Unleashing Holiday Joy with Your Pup!”
The holiday season is here, and while it is a time for joy and celebration, it can also present unique challenges for both us and our dogs. We all have certain expectations of how our holidays should be, but sometimes our pets don’t meet these expectations.
I’ve celebrated many Christmases with playful puppies and dogs needing more training in my home.
Last Christmas it was Desiree, a 10-month-old Rottweiler and Labrador mix.
Last year, my tree had barely any ornaments on it.
I put any breakable ornaments at the top of the tree, and the ornaments that were precious to me and breakable were not on the tree. The part I had not anticipated Desiree was running around the house when she bumped into the tree, causing a few of my ornaments to fly off and crash to the floor. As I tried to maneuver Desiree away. She decided it was time to play her favorite game grab something and play keep away. You can imagine my horror when that something was half a glass bulb.
Thankfully, I had already been working on a drop-it with her. After some convincing, she decided to drop it. She was fine, no damage. It must be that Labrador’s soft mouth. You can see where this and other incidents, especially during the holidays, could go very wrong.
As a dedicated dog trainer, my job is to help you both navigate the holidays with ease. So here are some things to consider to be putting into practice ahead of the holidays.
1.** “Sit” and “Stay Calm” Amidst the Chaos:** The holidays are often filled with a flurry of activities, decorations, and guests. As pet parents, it is essential to reinforce basic commands like ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ to help our dogs remain calm and well-behaved during this busy time.
We often expect our dogs to behave in certain ways, but in their enthusiasm, they may forget, or we may not have practiced enough with them to ensure reliable behavior.
2.** Gift-Worthy Manners:** Encourage the gift of good behavior! Reinforcing positive behaviors with treats and praise can go a long way during the season of giving.
3. **Paw-some Holiday Traditions:** Take time to create memorable traditions with your pets. Whether it’s a special holiday walk, a festive photoshoot, or a dog-friendly treat-making session, these activities help us to enjoy the bond we have with our dogs and not just focus on the negatives.
4.** Festive Feasting, Canine Style:** Reminder to be careful about maintaining a balanced diet for dogs during holiday feasts and steering clear of items that may be harmful to them. Keeping temptations out of reach and your dog having a reliable “leave it” command can go a long way to keeping them safe during the holidays.
5. **Doggy Etiquette for Gatherings:** With holiday gatherings in full swing, it’s important for dogs to be well-socialized. I’m happy to share insights on how to introduce dogs to new people and ensure they feel comfortable and stress-free in various social settings. If a dog does not appear comfortable, it’s essential to provide them with a stress-free zone. This can be in another room or a completely separate environment, such as a pet sitter’s house.
6.**Stress-Free Travel Tips:** For families traveling during the holidays, consider how to make the journey enjoyable for your dog. Crate training or place training can provide your dog with a familiar space, helping to reduce travel-related stress. Additionally, don’t wait until the long trip to ensure your dog is comfortable with car rides.
7. **Doggy Needs:** Be sure to bring a beloved toy or introduce a new one to keep your dog occupied and content. Also, pack anything else necessary to keep them comfortable. For example their bed or something that smells like home.
Dogs bring so much Joy to our lives. I think even more so during the holidays.
“It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them.” – John Grogan Marley’s Owner