If your family’s got puppy fever, you’re not
alone! Animal shelters have been reporting
an increase in puppy adoptions since the start
of the coronavirus pandemic in March. And
with all of that extra time at home, experts
say it’s the perfect time for many families to
adopt a dog.

“Puppies need a lot of attention, so it’s
really helpful for them to have all of that
one-on-one time with their new family,” says
Chelsea Jones of the Animal Welfare League
of Arlington (AWLA) in Virginia.

It takes an average of 10 weeks to house
train a puppy, and you’ll need to walk it every
one to two hours (yes, really!) in the begin-
ning. You’ll also need plenty of time to teach
the puppy house rules, to socialize it with
family members and other pets, and to teach
it not to bark incessantly or chew up your
favorite shoes. And, during the coronavirus
pandemic, you’ll need to create an emergency
plan for who will take the puppy if you fall ill.

You should also ask yourself whether you
can afford a puppy. You’ll need to buy toys,
food, a crate, a leash and other necessities.

Then there are the adoption fees, shots and
other initial medical expenses.

“The first and last year of a pet’s life are
usually the most expensive,” says Jones. “The
first year generally costs $1,500 to $3,000,
Make Social
Distancing More Fun
with a
and the average monthly cost is anywhere
from $100 to $300.”
Still want to bring home a pandemic
puppy? Here are the steps you should take:
ADOPT, DON’T SHOP
The best (and cheapest) way to adopt a puppy
is from a pet rescue or animal shelter. That’s
because many pet stores and breeders get
their dogs from puppy mills, which mistreat
the animals. (If you’re intent on buying a pup
from a breeder, visit the Humane Society’s
website for information on how to find a
responsible one.)
Though some shelters have halted adop-
tions during the pandemic, many have
not—and they’ve come up with creative
ways to help families find the perfect pup.

They’re setting up Zoom or FaceTime
calls between dogs and potential owners.

They’re offering curbside adoptions and
socially distant backyard meetings. And
they’re doing more in-depth “matchmak-
ing” by asking families lots of questions
and choosing a dog for them based on their
personalities and lifestyles.

“There’s a good chance that a family will
end up with a really good fit during this
time because they’re getting more guidance,
rather than just picking a puppy because it’s
cute,” says Jones.

Puppies need
a lot of attention,
so it’s really
helpful for them
to have all of that
one-on-one time
with their
new family.

12 Washington FAMILY MAY 2020



©iStockphoto.com/Eriklam
PUPPY-PROOF YOUR HOME
Remember baby proofing your house before
bringing home your newborn? You’ll need
to do the same for your puppy. Store cables
and wires out of reach, keep small objects
and other items you don’t want your pup
to chew off the floor, and keep plants away
unless you’re sure they’re not toxic to dogs.

You’ll also need to create a safe, non-car-
peted space for your puppy to stay in the
beginning. “When you first bring a puppy home it
should not have full access to your house, or
you’ll be finding pee and poop in weird places
for months,” says Jones.

The puppy’s space could be a gated off
kitchen, a den or any other high traffic area of
the home. Make sure there are plenty of toys,
food and water there. Once the puppy starts
learning the house rules and getting the hang
of house training, you can give it access to
larger portions of your home.

PREPARE YOUR CHILDREN
You’ll need to teach your kids how to appro-
priately interact with the new pup. For
toddlers, that includes the basics like not hit-
ting or pushing the dog. Older kids should be
taught not to kiss or hug the puppy and not to
bother it when it’s eating or sleeping.

“Any animal, when it’s in a vulnerable posi-
tion, can get scared when someone sneaks up
on it or invades its space,” warns Jones.

GET HELP WITH TRAINING
Though in-person puppy training classes
are canceled for the time being, you don’t
need to go it alone. The place from which
you adopt your puppy will give you advice
and materials on how to train using positive
reinforcement and rewards. Your veteri-
narian will also have resources available.

And many places, including the AWLA, are
now offering online classes via Zoom and
other apps.

PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
Don’t forget that you and your kids will
eventually return to work and school, so
you’ll need to have a plan for when that
happens. Find and hire a dog walker now,
and start getting your dog used to being
away from you so he won’t experience
separation anxiety. Put the puppy in its
safe space and leave for 15 minutes. Raise
the time limit incrementally until the dog
can be left alone for a few hours without
barking or destroying things.

“Puppies need to learn to be independent
and to self soothe,” says Jones.

If you do get a new puppy during the
coronavirus pandemic, we’d love to see him
or her. Share a photo on Instagram using
#washingtonfamilymag and we may feature it
on our page! n
By Jennifer Marino Walters
WashingtonFAMILY.com 13