COVID-19 has put a hold on a wide range of social activities for humans, but it hasn鈥檛 changed the need for puppies to mingle as part of their healthy development.

Fortunately for dog owners in the Okanagan, Mya Kondor has found ways to offer puppy training and socialization classes while safely adhering to public health and safety guidelines.

Kondor is the owner and instructor at Canines and Co. in 琉璃神社, where she operates out of a large warehouse in the Landmark area. She brings years of training to her school, which offers a curriculum involving positive, co-operational, play and obedience-based training tailored to each dog and handler.

As Kondor explains, once puppies have received their second round of vaccinations, they鈥檙e ready to begin socializing with other pups.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an important part of their upbringing, to experience being around different sizes of puppies, different temperaments, all at the same age together so that it鈥檚 safe and a good exposure for them,鈥� she said.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Kondor says feedback from class participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Many have said the classes have had a positive impact on their mental health, having provided some much-needed structure to the week for themselves and their pets.

鈥淚t becomes quite a therapeutic thing to do in partnership with your dog, to work together, to have someplace to do that and to focus your direction on learning and growing through training and working with your dog,鈥� she said.

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