Since the onslaught of Covid-19, stay at home orders, social distancing, and everything else in-between, I haven't been doing much with Zeus in the form of socializing. Granted, he's 2 years old and we did a ton of socialization from the moment we got him up until March of this year, but it's been months of mostly him and me (and my husband once the university shut down) hanging out at home. No group obedience classes. No meeting up with friends. No going to the mall or stores to practice calmly walking with distractions. I was nervous to even take him to PetSmart when picking up dog food.
I'm still wanting him to become a therapy dog at some point, and there are things he still needs to work on. He's gotten WAY better at not barking at dogs that enter a room (he never had issues with barking at dogs outside.. it's only when he's inside and another one enters), but he still has goofs. I know Pet Partners is super strict, and I want to continue working on that problem specifically .. but I'm still wary about bringing him places to practice. I don't think there's been cases of dogs getting sick, but I know /I/ feel completely contaminated when I have to go out to the store or someplace, and that's with a mask. Zeus is totally naked (so to speak) so I feel like every step he takes and every little thing he'll sniff at is a chance for him to pick up a virus.
Am I being too paranoid?
I'm still wanting him to become a therapy dog at some point, and there are things he still needs to work on. He's gotten WAY better at not barking at dogs that enter a room (he never had issues with barking at dogs outside.. it's only when he's inside and another one enters), but he still has goofs. I know Pet Partners is super strict, and I want to continue working on that problem specifically .. but I'm still wary about bringing him places to practice. I don't think there's been cases of dogs getting sick, but I know /I/ feel completely contaminated when I have to go out to the store or someplace, and that's with a mask. Zeus is totally naked (so to speak) so I feel like every step he takes and every little thing he'll sniff at is a chance for him to pick up a virus.
Am I being too paranoid?