Paws to Think
Tips for a Happy Healthy Pooch During the Holidays:
by Amy Peterson on 11/26/11
The holidays are a busy time of the year and it is easy to overlook our canine companions. We are stressed and our schedules are usually hectic planning for holiday parties, guests or trips away from home. Our dogs often feel this stress and it can be a difficult time of the year for them. Here are some simple tips that will help keep your puppy (or dog) happy and healthy during the holiday season.
1) Make time for your dog. It sounds simple but unless you plan for it, it likely won’t happen. Schedule 30 minutes a day to spend interactive time with your dog. Even the busiest schedules can squeeze in an extra thirty minutes. You don’t even have to leave the house to spend thirty interactive minutes with the family dog. Take your dog for a walk around the block, throw the ball in the backyard or practice trick training in the living room while you watch television.
2) Make sure Fido has a warm place to sleep at night, ideally in the house with the rest of the family. These winter months can get really cold and it is important that you keep your dog warm. If you don’t already have a crate you might consider purchasing one so that your dog can sleep indoors without worrying about them getting into things they shouldn’t.
3) If your pooch isn’t always comfortable having new people come to the house and you plan on having lots of holiday guests, plan ahead. Crates come in handy if your dog is easily stressed by new people and they can keep your dog out of the Christmas dinner. Ask guests to toss your dog a favorite dog treat as they come in the door so that your pooch views guests as a positive thing. If you have a dog that is a little too over the top when new people come to the house keep him on leash. Don’t allow him to jump up on guests by blocking him with the leash and asking him to sit. Ask your guests not to pet the dog if he is jumping up on them. Make sure you reinforce good behavior with lots of pets, praise and treats. It also may be helpful if you ask guest to ignore the dog for the first 15 minutes after they arrive. This gives your dog some time to settle down and acclimate to the new people in the house.
4) Watch your dog around the dinner table, kitchen and anywhere else there might be tempting treats for him to eat. The best idea is to train your dog a “leave it command” before the holidays begin but if you haven’t already done that supervision is the safest bet. Utilize the crate, baby gates and doors to keep the dog away from holiday food. Many of the foods we enjoy can be highly toxic to our pets. Keep an emergency veterinarian’s number handy just in case you pet consumes something that could be toxic.
5) Watch the Christmas tree! Christmas trees can present a whole host of dangerous and problems for families with dogs. Many trees are toxic to dogs because of the flame retardant spray that is used on them. Christmas decorations can be very inviting for some dogs to eat or chew on and if ingested can be fatal. Presents, especially gifts that contain edible items (chocolate) can be very tempting even for the most well behaved dog. Some male dogs may think the tree is an indoor urinal (don’t laugh it happened to me one year when I lived with roommates). Consider putting your tree in a room with doors that close. If that isn’t an option you might consider purchasing an exercise pen (sold at most pet stores) and putting it around the tree to prevent the dog from accessing all the temptations. Baby gates can also be used to block the dog’s access to a room with a tree.
I hope these holiday tips will make it just a little easier for you and your family this holiday season!
