The APDT Chronicle of the Dog Summer 2020 | Page 53

ASK THE TRAINER
Gradually begin short rides. Avoid winding, twisty and bumpy
road surfaces. Some young pups experience car sickness and
will grow out of it. If car sickness persists, seek the help of a
trainer and ask your veterinarian for medication if indicated.
Due to the concern that the virus can be carried on fur,
chances are that you may not be setting up puppy play dates.
You can still teach your pup that other pups predict good
things for them. See a dog, get a treat. Hear a dog barking, get
a treat! If you have another dog they may enjoy playing with
the puppy but be sure the puppy doesn’t pester them.
Meeting and interacting with a
variety of people is important
to the social development of
young puppies. However, social
distancing mandates that if we
encounter people, we are supposed
to stay at least six feet away from
them and not let our puppy interact
with them due to the concerns that
the virus can be carried on their
coats, risking transmission between
people. If you have the opportunity to
take your puppy on a neighborhood
walk, then carry treats. See a person,
get a treat.
Training walks are great but just as important is letting your
pup be a pup while sniffing and experiencing different things
while outside. Get them to different environments if possible
(i.e., wooded areas, beach). Toss some treats in the grass and
let them forage for them. Expose them to different weather
(rain, etc., depending upon where you live).
Use items you have in your home to expose the pups to novel
experiences. Have the pups walk on different surfaces (carpet,
tile, grass, wood floors, sidewalk, yoga mat, a tarp, etc.) that
you have available to you. Tape open both ends of a large
cardboard box to fashion a homemade tunnel. Involve your
children by letting them decorate the outsides or calling the
puppy through the “entrance and exit.” Drape sheets over
chairs for some indoor tent camping with the kids. Have your
puppy walk over and under things. Be careful not to let your
puppy jump off of anything more than an inch or so high.
Turn on ceiling fans. Run the washing machine, vacuum, hair
dryer, etc. You can use a phone app to expose your pup to novel
sounds. If your area experiences thunderstorms, pair up those
booms with treats. Noise predicts treats and silly play. Stack
plastic or metal bowls with treats in them and let pups knock
them over. Toys that move are novel items. Let your puppy
interact with a skateboard but don’t force them on it if they
get concerned about the movement. Think of creative ways to
stimulate puppy brains and bodies during these months. Play
hide-and-seek. Let your pup find you. This game has the added
benefit of promoting your pup’s recall.
Feed them out of different bowls. Give them food dispensing
toys and puzzles. If you don’t have any then make some. Take
toilet paper tubes/paper towel tubes and stand them up in a
plastic food storage container. Drop some food in each one.
Let your pup pull them out to get the treats. Take a muffin tin,
drop food in each cup and let your pup try to get them. To
make it harder place a tennis ball over each cup. Make a snuffle
mat. A snuffle mat is usually made by tying strips of fleece
onto a rubber mat. Treats or kibble are hidden in the folds.
Remember when you give your puppy an item they can rip or
chew, be sure to supervise them.
Acquiring a new puppy is a wonderful experience. Most
behaviorists and trainers will say that both nature and
nurture are important in determining who your puppy
becomes as they grow into adulthood. During this time, a
little extra planning can go a long way to nurturing your new
pup and promote the socialization that may otherwise not be
possible. Be safe and be well.
Jamie McKay, CPDT KSA gained her
early experience at the Humane Society
of Westchester teaching safe handling
skills to volunteers to enhance the
adoptability of shelter dogs. Jamie teaches
group classes at Port Chester Obedience
Training Club in New York. She is a
Canine Good Citizen evaluator and
competes in agility and rally obedience. Jamie and her husband,
Stephen, CPDT-KSA, own McKay9 Dog Training, LLC.
The APDT Chronicle of the Dog | Summer 2020 51