The holidays can be a magical (i.e. stressful) time for all of us. Our homes are full of family, food, and chaos! We are rapidly making preparations and trying to juggle a lot of things at the last minute. If you have a new dog in the house, you have even more on your mind. Here a few tips to make sure your holidays are safe and happy for your new bundle of fur:
1.) Meeting the family - If your pup isn't used to new people in his house, the holidays are a trial by fire. The best way for your dog to meet the family is outside of the house on leash. When your family arrives, take him outside and tell your family to ignore him. They may not listen but it's best if you try anyway. Allow your pup to sniff everyone. Many dogs are not comfortable with strangers who rapidly approach them and start touching them. Imagine if you were walking down the street and a group of strangers surrounded you and start petting your head. You wouldn't feel comfortable at all! (Well, maybe some of you would, but that's a different article.) Now, when your dog has finished greeting, feel free to usher everyone inside and take him off leash. Introducing your pup outside on leash not only makes you in control of the situation but helps calm any undiscovered territorial issues your dog might have. And always make sure there is a place in your home that your dog can retreat to and not be disturbed. Just like we need little breaks from family, your dog needs them too!
2.) No feeding from the table - Again, you may have some trouble enforcing this with your family. Do your best. Holiday food is loaded with things that dogs can't digest. Some of them are even toxic. Don't keep a bowl of chocolates anywhere your dog might be able to reach and when you are finished chopping onions, bury them in the trash. In fact, now is the best time to invest in a garbage can that your dog can't open. You are going to be busy with other things and probably won't notice that furry head in the trash.
3.) Put a sign on your door - The noise and influx of people can be scary to new dogs and some of them try to make a run for it! On the inside of all your exterior doors, put a sign that says "Keep Door Shut". You might feel like this is a bit extreme, but Uncle Fred is not going to remember to shut the door after his second glass of wine. With a sign, your family will always be reminded. The last thing you want to do is spend Christmas Eve roaming the streets with a flashlight screaming "Buford!!!"
4.) Watch the kids - Children love animals and the little ones need to be shown the correct way to pet a dog. Toddlers love to slap and pull tails. That doesn't go over so well with dogs. Since your dog is most comfortable with you, it should be you who shows the kids how to respectfully pet your dog. Hold their hands and invite them to pet your pup on the chest and shoulders. Don't allow them to reach over top of your pup's head or pet the hind quarters. This can be unnerving to your dog. Always monitor any interaction between your dog and children. If your dog looks anxious, becomes very still, or shows any signs of aggression, it is best to remove him from the situation and put him in another room for the time being.
5.) Keep decorations out of your pup's reach - If your dog is going to act out destructively, the holidays are a prime motivator. Dogs feed off the energy around them and if things are chaotic, they need to calm themselves. One of the ways they do this is by chewing. Some dogs also chew on things they aren't supposed to in order to receive attention. Keep Christmas lights, ornaments, and tinsel out of doggie reach. You might even keep your Xmas presents away from the tree until Christmas Eve. And remember to keep doors to your guest room closed. You don't want Squiggles running through the house with Grandma's underwear. But then again, if he does, it'll make a great story!
