It's that time of year again. Time for gift giving, food preparation and consumption, lots of family and visitors coming and going and everything that makes the holidays wonderful. All of the things that we love about the holidays can stress out our dogs and cause dangerous situations. You may be all Holly Jolly and ready for the holidays, but is your dog ready?
Got a counter surfer? This could lead to all sorts of troubles over the holidays. Extra precautions need to be taken so that your dog does not consume something that they shouldn't. Many counter surfers are not picky about where they steal from; it doesn't always have to be a counter. A coffee table, dresser, shelf, Christmas tree or purse are can be fair game. Always be aware. When in doubt, opt for safety. Keep anything and everything that could be dangerous to your dog, away.
Got a dog who is not a social butterfly? Save them the stress of having to deal with your loud and obnoxious neighbor who is sure that every dog loves him. Keep grabby and wild children away from your dog if your dog is not comfortable around them. Too many people put their dog in harms way as far as having to tolerate inappropriate behavior from other people and/or children. It is mind boggling how many people just expect their dogs to deal with everything. This often leads to owners being outraged and shocked that their dog snapped or bit someone who crossed a line.
Take charge of each and every situation that your dog will be immersed into. If you know they are not going to be comfortable then put them into a safe and quiet area for their own good. Just because you want to make Merry does not mean that your dog does.
Got a high energy dog? Make sure that your dog has a normal outlet for their energy. We often overlook our dog's needs during the holidays and then are dismayed their unusually bad behavior. Elsa is a very high energy dog; she needs a daily outlet for her need to run and retrieve. So even during this magical time of year, Missy Elsa must run. I love that I can now run her morning, noon or night because of the cooler temps so we head and run. Keep up the normal energy release routine.
Got a puppy? This can be a rough time with puppies and many people forget that their little ones are very little and inexperienced. Watch for signs of stress. Make sure that your little one has an ample amount of time to sleep. Puppies need to sleep a lot and if they are not given the opportunity to do so they can run into problems. Being overtired is never good for a puppy; especially around the holiday season.
Introduce anything new in a positive manner and bit by bit. Socializing is great, too much is not better. Too much socializing can backfire and lead to behavior problems down the road for your puppy. Baby steps to success.
Got an old dog? Old dogs need and deserve "Peace on Earth," for Christmas. Like puppies, they are easily overwhelmed, grow tired quickly and don't have the patience of a young dog. There is nothing like living with an old dog. Being given the gift of an old dog is something very special. It is our time to care, tend and give to them. I have cared for many old dogs over the years and it is always a wonderfully significant stage of the life that you share. The holidays call for extra care, love, patience and vigilance for precious old ones.
This is my favorite time of year. I hope that you have a wonderful Holiday Season.