2011 December

We may not want to lock our pets away in a separate room or a crate, and we don’t necessarily have to, when we have options.  Training all year long is recommended so your pets are used to strangers and children.  You can work with a trainer, or self educate by reading dog training blogs and books.  Plus I am always here to answer any questions you may have.  During the festivities though, be sure your pets have a safe, quiet place to escape to when they need to.  If your pet is an escape artist and tends to dart out the door, then definitely put them in a separate room until all your guests have arrived or the trick-or-treating is done.

If your dog is overly excited when new people visit and tend to jump, and working with a trainer is not an option, then the best solution is to separate them until the excitement of everyone arriving is over.  Another option to calm excited or anxious pets is to give them some Rescue Remedy or Pet Calm, which calms your pets naturally with chamomile, lavender, and other calming herbs.  The Thundershirt is also a great, new pressure wrap that applies a gentle, constant pressure on a dog’s torso. The Thundershirt is like a constant, calming hug for your dog!

Inviting guests over prior to the party to introduce them to your pets properly would help with the anxiety as well.  This will help teach your dog how to introduce themselves to newcomers and to learn not to jump and get overly excited.  Also, provide plenty of socialization by bringing your dogs to the dog park and taking them for walks.  This gets them used to being around other people, children and other dogs.

Most of us like to have the occasional adult beverage during the holidays…whether it is wine, beer, non alcoholic beer, egg nog, or an Irish Coffee, some of us like to unwind with a drink at our holiday events.  But we need to be careful of these drinks around our pets.  We should never, and we should remind our guest to never, leave our drinks unattended around our pets.  They will sniff and slurp these smelly, attractive drinks before we can even react.

Also, be sure to lock all medications away.  Medications are colorful and have odd smells that could attract our pets.  The ambitious pet will even go into someone’s purse if they want something bad enough, so make sure your guests secure their medications as well.