The holiday season is upon us!

Do you have a plan to help your dogs through it?

Did you know the holiday season is a VERY busy time for Veterinarians? Why?

• Dogs getting into the trash on Thanksgiving/Christmas and eating cooked bones, foil, strings that were used to hold meat together and so on, leading to obstructions or illness

• Dogs stealing food unsafe for them to eat (onions, chocolate, xylitol, etc)

• Dogs with pancreatitis from being fed too much fat

• Dogs with Intestinal issues from eating rich foods they are not used to that you or your guests feed them, or they steal from counters, tables, etc.

• Dogs getting loose when guests leave doors open long enough for dogs to slip out then getting injured

• Dogs getting into fights with each other over high value food

• Dogs getting into fights with visiting dogs

In addition to medical issues as a training professional I see a big uptake in behavioral issues during the holidays, why?

• The holidays are OFTEN when STRANGER DANGER starts for young dogs!!! The sudden uptake of strangers coming into their homes, often at night, and as we all know often family members are the worst at listening to us when we ask them to leave the dog alone that is worried. I cannot tell you how many times I hear “It all started when my brother (uncle, sister, etc) started laughing and chasing him when he barked at them, because they thought it was funny”. I give you permission to tackle your relatives chasing your puppies ;)

• Counter surfing is often first learned during holidays when people without dogs are in your home and don’t know not to leave salami on the coffee table and walk away, or there are just so many people and so much food you don’t see them going for it.

• Early dark nights, bad weather can combine to lead to less exercise for your dog, coupled with you leaving for holiday parties can lead to destructive behaviors when they get bored and lonely.

• More knocks on the door from Amazon/parcel deliveries increasing trigger stacking dogs.

• Having to deal with visiting animals your dog may not get along with, or on the flip side they do, but get over aroused and struggle with manners being excited by their playmate.

PLAN FOR THESE POTENTIAL ISSUES AND YOU CAN AVOID THESE COMMON ISSUES AND HAVE AN ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH YOUR DOG

• Have baby gates, crates or pens ready during meal times if your dog doesn’t know how to “place” during holiday meals to keep them away from the table

• Take your dogs for decompression walks before and after gatherings

• Prepare dog safe food toys and puzzles for them to enjoy during meals

• Put a leash by the door to help keep your dog inside during arrivals (which also helps you work on greeting behaviors (or use a baby gate to keep them out of the room people arrive in and let the dogs in the room after everyone is inside

• Have dog safe treats your guests can give your dogs so they don’t give them things they should not eat (this also helps prevent stranger danger by having treats people who your pup is worried about can toss to them) Give them a behavior to reinforce and have them train your dogs for you ;)

• Have time out spots away from all the activity available if your pup is overwhelmed

• Put signs on your door asking delivery drivers not to knock (put out some candy for them by the sign as R+ works on people too)

• Introduce visiting dogs and your dogs on a paralell walk or neutral space and use management around food and toys to prevent squabbles.

• Have a stranger danger pup? You can do the above paralell walks with people as well, if your dog likes to play, play triangle fetch having visitors toss toys, dog brings toy to you, you give toy back to the person to throw again. Have DO NOT PET zones and clear instructions on when and if someone should interact with your dog. Do NOT give the go ahead until you see your dog inviting interaction (remember investigation is not greeting, wait for happy loose bodies and solicting affection behaviors)

• Keep ALL unsafe foods well out of reach NO MATTER how good they have always been about it!!!

• Put your trash up, outside, in a room the dog cannot access or with a locking lid.

Homework:

WRITE A GRATITUDE LIST ABOUT YOUR DOG! SHARE IT WITH ME ON THE FACEBOOK GROUP.