Holidays are supposed to be FUN, Right?
Holidays, with their non-routine nature, have many related experiences, objects, and interactions that are novel (new, strange, unfamiliar, unpredictable, unexpected, highly stimulating). Acclimatizing dogs to accept novelty without stress is the function of good socialization. However, with adolescents, whether newly acquired, or seeing the holiday season for the first time, holidays can be a test of socialization, rather than a deliberate learning experience. Couple this with the fatigued owner who may not have given the typical walking, exercise, or play routine, and we have a recipe for potential disaster!
"I could have told you that..." and "I'm not that surprised that..." are my 2 least favorite things to say to clients. Dog trainers know that November thru January is busy season. Dog owners with 20/20 hindsight (they and their dogs already made the mistakes in the past) also know that the holidays have potential for "incidents".
Check out my blog at http://mswhisperer.blogspot.com tomorrow for more of my thoughts on the effect of holidays -- the whys and hows.
- Trainers, what are your best tips and tricks for preparing for smooth, pleasant holiday experiences? (Or, if you are willing, your own "should have known better" tales!)
- Any owners with 20/20 hindsight care to share their (perhaps expensively earned) wisdom? What happened and how you could have been better prepared?
- New or uncertain owners, did you know you should have some holiday-related concerns? What were they before you started thinking about this? What are they now?
