Traditionally when we turn the page on the calendar to February thoughts of Valentines’s Day- candlelight dinners, chocolates, roses and wine come to mind. But for me, the month of February brings thoughts of fish tacos, margaritas and palm trees.
I live in New Hampshire so by the time February rolls around, I am done with the cold temps and snow, ready to head someplace warm.
For ten days in February, I am on island time without a dog.
When I have a puppy, I do what I can to ensure they will be able to handle being separated from me with minimal stress. How do I do that?
- Find a trusted dog sitter
- Periodically have one night sleepovers at the dog sitter’s house
In general, socializing a puppy is about having good experiences so that they learn to view their world as safe. Socializing puppies dramatically reduces fears and builds resilience helping to ensure a happier life for your dog.
I have been very fortunate over the years to have had excellent dog sitters. From my retired parents to friends who are dog savvy, all of them have taken my dogs into their homes while I was away.
It made my vacations so much more relaxing because
- I knew my dogs were not stressed
- I knew they were actually having fun (proof is in the video updates)
My newest dog Rune was a puppy in 2020 during Covid-19 lockdowns. Although I was unable to go on vacation, I still made sure he stayed overnight at several different houses during his first year of puppyhood. Then, at a year old, I boarded him at a kennel facility for two days for the sole purpose of having the experience of playing, eating, sleeping and being groomed away from home.
A few one-night stays during that first year will help make the location more familiar and will make the eventual week-long stay less stressful (and hopefully fun) for them.
Your dog will be like “I know this place, I’ve been here a few times before, it’s pretty cool!”
The bottom line is, having sleepovers during your puppy’s first year helps normalize the experience. When a puppy is comfortable in their environment they are happier. You will feel good knowing that you have done what you can to help emotionally prepare your puppy (and eventual adult dog) for time spent apart.
Susan Lynch is a former competitive dog trainer who has been training, competing and volunteering with her Golden Retrievers since 1995. In 2020, she founded Life with Rune, a Facebook community that documents the socializing and training of her own puppy Rune. In 2021, she was awarded the Rachel Page Elliot Lifetime Achievement award by the Golden Retriever Club of America. Her memoir Life After Kevin: A Mother’s Search for Peace and the Golden Retrievers that Led the Way is available here . To learn more, visit: www.susan-lynch.com.
For socializing ideas and training tips go to the Life with Rune Facebook group and click on the Guides tab at the top of the home page.