So Christmas is fast approaching, it’s just over a week away. Whether you have big plans and lots of social gatherings, or prefer a peaceful and cosy festive season, I hope you have a great time!
It’s important we also think about our dogs at this time of year. Whether they are nervous or adaptable, all dogs are vulnerable to stress at this time. There’s a real push now in the world of dog ownership to take them everywhere, buy them outfits, never leave them out, mostly on social media. In reality these things make humans feel good but the dog’s needs are quite different. Below I’m going to give you a guide on how to be the person your dog needs this Christmas, prevent emergency vet visits, and keep everyone safe.
Provide a Safe Space
- Use baby gates or a play pen to provide your dog with their own area which all your guests will understand is a no-go zone.
- Use a crate if the dog prefers this, but total isolation from what’s going on might not suit all dogs.
- By providing a safe space, you can know that your dog is still around if that is right for them, or safe and content away from the action if they need quiet. You won’t need to constantly keep an eye on the dog, how guests are behaving, kids, food etc.
- It is vital that our dogs can retreat to a safe space if they become overwhelmed. This step alone could prevent so many bite incidents as people are notoriously poor at spotting subtle signs a dog is uncomfortable before they feel the need to defend themselves.
Advocate For Your Dog
- Your dog does not exist for the entertainment and emotional needs of people. So make sure you have your dogs back and prevent situations that will make them uncomfortable.
- A lot of jokes on social media insinuate any guests ignoring your dog are rude and not welcome. The fact is the best way to put a dog at ease and interact politely is to totally ignore them! So instruct your guests to ignore the dog until the dog is calm and actually instigates an interaction (if they want to) – this ensures there is no pressure on the dog.
- Yes, some dogs are social butterflies, but it’s important to remember that hyperactive and over excited behaviour can be a form of displacement and uncertainty without clear guidance from us. It can also be dangerous.
- Set very clear boundaries with children and do not allow any unsupervised (by that I mean direct supervision, not just in the same room watching) interactions. Make sure both children and dogs remain calm and respectful, and there is no grabbing, leaning, screeching or teasing. It takes a split second for a dog to do life changing damage to a small child with what would only be a warning nip to another dog – do not expect them to understand the difference if adults in the room haven’t controlled the situation. The responsibility lies entirely with us.
- As a default – leave the dog be!
Food Safety
- Just don’t take chances or let your guard down. A trip to the emergency vets is really no fun for you or the dog (trust me) and also getting there in good time is reliant on someone being sober! Look up toxic Christmas foods…there’s alot.
- A dog’s nose is extremely powerful and will beat wrapping, packaging etc.
- Dogs are opportunists and social predators by nature – even the most well trained dog may slip and eat something they shouldn’t especially if everyone is busy, there’s too much noise, and they’re bored. Set them up for success and take precautions.
Keep To Routine As Much As Possible
- I know people are off work and those routines we all find comfort in get thrown upside down at this time of year. It can feel nice with the extra social events or the clean slate of empty schedules! But our dogs need predictability, so don’t forget to maintain your dog’s routine as much as you can amongst the chaos.
- Make sure you keep your dog well exercised and mentally stimulated – this will help them manage the stress. The quality time together will benefit both of you.
- Give your dog plenty of time to rest, sleep and decompress.
The best thing you can do for your dog this Christmas is think about the experience from their perspective – not what you want from them, or simply wanting to have them around all the time. And on the other end of the spectrum it’s absolutely OK to set boundaries for your dog as well as your guests! If preventing your dog being pushy and over excited means keeping a lead on them when you have visitors to help you maintain your training and good habits then absolutely do that. Ignore anyone who dismisses you as over the top or tries to make you feel bad for telling them not to feed the dog…you know your dog’s needs best. If your dog is your best ‘get out’ to social gatherings you’d rather say no to or leave early – then day no and look after you!
Finally, I’m going to finish with some sobering stats. Every year 90,000 – 130,000 dogs are given up or surrendered in the UK. Whilst some cases are in the best interests of the dog or out of anyone’s control – many are given up on because they’re hard work, don’t meet expectations, and the cute puppy novelty wears off. So let’s remember that dogs do not exist to meet our emotional needs or entertain us. They deserve our respect and commitment for the 10+ years they may spend with us with all the bumps in the road and training needed. They’re certainly not gifts. So let’s not feed any demand for puppies at Christmas.
Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year with your dogs!
Suzy
