Thankfully, technology makes it possible for breeders to interact with and interview potential puppy buyers without ever being face-to-face. Beasley has a video camera on her puppies 24/7 that she can take videos from or invite guests to view. Breeders Getting Creative Around COVID-19 If you do allow the visitors to touch the puppies, it is a good idea to wipe down the pups with canine disinfecting wipes afterward. Families should leave children and grandparents at home. Limit the number of visitors to one or two at a time. Require that everyone uses hand sanitizer or washes hands with soap and water before and after visiting the puppy area. Before anyone comes over, ask them if they have had a fever or any other symptoms associated with COVID-19 or if they have been exposed to it.” It should be an area that is easy to clean and disinfect. “I suggest having a room or area with outside access where visitors can maintain distance while they meet you and see the puppies. “People do not need to walk through your home,” Dr. Fred Askin, a pathologist at the University of North Carolina Medical Center, as well as an AKC Judge and breeder of West Highland White Terriers.

I also did not have them meet the mother and the rest of the litter.”īreeders can still interact with puppy buyers if they use common sense and practical safety measures, according to Dr.

I placed the puppy down so they could pick him up, then I opened the gate so they could carry the puppy to their car. “But this time, I had the family meet me outside. “Usually, I carry the puppy out and put it in their crate in their car,” Skou said. She asked them to bring their own pen to sign the document. Paperwork was completed online so there was only a final contract to sign when the new owners arrived. This time, she modified the routine to minimize contact. Typically, the families would come into her house, complete the paperwork, and then take their puppy. Skou, who is also a breeder, had a litter of puppies ready to go to their homes last week. “I don’t think this is a case of not breeding, but changing the way we normally do things,” said AKC Breeder Field Representative Vanessa Skou. The AKC Marketplace has experienced record-breaking visits in recent weeks as the puppy-seeking public searches for available litters. With a majority of Americans working from home, many families decided it is an opportune time to obtain a new dog. The health crisis has not diminished the desire for puppies. So how do you make sure your pups get the experiences they need?” Today, you don’t want anyone coming to your home. With my last litter, I had 15 to 20 different friends visiting on different nights, so the puppies were exposed to people outside the household. “This is very nervewracking,” Beasley said. *Dog friendly rental filter applied to results

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