| Dogs and the Holidays These days, most of us consider our dogs to be true family members. This means that our pups may even join us for our holiday celebrations. It’s great to include our four-legged friends in the festivities, but there are some things to consider while getting ready for this crazy time of the year. Many of us fill our schedules with holiday parties. Some, we even host. So what is Fluffy going to do during these parties? If the party is at your house, is Fluffy comfortable with lots of strange, jolly people in her space? Make sure that this won’t stress her out too much. A dog that is uncomfortable may hide all night or worse, snap at someone. Make sure that you know your dog. If he or she stresses easily, maybe it would be a good idea to keep her in a safe place. Maybe put her crate and some great toys stuffed with food treats in a back bedroom for the evening. If you can’t do that, maybe kennel her at a boarding kennel that she is used to, for the day. If your pup is a social butterfly, then by all means, let her join in the fun. Will you be going to someone else’s house for a holiday get-together? Many people love to bring their dogs’ where ever they go. I know I like to have my furry friend with me as much as possible. Maybe you’re considering bringing Fluffy to the Smith’s holiday extravaganza. Have you called ahead to ask Mr. and Mrs. Smith? That’s always the first thing to do. Will there be other dogs, (possibly the Smiths’ dogs) there? Do they all get along? Will the other guests be ok with Fluffy there? Will there be kids and if so what ages? Many of these questions may be obvious, but they need to be considered carefully. Lastly, how does your pup do in new environments? If you have any doubt in any of these areas, leave Fluffy home. Now that we’ve talked about holiday party etiquette, let’s talk about other things either at these parties or in our own home that we should be concerned with. There are many dangerous items that come out during the holidays. We bring large trees into the house, put them in little stands and then decorate them with lights and ornaments. Some of those ornaments might look just like a toy to your dog. If your dog grabs a hold of one, he could bring the whole tree down on top of him. Make sure that breakable items get either left in the box or put up high on the tree. Tinsel can be toxic to your dog and could cause intestinal blockage if swallowed. My advice would be to leave the tinsel for someone else’s tree. How about the lights? Electric cords are notorious good eats for dogs. Watch that they are put out of reach and watch your dog around the tree. A few other common holiday treats, which could be deadly if Fluffy swallows them, are: Poinsettias, chocolate and raisins…keep that fruit cake out of reach! Ok, one last holiday topic. Is it ever a good idea to get a dog as a gift? Absolutely not! That cute little puppy with the big red bow sitting under the tree will get bigger! So you say the kids wanted a puppy. You do realize that you will be taking care of this cute bugger after the novelty wears off. Do YOU want a dog? A dog that will be with you for upwards of 15 years? Do you want to feed him, train him and pay for all his needs? Do you have time for a puppy? The kids won’t be taking care of him. On another slightly different note, it’s never a good idea to get someone else a dog as a gift. Maybe a loved one just lost their sweet Lassie of 16 years. Don’t take it upon yourself to decide if they are ready for another one or not. They may never be ready. It’s not your place to decide. I’ve seen this type of thing backfire more than once. So, on that note, have a wonderful holiday season with your whole family, including Fluffy and Lassie. Many warm thoughts and cold noses to you all. Andrea DiMaio, canine behavior specialist |
