Tips and tricks on how to keep your dog on the nice list
By Njeri Dean
Santa is making his list and checking it twice and wants to know which fur baby is naughty or nice.
Your family wants the holidays to go right, but sometimes it can go very wrong if your dog is not well behaved. You might think you have a nice dog during the holidays, but your dog turns out to be naughty instead.
Some possible problems that your dog may encounter during the holiday season are: meeting new people, encountering new smells, a sudden change in their daily routines, and encountering foreign objects—like wrapping paper and ornaments.
You don’t have to call a dog whisperer to get your dog to behave, but it’s great for your dog to be on their best behavior so that, when the festivities of the holiday are going on, your dog will show that they are disciplined and they know how to react to situations that they aren’t used to.
Let’s explore how our canine friends can be put on Santa’s good side this holiday season so that everybody is happy and healthy—especially your dog.
Anyone can attest that meeting new people can be outright scary, and dogs feel the same way. They might not get upset when seeing a person they’ve encountered many times, but it can be stressful if they’re bombarded with a lot of new people all at once over the holiday.
The best way to resolve this is to not have your guests come in all at the same time. Try having your guests come in two at a time and let your dog smell your guests, so your dog knows the newcomers aren’t a threat.
Letting your dog screen the people coming into their territory is crucial because it gives them a sense of control about their environment and situation.
A dog’s nose can pick up a variety of familiar and not so familiar smells, and those smells can make a dog feel very anxious, confused and scared. The best way to deal with overwhelming smells for dogs this holiday season is to use calming aids such as calming pheromone diffusers and calming music for dogs.
The pheromone diffuser can make your dog feel at ease with familiar smells that soothe your dog. Music for dogs can make them feel better because your dog is hearing sounds that make them feel comfortable and combat loneliness.
Nobody likes to feel that everything around them is changing—especially dogs. Consistency is key when you are dealing with our canine friends; interrupting their daily schedule can stress and outright confuse your dog.
To lessen their confusion over the holidays, it’s a great idea to have a quiet room for your dog with objects that your furry friend is familiar with.
The quiet room is a way for your dog to destress and recharge after meeting a lot of people and encountering situations that aren’t routine. The calming area allows your dog to be inside a space that’s normal, under control and not disruptive, while the area outside may be chaotic and not ideal for your dog’s daily routine.
A dog is a curious creature, and they may be curious enough to get into things they find interesting and intriguing. There may be new smells that your dog isn’t accustomed to—especially at dinnertime.
To prevent a collision course of bad behavior from happening, it’s best to put your dog in a crate with their own food and water during dinnertime, so your dog isn’t motivated to beg for food or bother your guests while they’re eating the holiday meal.
Dogs also need to be on their best behavior if there are places in your house where there are Christmas trees, menorahs, tinsel, or even picture frames around. Dogs encountering ornamental objects might break some and risk choking on the pieces, and nobody wants that.
Having your dog break or swallow sentimental items can also confuse or embarrass you, whether you’re hosting or are the guest of someone else.
As long as you’re careful and think ahead, you and your dog can coexist over the holidays and make memories that last a lifetime. Dogs are part of your family and deserve to share the experience of the holidays with you. Your dog—and you—can certainly be put on the nice list.
If you use proper training and good methods to keep your dog happy and healthy, Santa will take notice and smile. He’s making his list and checking it twice, so make sure your dog is on the nice list this holiday season.
