Pandemic puppies are all the rage, but adopting a dog is a huge game-changer.
The other day, while at a small, socially-distanced gathering at a local
park, someone told me that he’d be adopting a puppy soon and asked the most
important thing on what he should focus. Without hesitation, I said,
“Socialization. 100%.” He said, “Really?” Really!*
Pandemic puppies are all the rage. What better time to get a puppy than
while you’re home quarantining, right? In theory, yes! But there are
caveats. A lot of thought should go into choosing to bring any companion
animal into your home. Homing a companion animal (“pet”) will not
necessarily be a good way to pass the pandemic or decrease your stress, and
it's essential to do research to learn about what an animal actually needs
and to pay close attention to their individual personality. Our society is
already insular, so it’s important not to bypass taking the time to learn
about what it really means to open your home to a companion animal.
With puppies, there’s an added responsibility: they need a lot of
socialization. And, giving them "more than they need" can be very beneficial
for them and for you. Unfortunately, the pandemic has actually made it more
difficult to access opportunities to socialize puppies; not only are we in
an age of social distancing, but many options for well-run, certified,
instructor-led group classes–cornerstones for finding lots of positive
socialization opportunities–are limited or non-existent right now. The
internet, while a valuable resource, also disseminates misinformation. So
let’s start with the science....
Read Marc's
ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE (PDF)
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