Just as much as we stress during the holiday season, so do our pets. As we busy ourselves with gift buying, food preparation and out of town travel, our pets sometimes don’t understand what all of the craziness is about.
Dogs normally on a routine schedule can be thrown off when you’re not home as much or you are busy doing tasks around the house that are unfamiliar. Of course, a change in the weather could also throw your dog of a bit.
However, there are certain things you can do to keep your dog safe and happy during the holiday season, including these suggestions below:
- It’s a great time to hone in on those behavior skills you worked on. With frequent new visitors that will arrive for holidays, you want your dog to be on their best behavior. Particularly, re-teach the sit, come and down commands.
- Give your pet something to do while you are busying yourself getting prepped for the holidays. Maybe there is a new bone you’ve been waiting to give your dog and now would be the perfect time for him to occupy himself with it.
- Be aware of the food. Certain foods, like chocolate, pose a danger to a dog’s health so during prep, mealtime and clean up, keep dangerous foods out of reach.
- Don’t force your dog to become acquainted with people who don’t like dogs, this just creates a stressful situation for both dog and non-dog person.
- If your dog is fearful or nervous around new people, maybe there is someone they are comfortable with that can be with them during the holidays when you are hosting.
- Keep the outside to a minimum, especially when temperatures are going to be freezing. The cold ground can severely damage a dog’s paws, so it might be a good idea to invest in some dog safe apparel.
The holiday season is a unique time for both you and your dog. Be sure to include them in the festivities as much as possible. If you are looking to bring home a new puppy for the holidays, Scarlet’s Fancy Poodles has several adorable babies for you.
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