Pet Project

Early socialization—and plenty of it—is more important for your new puppy or newly adopted dog than learning good manners.

That’s according to Mark Van Wye, M.F.A. ’01, CEO of Zoom Room Dog Training and author of two bestselling puppy training books. Unfortunately, Van Wye says, COVID-19 has sparked a massive increase in dog fostering and adoption while at the same time making socialization a frightening challenge. But it can be done, he says. Here are his top five tips for safe socialization during a pandemic:

• Push your pup in a cart around a hardware store, rewarding her calmness with treats.
• Allow strangers to pet her while you remain 6 feet away (the average leash length). Reward positive interactions with treats and praise.
• Dress up in masks, hats, hoodies and costumes to accustom your dog to new sights.
• Proximity works great for socialization. If your pup is close enough to pay attention to a garbage truck, children at play or a big dog, reward her if she shows no negative reaction.
• If your pup displays a fearful reaction to any novel cue, retreat to a safe space and try again another day.

Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps and Ultimate Puppy Training for Kids
Mark Van Wye, M.F.A. ’01
Rockridge Press, April 2019 and June 2020

This story appears as part of the Smithies Create column in the Fall 2020 issue of the Smith Alumnae Quarterly.