Tips to prevent an unhappy holiday season with your dog!

Tips for safe and happy holiday with your pet!

The holidays are here and a wonderful season full of spending time with family and friends has begun. We humans love this time of year but, unfortunately our pets are not so enthusiastic. The holidays are a stressful time for your animal companions; with all the traveling and visitors to your home it becomes a hectic and challenging season for your pet. Because of this it is of vital importance to follow some safety tips and behavior guidelines to keep your pet and your holiday guests safe!

Tips:

1. Know the signs of stress in your dog! We often don't think of small behavior changes in our dogs to be of anything of significant importance. However, your dog is ALWAYS communicating to you whether you know it or not. Some easy to notice and key features of a stressed or anxious dog are as follows: ears pinned back, tightly closed mouth, large eyes with whites very visible (also called whale eye), lip licking or tongue flicking, heavy/excessive panting, raising one paw off the ground, heavy drooling, excessive whining/barking, tail carried tight between legs, stiff body, trembling body, etc. As I said, these are just a few. Dogs will also exhibit behaviors called displacement behaviors that we often mistake for a dog that is just tired or distracted (when seen out of context). These are actually signs the dog is giving you that they are anxious and don't know how to handle the stress. Examples of these behaviors are a dog that excessively scratches themselves, looks away and sniffs the ground and, the most common I find, does a big "shake-off" which looks like the dog is wet (but isn't) and trying to dry off. The literally interpretation is the dog is trying to "shake-off" the stress. Also an important behavior to note is a wagging tail- this is NOT a clear sign of a happy dog (and is often a sign of a very stressed dog). Just because your dog may be wagging their tail does not mean they are enjoying the current situation. Often an highly aroused dog is a dog that does NOT want to be petted or cuddled. They may show intense eyes, a tail that is raised high in the air, mouthed closed, ears forward and held breath. These behaviors may look like the ones they show when they are playing with you but, not in this situation. Always consider the context!  Please understand these are only a few signs but ones that tend to be common and can be exhibited when the dogs threshold for stress is about to be breached. If left unnoticed these behaviors can quickly escalate to hard- to- miss ones like biting. Be informed- research behaviors to look for. Understanding canine communication goes a long way in preventing accidents and bites.

2. Plan ahead and be prepared: If you know guests are coming over make sure your dog has access to a safe and quiet spot away from people. This may mean a small space filled with their favorite toys or a crate with some tasty treats. It should be a space away from "all the action" and one that children cannot play near. The quieter the better. They may whine at first but, in no time they will realize it is the best place to be. Allow for potty times by themselves outside.

3. Don't force your dog to interact: This is very important! So many times a perfectly mannered dog that has never bitten in their life will do so this time of year due to stress. Even the best tempered dogs can be pushed to their limit! Don't force them to "perform" at the party or to give hugs. Trust me, they don't want to! When you have lots of company over or, are visiting a home, that may not be the time for "training" moments.

4. If there are multiple pets in the room, DO NOT allow food to be given to them or accessible: This is important because with lots of yummy things to eat and lots of people around, dogs will be stressed and may get into a quarrel over dropped food bits or treats. Resource guarding, an issues that can be very dangerous, often manifests or worsens this time of year. Again, be informed.

5. ALWAYS supervise pets around children! If you feel your dog must be near while guests are together be sure they are never alone with children! Again, even the best tempered dogs can bite in times of stress. Children love pets but, with all the noises and random quick movements kids makes it all becomes just too much for a dog that may want to be left alone.

Also, never feel ashamed to ask for help when it comes to understanding and reading your pet. Don't feel bad if you realize your dog can't go to the party, family gathering, etc. If you can understand them even a little better, life actually does get easier for both of you. Understanding basic canine communication and body language really can be the best preventative there is for dog owners. 

The best dog owners are well informed and so can make the best decisions for their pet's safety and the safety of others.

Have a joyous holiday season!!!!

Author of this blog entry: Hayl Bergeland, Pet Behavior Specialist and Trainer

http://www.all-petshospital.com/

and All Pets Animal Hospital- East Village Veterinary Assistantallpetshospital.com