We fell back this weekend. That means that a slew of holidays are on their way. That means travel, family, friends and chaos.
Dogs (and cats) don’t like chaos. They prefer things to be well ordered and consistent. So, during the holiday seasons, keep your pet’s welfare in mind.
Having a lot of people in your house is stressful. Eccentric uncles, nosy mothers-in-law, wild kids and a slew of others can cause your head to explode as you try and remember why you thought hosting this Thanksgiving was a good idea.
Your pup will feed off of the energy that has suddenly invaded your house. Those kids racing around the dining room table will be an open invitation for your dog to engage in a fun game of chase. That Aunt you adore who shares everything, including her food, is sneaking your pup turkey. And, the house is so busy, who can remember to take your pup outside? So, what do you do?
Keep to your schedule as much as you can. You might be cooking for 20, but your pup still expects their breakfast at the same time every day. There might be football games to watch during the day, but your pup is waiting to go for his daily walk at 3:00. Watching home movies from 1972 may carry on way into the early hours of the morning, but your pup wants to go do his business as usual.
Try to keep the energy levels to a minimum. Sure, you’re excited to see your family and friends. But all of the excitement can cause your dog to go into overdrive. Give your pup a place where they can escape the madness. That could be a crate that you put up in your bedroom, or a part of the house that’s off limits to guests. Everyone needs a “Calgon take me away” place. (If you’re under 100 years old, that’s a reference to an old TV commercial.)
Know the food that will be in the house. Even the best behaved pup will be thrilled to find the house full of new food. One client came into her kitchen to find both her cat and her dog on the counter, sharing their Thanksgiving turkey. As a vegetarian, when a meat eater comes to our house, our cats and dogs go bonkers. Also, know which foods are bad for your pup. Know the poison control numbers, and be aware of who is giving what to your dog. The most important thing to be aware of is Xylitol. This is found in sugarless gum and other sugar-free products. My grandmother’s purse ALWAYS contains gum and mints…and my pups wouldn’t be above raiding her purse if it was available.
When cleaning up before and after the holidays, make sure that you’re using products that are OK for animals. Try and use natural products, or if you have to use chemical-based products, make sure that your pets are safely tucked away.
We know that you’ll have a great holiday season, and will make some awesome memories. So have a safe season, and don’t let your dog eat turkey bones!!