COVID Puppies- A Different Take
The excuse that’s wearing thin
The COVID years have a lot to answer for — but when it comes to our dogs I don’t think they’re responsible for quite as much as we like to believe. “He’s a COVID puppy” has become a bit of a get-out-of-jail-free card when a dog struggles out in the real world. Even vets and behaviourists will say it. But honestly? I think that excuse is wearing thin.
Why it was the perfect time
Never in living memory (that I’m aware of) has there been a better time to get a dog. Think about it: months at home, no commute, no long shifts, just hours every single day where you could put in the training and give your dog calm, neutral exposure to the world.
Seeing people and dogs without having to run over and say hello (remember we all had to stay 2m apart).
Walking through quiet streets where wildlife had reclaimed space — another situation perfect for teaching neutrality.
Building real value in yourself because, let’s face it, you were the main event.
Sure, some things were harder — buses, trains, cafes, crowded spaces — but if you built the right relationship at home and in the real world in your 1 hour a day those things were easier to overcome later on. Granted, teaching separation from your dog was a trickier one to practice but certainly not impossible if you were implementing good crate training structure.
What most dogs actually got
Now, I’m not saying this to slate dog owners. If I’d had my own pup back then, I’d almost definitely have made many of the same choices. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. The point is this: blaming “COVID puppy” for today’s struggles isn’t going to help your dog.
What most of these dogs actually had was a lot of time stuck in the house. That meant they got very good at home life — but anything outside that bubble? Chaos. Barking, lunging, struggling with visitors. That’s not a pandemic problem, that’s a lack-of-exposure problem.
The good news
And here’s the good news: it’s fixable. You can still build the skills, you can still give them the exposure, and you can still get the dog you wanted in the first place. It might take more commitment, and it might take longer, but you absolutely can do it.
So if you’ve got a so-called “COVID puppy” — don’t beat yourself up, but don’t hide behind the excuse either. The best time to train your dog was then. The second-best time is today.
Start by going through the Hub and checking out these posts:
-> Show Me The Marker
-> Under Pressure
-> A Toy Story
-> Co-Opertion
These can give you a really good frame work for how you can start to move forward. And if you need some actual help then get in touch. If you’re not in my area I’ll do my best to guide you to someone who can.