Holiday Warning

Every year, unknowing dog owners find out the hard way that tinsel and glass ornaments can be dangerous. They learn that dogs shouldn’t eat things like chocolate or poinsettias. For this reason, it’s important that you ask your vet for a list of foods, plants and holiday trimmings that can be hazardous to dogs.

As a trainer, my end of the information spectrum is to talk to owners about preparing their dog (behaviorally) for the strangeness of the holidays and preparing themselves for the extra responsibility of managing a dog during the festivities.

Here are some of the things I worry about…

…a child who is about the same height as your dog walking around with a turkey leg or piece of cheese.

…an owner missing the very apparent signals their dog is giving to inform them that she is stressed, overwhelmed and in desperate need of retreat.

…people in hats, scarves and coats that look very scary to your dog.

…doors being carelessly opened and closed by people who are not accustomed to a dog who might bolt out the door in search of Santa.

…people walking or talking a bit funny due to liberal helpings of holiday punch.

…visitors being knocked over, muddied or scared out of their wits by an over-enthusiastic dog who hasn’t learned to sit when greeting visitors.

…entire meals being ruined by a dog who can’t hardly believe that such a feast has been laid out within reach…just for him!

…a dog being relegated to the bedroom or a crate while the entire house is filled with strange noises and smells.

The list goes on for me. Right after Thanksgiving, I will get a number of phone calls from people who are surprised by their dog’s behavior. I’m always surprised by the owner’s expectations.

Now, if your dog is younger than five months of age, consider yourself extremely fortunate! You have a fantastic opportunity for tons of socialization, if you know how to handle it properly. If your dog is over the age of five months, you might want to give some thought to what your dog has experienced thus far, what your dog can handle, and how well you know how to read your dog.

Imagine how you would deal with ten or twenty people showing up to your home unannounced. Now imagine how you would feel if you’d never met a child, a man in a hat, an elderly woman or Santa…and they all showed up! Take it a step further and imagine that none of these people, including the people you live with, speak your language! A little overwhelming, don’t you think?

Of course none of this will be a problem for the well-socialized, well-mannered, well-understood pet dog. Sadly, those are fewer and farther between than they should be.

With all of the variables…the dog, the kind of celebration you’ll have, the people who will be present…it’s impossible to cover all the bases here. If any of this has raised questions or concerns for you and your situation, I would strongly suggest that you call a qualified trainer today. A qualified trainer can help you tailor your holiday protocol to the needs of your dog(s), your guests and yourself. (To find a trainer, please visit www.apdt.com.)

I would love to hear from dog owners and trainers about their experiences and advice when it comes to dogs and the holidays.