The holiday season can introduce many unique challenges for a family with a dog. If it is that you are hosting holiday guests or visiting relatives during the season, issues and stresses always tend to arise. These can affect your family and your dog. Routines, schedules, and activities become less predictable and this can cause anxiety in your canine companion. You will want to avoid any significant incidents, such as a relative or child being bitten due to your dog’s increased stress. You can be proactive with your dog’s successful behaviors by implementing a holiday action plan.
The following are some tips in our two-part series for helping your dog cope during the holidays.
Plan Ahead Before Bringing Your Dog to Family Gatherings
If you will likely stay with relatives over the holidays, you might consider bringing your dog along.
Ask yourself, does he get stressed around new people or when he is in a new situation? What is his history with being around young children with whom he is unfamiliar? Does your host have any pets who dwell indoors? How does your dog get along with unfamiliar animals?
If you know that your dog will have difficulties being around other pets, young children, or new people in general, and have him stay home with a certified dog sitter or at a reputable boarding facility. This option can relieve your stress and ensure your dog’s well-being while you are away.
Be a Well-Prepared Host
If you will be the host of this year’s family holiday festivities, it’s crucial to have plans in place long before any guests arrive. This proactive approach will make the holidays a much more pleasant experience for your dog and will make you feel responsible and in control. When creating your plan, ask yourself – will it be best to keep my dog in a separate, calm part of the house until all of our guests are settled in? How will I introduce him to children or adults he has not met?
Even if he has met your guests previously, this will still be an exciting time.
An example of your plan might include settling your guests in while your dog is in a more secluded area of your house, making sure he is on a leash when being introduced to new guests.
Allowing your guests to give your dog special treats for keeping his paws on the ground or sitting, or letting him play with a food dispensing toy to keep him occupied.
Preparing several projects or “chores” for your dog to work on to remain mentally stimulated throughout the large holiday meals is wise.
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