Since the arrival of coronavirus, pet adoptions and fosters have soared in response to the isolation and loneliness from COVID stay-at-home orders. The demand is so great that many shelters have waiting lists of those who want to adopt or foster a new pet. Its a time of pandemic puppies.
Did you adopt a new puppy or older dog during COVID? If you did, congratulations! Saving a pet’s life is always an admirable thing to do, so thank you!
But as you probably already know, now the real work begins with this adorable new family member with effective bonding, socialization, grooming and positive training. While COVID-19 might make some of these things a bit more difficult (than in a non-COVID world), they are still critical components of raising a happy, confident and well-behaved canine!
Here is what you need to know.
Bonding with Your New K9
With sheltering in place and working from home, this requirement is probably the easiest one! You probably do not even have to think about cuddling and loving your brand-new pet! Seriously, who can ignore those sweet puppy eyes?!
Grooming and brushing are also wonderful ways to strengthen your overall bond while teaching them to enjoy being handled. Learn the basics of dog grooming with our post.
But be sure to balance all that attention and affection with teaching your new puppy or dog to be comfortable on their own!
Encourage Alone Time
If you are working from home right now, it can be tempting to allow your dog to be attached to you constantly. But by allowing your dog to do this, you are setting them up for potential separation anxiety and fears/phobias about being alone, especially when you return to school or an office in the future.
Do not feel guilty for asking – and expecting – your puppy to spend time on his own and to give you space. This is not a punishment and should never be used as a punishment. Give your new puppy or dog his own space by using a crate. Learn how to effectively crate train your new dog with our post here.
Again, crate training is not negative, it gives your dog a safe place just like a den would for his ancestors. Encouraging your dog to be on his own is also building his self-confidence and self-esteem instead of encouraging him to be clingy, needy and prone to separation anxiety, fear and even destructiveness when he is left on his own.
Daily Training is a Must
Just like feeding and exercising your new pet each day, daily training is just as important! Regular and consistent training only helps your pup learn faster but it also strengthens the bond and communication between you. Remember, training should be FUN, more like play than work. Also, make sure to include your entire family in all training to maintain consistency!
While some dog training facilities are still closed, many have reopened with COVID guidelines in place including masks and social distancing. If you are uncomfortable attending a class with other people and dogs, reach out to a trainer offering dog training via Zoom in the comfort of your own home or private one-on-one training in your home. Click here to learn about our Training Services at East Valley K9 Services.
Come back again for our next blog post when we discuss safe options for exercising and socializing your pandemic puppy during COVID-19!
Struggling with training your pandemic puppy?
Call 480-382-0144 or send us an email.
East Valley K9 Services has got all your dog training needs covered!
Serving Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe and East Valley areas of Arizona.
Additional Reading:
ABC: Pandemic Leads to Surge in Animal Adoptions, Fostering
HuffPost: Trying to Adopt a Dog During COVID-19? Here’s What You Need to Know
Modern Dog: How to Improve Your Bond with Your Dog
AKC: The Importance of Teaching Your Puppy How to be Alone
New York Times: Helping Your Dog Survive During a Quarantine
Image Credits (Shown in Order of Appearance):
Ralf Bitzer from Pixabay
Kevin Phillips from Pixabay
Amit Karkare from Pixabay
Wolfgang Horvath from Pixabay
Courtesy: East Valley K9 Services
