers to come to the door and walk through the house (wearing masks of course)?
Thank you for this invaluable blog post!