The holidays are the happiest time of the year!
But to many, this season can also be stressful.
Crowded shopping malls and stores, heavy traffic, end-of-the-year deadlines, school breaks, out-of-town guests, travel, and an overbooked social calendar often create a mixture of feelings of joy and being overwhelmed.
If that is how the holiday season is for you, imagine how it affects your dog!
There are tons of smells from different foods, unfamiliar people in the house, lots of noise, and a tree INSIDE. Talk about sensory overload!
Dogs are both empathetic and creatures of habit. Not only can they sense your stress, but when their routines are thrown out of whack, so too become their behaviors. This disruption can create a change in the dog’s disposition and trigger acute aggression.
We want you (and your furry friends) to have a happy holiday season, so we’re sharing our tips on how to reduce stress during this time for you and your dogs.
Parties and Out-of-Town Guests
Are you throwing a holiday party this year or expecting out-of-town guests?
Basic dog obedience is a great help around social situations so your canine knows appropriate and inappropriate behavior.
If your dog isn’t properly trained and socialized, however, having them around could add more stress for you and your guests—not to mention Fido!
As much and you love your fur baby, he or she doesn’t have to be a part of every minute of every gathering.
- The best thing for your pet is to keep them out of the action while you have guests over. Use denning techniques such as their crate or an unoccupied room. This will help them will feel safe and secure away from the commotion.
- If you want to bring them out to meet people, control the narrative. Make sure they are supervised at all times. If you notice rambunctious behavior, put them on a leash when they are introduced to someone.
- When an out-of-town guest brings their dog, introduce them while they are on leash. If either dog displays aggression toward the other, keep them separated or under supervision at all times.
- If you won’t be able to monitor your pup around guests, then please do them, your guests, and yourself a favor and remove them from the situation.
Christmas Trees and Housebreaking
It is not uncommon for formerly housebroken dogs to have issues with wanting to urinate on Christmas trees. If the tree is natural, it smells like the outside!
Here are a few tips for preventing unwanted messes.
- Feed your dog around tree.
- Move your dog’s crate or bed next to the tree.
Animals typically will not relieve themselves near where they eat or sleep. This small change over the holidays can spare you some headaches!
Additional Tips
With everything going on over the holidays, it is likely that your dog will be feeling overwhelmed and left out.
Follow these suggestions to increase their well-being.
- Be sure to exercise them more. Take additional walks or schedule playtime – especially if they have been put away for long periods of time.
- Show them more affection. Pets and cuddles help your dog feel relaxed and loved.
- Do not give them table scraps! The unfamiliar food could upset their stomach and make them sick. This can lead to messes or a change in disposition because they don’t feel well.
We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season!
Does your dog display aggression toward other people or animals? We can help!
Request a free consultation with Dog Behaviorist Denver.