How to Keep Your Dog Safe and Calm When Holiday Guests Visit
The holidays are a joyous time for many, but for our canine companions, a house full of new faces, unfamiliar scents, and tempting treats can be a recipe for stress and potential trouble. As responsible pet parents, it's our job to ensure our dogs not only feel safe and loved during this festive period but also stay healthy.
Here's a guide to managing your dog during the holidays when guests are over, with a special focus on keeping those delicious, but dangerous, human foods out of reach.
Preparing for Guests: A Doggone Good Plan
1. Create a Safe Haven: Even the most social dog can get overwhelmed. Designate a quiet room or a comfortable crate as your dog's personal retreat. Equip it with their favorite bed, toys, and a water bowl. Encourage them to use this space before guests arrive so they associate it with positive experiences. This is their sanctuary where they can go to escape the hustle and bustle.
2. Exercise Before the Excitement: A tired dog is a good dog! Before your guests arrive, take your dog for an extra-long walk, a trip to the dog park, or an energetic play session. Burning off some of that excess energy will make them calmer and more likely to relax when the house fills with people.
3. Set Expectations with Guests: When inviting guests, especially those unfamiliar with dogs, let them know your dog's personality and any house rules. For example, if your dog jumps when excited, ask guests to ignore them until they settle. If your dog gets anxious, ask guests to give them space. Children, in particular, should be taught how to interact with your dog safely and respectfully.
Managing Interactions: Pawsitive Encounters
1. Leash Up for Greetings: When guests first arrive, consider keeping your dog on a leash, especially if they are prone to jumping or excessive barking. This allows you to control the initial greetings and prevent your dog from overwhelming new arrivals. Once your dog has calmly greeted everyone, and you feel comfortable, you can release them.
2. Supervise, Supervise, Supervise: Never leave your dog unsupervised with guests, especially children. Even a well-behaved dog can react unexpectedly if startled or cornered. Constant supervision ensures the safety of both your dog and your guests.
3. Teach "Place" or "Settle": If your dog knows commands like "place" (to go to a specific spot) or "settle," use them during dinner or when things get particularly boisterous. This helps reinforce good behavior and keeps them out from underfoot.
The Food Fiasco: Keeping Paws Off the Plate
The holiday season is synonymous with feasts, and while those aromas are irresistible to us, they're even more so to our dogs. Many human foods are toxic or dangerous for dogs, so vigilance is key.
1. Elevate and Secure: This is your golden rule. All food, especially platters of appetizers, dinner plates, and dessert trays, should be placed well out of your dog's reach. Use counters, high tables, or even close off rooms where food is being served if your dog is a known counter-surfer.
2. No Table Scraps – Seriously: Politely but firmly inform your guests that feeding your dog table scraps is absolutely forbidden. Explain that many common holiday foods like onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate, bones (which can splinter), and rich, fatty foods can cause serious health problems, including pancreatitis, blockages, and poisoning.
3. Secure the Trash: Overflowing trash cans filled with food scraps, bones, and wrappers are a treasure trove for curious canines. Use cans with secure lids or place them in a pantry or garage where your dog cannot access them.
4. Watch for Dropped Food: Despite your best efforts, food can fall on the floor. Be quick to clean up any spills immediately. Having a "leave it" command can be incredibly useful here.
5. Provide Dog-Friendly Distractions: To prevent your dog from begging or searching for dropped food, give them their own special holiday treat. A puzzle toy filled with peanut butter (xylitol-free!), a new chew toy, or a long-lasting dental chew can keep them happily occupied while you enjoy your meal.