Socialisation outside the 16 week window/LOCKDOWN

[Apachepony]

We’re getting a puppy, booked before I knew how bad the start of 2021 would be . Even worse I got muddled with dates so is a couple of weeks younger than I thought (will be 8 weeks this weekend). We’re currently restricted to within 5km of our house (increasingly enforced with fines), the schools won’t be back til mid March EARLIEST, I’ve no hope of introducing the puppy to my large extended family nor of puppy classes...the breed is known to be shy of strangers if insufficiently socialised! I’m getting so stressed I almost feel like forfeiting the deposit. Luckily we have buses, trains, beach, lots and lots of walking people and dogs, woodland, playgrounds within the 5km. Childminder comes to the house. Delivery men. Can meet one household outside for exercise, DH has one friend with a dog. Children in our house. Puppy brought up in country (where my family Is), I’ll be socialising to the city. Will try to push everyone out of the house for increasing periods to get puppy used to being alone (don’t know where to go though!) Will it be enough? And will it be v difficult to get puppy used to school runs, dog friendly cafes, puppy classes, big groups visiting our house, seeing group sports etc after 16 weeks?

Socialisation is life long. With dogs it’s a use it or lose it thing. So the good news is that yes, you can continue to introduce new experiences after 16 weeks.
Once he is ready to go out, take him out at busy times, past the kids playground, busy streets, whatever . Get him used to the squeals and noises.
Oh and find some hi-vis jackets for him to see. My dog freaked at them for a while, such that I used to sit in one in the evenings to overcome this. 😂

This local, well respected, behaviourist is currently in the process of socialising her new collie puppy through lockdown, and is doing lots of videos. They're very sensible, and worth watching! www.facebook.com/TheMuttyProfessor

Its a case of exposing your dog as much as possible to things when your out with him.

Just make sure your dog sees, smells, hears and walks on as many things, smells, noises and surfaces as possible. Get him used to bikes, lorries, cellar gratings, gravel, trains, pushchairs, sirens, exhaust fumes, as many different people as possible.