Socializing a Puppy during a Pandemic

We are all Staying home right now! For now, in NH there is enough space to find places to walk/exercise and still observe the 6' social distancing (I prefer 100') rule.  Some have been dumb and gone to crowded beaches and stand closely in take-out lines, which caused stricter stay at home orders. Won't even talk about the idiotic Spring Breakers in Fl. Or, just yesterday the 100+ protestors standing in close proximity with no face masks at the NH State capitol, wanting to be "free" from stay at home orders, you are not immune....WTF!!!!!!! The curve is flattening, NH likely just got extended time from such selfish stupidity putting us all at risk-who wants to guess a new spike in two weeks? 

Limiting contact with the outside world, is really the only way for us all to flatten the curve of this pandemic. This virus is sneaky, as it is morphing around the world and mode of infection/symptoms varies. So basically, none of us are safe. But, what do you do if you have a puppy in this day and age, who is in that critical period of exposure to the world? What are some things you can do at home to help socialize them? It may seem like a trivial topic, and it is, but after we come out of this on the other side, there will be lots of under-socialized pups who need to catch up. 

I have a lot more free time than I am used to, for this time of year. So, I have been thinking of ways to expose my slightly "feral" pup to many new things. She is different than many pups I have raised over the years. Partially my fault as we missed a few crucial weeks of bonding and out and about. We had to get to know each other again. We have been taking lots of hikes and field trips to get her out and about. At home, I have also added and changed some things-like leaving the vacuum in different rooms and giving lots of rewards/play games, etc. as she was fine with it before, but it is now a scare producer for her. 

Having a couple weeks of less variety in a young pup's life, especially a smart and sensitive Border Collie puppy, is a large % of their life on earth. Two steps forward, ten back-I realized as we walked downtown (carefully and away from others) for the first time in awhile. As pups teethe and hit fear periods, what they might have been used to before, can be something they need to get re-acquainted with; like walking near traffic, or seeing/hearing large flags whipping in the wind. Having people come over is not happening now either and just general love they usually receive from strangers on walks, so I expect having a pup get used to visitors in and out of the house, etc. will also be something we work on after all of this is over. It's all a process.

Socializing does not have to be constantly interacting, so my goal are walks in at least 3 different places per week (parking lot, town roads, open parks, home depot, etc.) where they see and hear different things. Variety is important for a baby pup. If the primary socialization window technically closes around 12 weeks or so for most working breeds (16 wks for others) they still need ongoing exposure to "new". I think the 4-6 month stage is harder for a pup. They are starting to be a bit more independent, their focus is shifting to the horizon or to noticing more things overhead like birds/planes/the moon, but they also hit another fear period as prey drive is also kicking in more. For motion control freak breeds, like a BC or Aussie, this is a confusing age for many of them. 

Some people may worry about their puppy not getting enough play with other pups during this pandemic. I think most can catch up easily, your pup will show you what they need in social interactions with other dogs. I actually regret taking my pup to a class where play was emphasized, it put her in a position of discomfort and our last class before the pandemic shut-down, her last experience with other puppies was awful! Different breeds have different social etiquette. A Border Collie is not a Labrador, and in those breeds there is variety too.  I'm not a clueless dog owner, I have raised many pups and worked in animal behavior, helping others solve canine issues, so I should be a better advocate for what my pup needs. But, I was dumb and feel guilty that I let my pup down. Where she was formally neutral and observing at her own rate, she was overwhelmed and pushed into a scared state of defensive behavior-luckily she seems to be okay so far at seeing new dogs since. So, while I think being dog social is very important, my criteria is very different in that I want a dog who is comfortable walking into a trial, show, etc. but I do not need a dog who wants to "play" with every dog they meet. This pup is also different than many I have raised, including her mother who loves everyone & everything-but to respect this pup's limits and work with them by building positive approximations, is what helps her. Pushing a pup into a negative emotional state does not help they learn to be comfortable. 

We do not have a formal shelter in place order in NH-but a stay at home order with all businesses other than essential are closed. Luckily, outdoor exercise if done with social distancing, is allowed.  In other parts of US, rules may be different and shutdowns were implemented. I can't imagine if I still lived in an apartment in NYC, how I would be worrying about exposure right now or what the heck to do with socializing and house-training a pup. Some pups (& adult dogs) may become over-bonded during this pandemic, by everyone working from home and being home more than usual. Pups still need to learn to spend some down time alone, without continuous stimulation or our presence. Crate training or using an x-pen are good management tools to give a pup a comfy place to hang out with something great to chew on, while they also spend a bit of time alone. If a pup is with us 24/7, they may have a hard time adjusting to time alone. Teaching them to be self-reliant in our absence, while also bonding with us, is a balance. Whatever our situations, we can all just do our best. 

My heart goes out to everyone who is dealing with this by location they live in and just in general life, all of us. The people also putting themselves at risk to test and care for the ill, goes beyond any "job". Stay safe everyone and take a ride with your pup if safe to do so in your area, they need fresh air and variety too.