Alexandria, VA – As the holiday season approaches, excitement and glee fill the air. We spend time with family and friends, preparing and savoring traditional comfort foods, indulging in holiday libations, and reveling in the sights and sounds of the season. This time of year can be both enjoyable and stressful. Dogs are particularly vulnerable to holiday stressors because they can’t prepare for many of the things that come with the season. There may be an influx of new visitors, including small children, and unfamiliar sights and sounds. While holiday decorations make our homes festive, extra precautions should be taken to keep dogs safe around ornaments, plants, and foods that can be dangerous to them.
Manners and Life Skills: Dogs, Holiday Guests, and the Ham
Your guests will appreciate a dog with good manners. A dog that can politely navigate these holiday activities is a joy to behold. But not all dogs are there yet, and some may not even want to interact with the guests. Managing their environment to set them up for success is key. Don’t risk your holiday ham or sweet potato pie by leaving them within your dog’s reach. When food is involved, dogs can jump pretty high and far.
Here are some tips to follow to keep your four-legged family members safe and happy during this holiday season:
- Create a “safe zone” for the dog. Practice and reinforce calm behavior on the other side of a baby gate or in a room away from the commotion for a few weeks prior, so they can be happy observing the party without being a part of it. Kids running around, doorbells ringing, and strangers coming and going can be stressful for your pet.
- Engage your dog in some mental and physical exercise before your guests arrive. “A tired dog is a good dog!”
- Prepare some frozen Kongs and stock up on chews. Before you sit down at the holiday table, filled with all sorts of wonderful smells and goodies, designate a place for your dog to go so they can enjoy their own smorgasbord.
- Always supervise interactions between your dog and children to ensure their safety. Safety first!
- Instruct children on how to interact with your dog. Many dogs dislike being hugged or patted on the head. Provide a safe and comfortable space for them away from the kids.
- Interactive food puzzles and treat-dispensing toys can keep your dog occupied and relaxed while your guests enjoy some holiday cheer or ring in the New Year. Challenge your dog’s ability to problem-solve and lessen his boredom while you’re attending to your guests.
- Trash cans filled with turkey bones or other foodstuffs can be very tempting to your dog. After all, they are scavengers and resourceful animals. Keep them out of reach or use a trash can with a locking lid.
- Keep small toys, wrapping paper, tinsel, ornament hooks, out of your dog’s reach. Since dogs use their noses and mouths to investigate everything, prevention is truly the best medicine.
- Dogs can be overly interested in the lovely evergreen tree sitting in your living room. Consider placing an exercise pen or barrier around it to keep it out of their reach. Neither broken ornaments nor knocked-over trees will add to your holiday cheer.
The holidays can be an excellent time to reconnect with family and friends. Your dog is part of your family, and they can certainly partake in some of those festivities. Follow these tips, and you can set your dog up for success and keep them safe during the holidays.
Wholistic Hound Academy wishes you and your canine companions a very safe and happy holiday season!
Sandy Modell, CPDT-KA, is the Founder, Owner, and Head of Training of Wholistic Hound Academy, Alexandria’s award-winning, premier canine training and learning center — offering classes and private lessons in puppy training, adolescent and adult foundation and life skills, behavior modification, agility, nose work, dog sports, and fitness, babies/kids and dogs, and pre-pet planning and selection. Classes are starting soon! Visit www.wholistichound.com to enroll in our programs, like us on Facebook.com/wholistichound, and follow us on Instagram at Instagram.com/wholistichound.
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