Planning a wonderful, memorable get-together with family or friends this holiday season? Worrying if your dog will behave around great-aunt Suzie? Worry not! Here are some tips to ensure your dog stays on Santa’s nice list this holiday season:
Just as you would never try out a new hair style on the day of a major event, you may not appreciate discovering at the last minute how well (or poorly) your dog behaves when your guests arrive dressed in their holiday finest. If you’re not sure how your dog will react, it might be a good idea to rehearse arrivals with a neighbor or local friend ahead of time. That way you’ll have plenty of time to polish your dog’s manners before your long-lost sister-in-law arrives with her new kitten, Pipsqueak--just in case your dog thinks she looks like fun to chase around the house.
While you’re deliberating on what ingredients to buy for the holiday meal, don’t forget to make sure your dog’s “pantry” is full as well. Stock up on long-lasting consumables and treats, such as frozen Kongs, bully sticks or pig’s ears, to help your dog settle quickly when guests arrive. This gives you the added benefit of keeping him out of trouble while you’re entertaining your guests. Dogs enjoy working on chew toys in the same way you or I would get engrossed in a good book or movie.
If your dog has never seen holiday decorations before, she may think they look like a tasty snack! It’s a good idea to set up your decorations several weeks in advance, and place a pen or gate between your dog and the tree or other decorations, and let your dog get used to these being around. Otherwise Fifi may decide to help herself to the presents under the tree early if not carefully supervised! Providing your dog with more interesting and meaningful things to do, such as rousing games of tug with her own toys, may help mitigate her interest in the holiday décor and allow the tinsel and candy canes to lose their novelty.
The old adage, “a tired dog is a good dog,” has stood the test of time for a reason – it’s generally very true, particularly for young dogs or high energy breeds. Consider taking your dog for an off-leash romp through the woods or give them a chance to blow off steam at the dog park earlier in the day before important events such as your guests’ arrival, a big family dinner, or the exchange of gifts. Or send the dog and the kids out to the backyard to play in the snow while you’re baking the pie – they’ll wear each other out and come in tired and hungry!
If you really want to impress your guests, here are a few training exercises you can practice ahead of time with your dog to help him be on his best behavior for the big day. Teach Sparky to sit when greeting people at the front door so he isn’t knocking over your three-year old niece. Stash treats by the door so that when the doorbell rings you can ask him to sit and stay. When he does, reward him with a treat for a job well done! Another useful skill is teaching your dog how to stay on his bed during dinner. This prevents him from drooling on your guests’ laps and possibly scoring some of Aunt Sally’s stuffing. The easiest way to train this habit is to give him a special, long-lasting chew toy, such as a stuffed frozen Kong or a bully stick, after he lays down on his bed. “Leave it” is another super handy cue for those times when guests are milling about with a drink in one hand and a cookie in the other to prevent Lassie from jumping up to nab the cookie. And lastly, train a cute trick such as offering a paw to “shake” or rolling over to “play dead” to amuse your guests and give your dog a fun way to participate in the festivities. These are skills your dog can learn at home with the help of a private trainer, or through training classes if you’re planning in advance!
This was co-written by Maria Karunungan & Megan O’Hara. A version of this ‘blog was published in the quarterly magazine 4 Legs & a Tail, Northern VT & New Hampshire edition, Nov 19, 2018.