Lockdown Puppies = Lockdown Love?

K9Dreamers Dog Training and Behaviour and Lockdown Puppies.
Pandemic Puppy = Lockdown Love... or does it?  Yes or No?
Back in March 2020, here in the UK, we faced the thought of  being on our own with time on our hands.
And, we thought... yay !! Let’s get a puppy.
So many, many people did, and the Puppy market took off.. beyond what we ever knew before.
Puppies arrived from far and wide, (sources not to be discussed here)
and families took ownership of a new little dog.
Oh my goodness...! Wow! 
At first all fantastic cuddles, and gorgeousness, then 3 or 4 months in, reality begins to hit (a bit like having a new baby in the house).
As a new puppy owner, you do some puppy training, have time to google what is best, and enjoy success in early months.
You get advice, talk to friends and do really well, then lockdown eases and the dog is now 6 months to 1 year....! And one problem hits the fan...
Oh my... “I have to return to work”... how will the puppy cope? I will miss her so much... oh no she will miss me!
As a Trainer and Behaviourist... I believe Prevention is better than Cure’.
Even in non-lockdown life... Puppy Training should include some ‘Home Alone’ training and experience, to prepare and build up self-confidence in the pup.
A good saying - 'If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail'.
Practice now putting your pup in a safe place, with a filled Kong, for just
10 mins, and gradually building up the time.
Then, most importantly, being cool and natural when you return, this helps the pup to know it is ok to be alone, and no big deal.
Preparing the puppy for being home-alone is just as important as ‘crate training, toileting, loose lead walking, recall, not jumping up or mouthing’...and is good Dog Ownership.
So, if in doubt... reach out, K9Dreamers is all about owning your Dream Dog, and we all love a well behaved puppy + dog!   
If things go haywire, whilst routines change... it is not too late.
I especially have a passion for the ‘Barky Lungy’ teenage adolescent dog who is struggling to live in the environment, hormones zooming around, leading to hyperarousal, as mentioned in the previous Blog... exacerbated maybe by the Lockdown Blues. Reach out... here to help.

.....................................Happy Dog Happy Owner!............................................
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