In this episode of Pandemic Puppy, Kayla speaks with Amber Quann about raising toy breed puppies.

What are the differences between raising a toy breed puppy vs a larger size?

• Easier on the wallet
• Need to be creative on training and reinforcement strategies as they can’t eat as much
• Curate safe interactions that prevent potential injuries such as other dogs running them over by accident, getting on and off furniture, etc.
• Ensure you don’t bubble wrap your dog
• Prepare emergency scenarios, such as picking up your puppy when needed to protect them from getting run over
• Put picking up your dog on cue

How do we help little dogs become leash reactive?

• It is easy to manage a small dogs behavior through leash tension because of their size, and its important to work against that 
• Little dogs need to learn how to move out of situations on their own
• Be intentional to treat them like a big dog. “Would I do this with my german shepherd?” 
• Teaching them confidence is key
• As always, set them up for success, don’t push them over their threshold 
• Their needs will change with age

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

None

Where you can find Amber: Website | Facebook | Instagram

You can support the Pandemic Puppy Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/pandemicpuppy.

Puppy Raising Blueprint Course | Pandemic Puppy Raising Support Group

In this episode of Pandemic Puppy, Kayla discusses introducing your puppy to cats. 

• Everything depends on the personality of your puppy and your cat
• Set up the environment for success: hiding places, elevation for cats; baby gates, leashes
• Ensure puppy is well-exercised but not overtired/cranky
• Younger puppies adapt more quickly/easily: with MOST really young puppies and many cats, you can allow for supervised interaction pretty quickly
• Breed will vary for dogs - if your breed is more likely to be prey driven, earlier introductions are even better and management will increase through teenagerhood
• Reward BOTH animals for calm ignoring/calm interactions
  • Suggested treats for cats: meaty baby food on a popsicle stick, tuna, store-bought treats, bonito flakes
  • Consider long-lasting chews or licki mats for puppy 
• Handicap the puppy as needed, let the cat move freely
• If the puppy is highly aroused or the cat is extra nervous, use towels over baby gates and/or two baby gates for extra distance (especially for older puppies)
• Teach both animals that the presence of the other = tasty treats!

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Two-Part Cat Intro Podcast

Cat/Dog Introduction Video

You can support the Pandemic Puppy Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/pandemicpuppy.

Puppy Raising Blueprint Course | Pandemic Puppy Raising Support Group  

In this episode of Pandemic Puppy, Kayla discusses undersocialized puppies. 

How do you know your puppy may be undersocialized?

• This will vary per dog depending on breed and personality, as some breeders are generally more reserved than others
• Puppy history is important to consider. Hoarding or parvo puppies are usually very undersocialized
• It’s normal for your puppy to startle around new things or to be a little shy, but it’s not normal for extreme reactions such as urinating or trembling, or if the startle starts to escalate. If this is the case, you should seek a professional behavior consultant. 

What to do if your puppy is showing signs of being undersocialized?

• Go at your puppy’s pace; work harder, not faster
  • If your puppy is under extreme distress, you are going too fast
  • If you can’t find a comfortable threshold for your puppy, speak to a professional

• Learn dog body language

• “We want to find the level in which your puppy notices the thing they are concerned about and we want to be working at that level”
• If they are under threshold, let them observe the things that are concerning them
• Support and cheerlead them in ways that help them
• Adjust your expectations
• Counter-conditioning throughout their lifetime
• Is it a trend or a blip? If your puppy is continually spooking at something over and over, it might mean you need to make a more structured plan.
• Overall, please seek professional help!

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Find a Behavior Consultant on IAABC

Find a Certified Dog Training and Behavior Consultant 

Dog Decoder App

Canine Body Language

You can support the Pandemic Puppy Podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/pandemicpuppy.

Puppy Raising Blueprint Course | Pandemic Puppy Raising Support Group