seek2bboldwitness
New member
In light of recent and on-going worldly events, we have post-poned our Wiki Deep Dive for March 2020 in favor of a Hub of information to assist those who may be working from home, in quarantine, or as we should all be, practicing the WHO's guidelines on social distancing and staying home. I would like to point out that we, the modteam, nor our users here are experts on COVID-19 and we urge you to please follow information and precautions located on WHO's webpage on Coronavirus disease 2019 as well as those put in place by federal, state, local governments during this time.
Unfortunately, as things progress puppy classes, socials, and other puppy and dog centered gatherings will cease to prevent further spread. While this is frustrating this is okay and do-able at home and while still practicing social distancing and/or self quarantine.
While keeping usual schedule is always a good idea, there are times it's not do-able, or you're both having cabin fever, or whatever the reason may be here are sources to help break up the day and make it more enjoyable for you both.
Routine Vet care may not be available in all areas at this time. The AMVA is fighting to be considered essential in areas were total shut downs of businesses are occurring. We strongly urge you to put in a call to your local clinic(s) to see if your puppy's vaccination schedule will be disrupted and what they recommend you do if so. Some may still be operating on a case-by-case basis, providing curb-side pick up and payment (meaning your pet will go in, not you); but we urge you to phone in. Online pharmacies that provide heartworm/flea/tick preventatives as well as prescribed medications such as Chewy, Amazon, 1-800-PetMeds and the like are still operating per usual but may be backlogged.
Now would be the time to brush up on first aid skills, skim around r/AskVet, and if need be we do have some veterinary resources within our wiki that include basic first aid, common dangers but also online and over the phone vet services.
We hope everyone is holding up well, please use this thread to discuss other concerns with COVID-19 and Puppy Raising as duplicate threads will be deleted if the sub becomes redundant. Thank you.
Puppy Class is Cancelled & How to Socialize with Social Distancing
Unfortunately, as things progress puppy classes, socials, and other puppy and dog centered gatherings will cease to prevent further spread. While this is frustrating this is okay and do-able at home and while still practicing social distancing and/or self quarantine.
- Fenzi Dog Sports Academy is an online only dog training academy, sadly they are not offering Baby Genuis (their top rated puppy course) this term but they are offering plenty of courses that will give you lots to do with your puppy. There are different tiers available based on how intensive you would like to be, Bronze is view all lessons and discuss with other students; Silver is viewing lessons, get personalized feedback from instructors via video, discussing with others and posting as need; Gold is pretty much just like an in-person course, you get your homework each week with your lessons and you video your pup's progress for your instructor to assist and cheer you guys on.
- Zak George offers a FREE 30 day online course for puppies via Pupford. He also has loads free content on youtube you can check out if you are not feeling up to committing to a full course, his video series with Inertia has been interesting to watch and can certainly give you pointers on where to start. Edit: He has now uploaded a Covid 19 Specific training video
- Kikopup also has a large catalouge of free videos on youtube if you're feeling lost, but she recently dropped a massive video all about puppies and watch to teach them and in what order. If that isn't your speed and you want an actual training course, her website Dogmantics offers self-study courses, memberships, videos on demand and even seminars to absorb during this time.
- While not a puppy course, Do More With Your Dog is a well known resources, and trainer who does online Trick dog titles that can easily transfer to your Kennel Club of choice. Super fun way to pass a good chunk of time and also further your puppies knowledge and bond with you.
- Ian Dubar's Dunbar Academy also has FREE course collections right from the man who made puppy socials and kindergartens a thing.
- Socialization. While it may be tricky, socializing while also practicing social distancing is achievable. Socialization =/= Interaction. As we highlight in our wiki article, key words are Positive and Exposure. On top of this there are plenty of ways to socialize without leaving your home, checkout Dr. Yin's Socialization Checklist some of this is as easy as putting on silly hats or outfits and rewarding your puppy.
- Edit : Follow this link Here for an easy-to-follow, step-by-step At-Home Socialization guide.
I'm now WFH/Quarantined and My Puppy is Driving me INSANE
While keeping usual schedule is always a good idea, there are times it's not do-able, or you're both having cabin fever, or whatever the reason may be here are sources to help break up the day and make it more enjoyable for you both.
- Every month since December 2018, our modteam has diligently written up various Enrichment Ideas to assist you. Take a look and see which ones could work for you.
- /@doks typed up this lovely post well over a year, maybe two years ago for weather related indoor times, their excellent graph will keep you busy for quite a while.
- Maybe you have some Kongs or other stuffables laying about or while browsing chewy (or amazon, etc) you aren't quite sure what to purchase for your puppy to chew, Our Deep Dive on Kongs, Chews and Puzzles is right up your alley.
- Are you more rural or suburban and still able to walk your puppy? Maybe your pup is pulling on the walk a bit or you aren't sure how to get the most out of your walk, /@allaloneuk wrote up the Value of Decompression Walks that can help you both clear your head on walks.
- Perhaps you want to enrich your own knowledge more first before enriching your puppy. We have loads of Book recommendations in our wiki. Some of my own favorite are The Big Book of Tricks for the Best Dog Ever and Canine Enrichment for the Real World both just absolute chef's kiss when it comes to new things I want to do with my own dogs.
- Edit: Dogwise publishing is offering 6 FREE Ebooks at this time (3/21), which includes a copy of Visiting the Dog Park. I own a hardback copy of this book, I haven't had the time to sit down and read it thoroughly at this time (pssst can you guess what our Wiki post was going to be) due to reading a pretty big novel at the moment (also dog related) but I highly recommend nabbing a copy now because Dog parks are pretty wild and varied so having some tools in your pocket to help you both navigate them safely is very important.
Puppy Vaccinations and Vet Visits
Routine Vet care may not be available in all areas at this time. The AMVA is fighting to be considered essential in areas were total shut downs of businesses are occurring. We strongly urge you to put in a call to your local clinic(s) to see if your puppy's vaccination schedule will be disrupted and what they recommend you do if so. Some may still be operating on a case-by-case basis, providing curb-side pick up and payment (meaning your pet will go in, not you); but we urge you to phone in. Online pharmacies that provide heartworm/flea/tick preventatives as well as prescribed medications such as Chewy, Amazon, 1-800-PetMeds and the like are still operating per usual but may be backlogged.
Now would be the time to brush up on first aid skills, skim around r/AskVet, and if need be we do have some veterinary resources within our wiki that include basic first aid, common dangers but also online and over the phone vet services.
We hope everyone is holding up well, please use this thread to discuss other concerns with COVID-19 and Puppy Raising as duplicate threads will be deleted if the sub becomes redundant. Thank you.
