SPRING 2021 BLOG POST: Quarantine Pups

When sitting at home with one’s own family became excruciatingly boring, nothing seemed like a better
idea than to get a new addition. A puppy! Several TC students and their families took on this chore during
quarantine and wouldn’t change a thing.

When a puppy grows up in an unusual environment, it may be hard when they’re let into a more real
world. For many of these families, their new dogs spent their first several months doing everything with
their people. The only new humans they ever really came across were neighbors.

When they finally started meeting more new people at home or out and about, they all had very different
reactions. Even puppies adopted more recently have interesting personalities and behavioral tendencies.

Juliet Smith, junior, added the cutest little goldendoodle to her family for Christmas last year. When her
family first got the new puppy, Sugar, she described her as “very docile and sleepy” which she found very
surprising because she was expecting her to have a ton of energy.

“When Sugar meets new people she is typically shy and weary at first, especially since during quarantine
she hasn’t been able to go out and meet very many people,” Smith said. Sugar starts acting more like a
usual puppy (playful, interactive, and gentle) once she gets used to someone.

Like Juliet, Zavion Woldu, junior, got a puppy a bit more recently. Kane is a two month old chocolate
colored Pitbull who’s very smart and playful with Zavion’s other dogs. Having those other dogs to learn
from, Kane has developed a lot of their tendencies.

“After being in the crate for a while, he’s excited to get out when we go near his cage,” Woldu said.

Kane loves being with his people, but unlike Juliet’s puppy Sugar, he’s instantly playful with new
humans and gets super excited.

The last new quarantine puppy owner is Abbie Holland, junior. Her new furry friend, Ollie, is a nine
month old goldendoodle. When Abbie’s family adopted him at the end of June, he was very sleepy,
similar to Juliet’s goldendoodle.

“He hates to be separated from his family but loves playing with other dogs and people once he gets used
to them,” Holland said. The behavior of both Sugar and Ollie seem very similar, this could be due to their
similarity in breed.

Smith, Waldu and Holland all agree that their dogs love being around their families and get sort of
anxious when they’re separated from them. Meeting new people has been inconsistent among the three,
but it’s easily understandable that a dog adopted in a time of isolation will have different reactions when
finally meeting new people. Quarantine pups just need a little bit of extra love.