I’ve had a hard time filling my classes lately, so I started doing some investigating. While there were many reasons for people not going to class right now, the H1N1 scare was mentioned more frequently than anything else.
I’m one to generally not get all worried about such things, take some common sense precautions and go on with life. However, I do understand a little better some of the hyper-cautiousness of some of my clients this time around because of my own situation. I have one daughter who is high-risk because she is under 25, and she’s attending a large college full of others her age. My other daughter is just 25 and she’s pregnant. My husband is an insulin dependent diabetic. So, with all these potential risks for a more serious result upon contracting the flu, I am being careful!
That said, I am also worried about those puppies and adolescents whose socialization might be cut short due to this human health concern. We already know that there are ample excuses for not socializating our puppies and dogs. If it weren’t already a problem, Dr. Dunbar wouldn’t have written about the Common Excuses for Not Socialization Your Puppy.
I certainly don’t want anyone to take risks that might jeopardize their health. However, when it comes to puppies, lack of socialization is often a death sentence. While we MIGHT get the flu if we’re not careful, our puppies absolutely WILL suffer from a lack of socialization.
So, I would say we handle this in the same way we’ve always handled the potential risk of puppy illness. We take all the necessary precautions to avoid what might happen, in order to continue the work of preventing what will happen!
Puppy class instructors are already quite familiar with keeping things clean and as germ/disease free as possible. In fact, most of us have always had plenty of hand sanitizer in our training areas! Since we instructors need to stay healthy, too, you can bet we’re already paying extra attention to surfaces that human’s touch, as well as the dogs. Your potential instructor should be able to explain to you their cleaning/sanitation procedures.
Students simply need to do what they’re probably already doing. Don’t come to class if you’re sick. Cover your coughs and sneezes. Wash hands often and use hand sanitizer.
Maybe instructors will have to provide more options for make-up classes in the case of illness. Maybe kids will need some extra supervision and direction in class. Maybe those in high risk groups will have to find someone else to take their puppy to class, or wait to get a new puppy until they are in a position to provide for proper socialization.
My fear is that when the flu season has passed, I will be blogging endlessly about the flood of under-socialized adolescent dogs coming through my doors. Of course, only the lucky will come through my doors, the others will be going through shelter doors.
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Silly people... things being
Silly people... things being what they are, if you didn't get a flu shot, you're likely to get some flu. If you did, you still might get the flu anyway. If you didn't get the swine flu shot yet, that might be the one you get. Having just gotten over swine flu, the big difference is that you are more likely to realize you have the flu earlier on than if you had the regular flu.
What an interesting
What an interesting coorelation! It could be possible that the swine flu (and canine ful) scare is keeping some people home. It's been my experience that inconsistent attendance in classes is typical this time of year as the holidays approach. I just had one of my puppy parents email and say they were too busy right now to come to class and would start back up in January. I'm sure they were expecting me to say, "ok," but instead I gently reminded them that January is 2 months away and their puppy would be nearing the end of the critical socialization period by that time and it would be such a shame to put "Misty" at such a disadvantage. Needless to say they will be attending class tonight! :)
Director of Training and Behavior Counseling Pup 'N Iron Host of Dog Sports and Performance Network on Pet Life Radio
Depends where you live
Traditionally, I have very full classes this time of year. This is the rainy season around here and dogs get stuck inside a lot more, so dog owners are looking for things to do indoors.
Glad you got that pup into class in time!
~ Cindy Bruckart, CPDT-KA
Rainy season!
Ain't that the truth! It has been raining almost non-stop here (northern Virginia) for the past two weeks, but unlike the Pacific Northwest, the folks here aren't used to that! So it's keeping them inside. Folks here don't even like driving in it. But I was referring moreso to the hustle bustle holiday season. Typically class attendance gets sketchy when people are trying to squeeze in family, school, work and social obligations. The good thing is it picks up big time in January!
Director of Training and Behavior Counseling Pup 'N Iron Host of Dog Sports and Performance Network on Pet Life Radio
Hello and a brief comment
Hello, I"m new here. Influenza viruses are a second passion with me. So, I have a couple of comments about swine H1N1 influence on attendance at puppy classes.
I have had lower attendance lately, but it's not new - it's since the economy tanked. So, I question whether H1N1 is having that big an impact. If my students are not coming to class because they are sick, then that's a good thing. We don't know the risk factors of the other humans in our classes. So, caution is advised and considerate at least.
But, there is another risk that is not a part of general public knowledge. Dogs can become infected with human influenza viruses. They include the 'seasona' H3N2 and seasonal H1N1 strains. There are also verified reports of dogs becoming infected with H5N1 and cats being infected by swine H1N1 - by their owners. In that case, puppies are susceptible to becoming infected by their owners, or other humans.
So, I would advise that if you are ill with influenza like symptoms you take care that your puppy is not infected. And, also, stay home take, care of yourself, and please don't share yourself with other owners or their puppies.
Just my humble and amateur opinion - Chuck