It's the holiday season.................oh boy! Don’t worry! Your dog(s) and the holidays don’t have to be mutually exclusive!
Here are things you can do to help ease the stress at this time of year.
- Stay on a schedule: Keep the daily routine the same as much as you possibly can. Feeding, walking/exercise times and playing with your dog at the usual times.
- Offer a comfort/safety zone: Provide a safe place for
your dog(s) to escape to. Perhaps a bedroom where your dog can go to get away
from the holiday commotion and be alone with something to chew on may help to alleviate holiday stress.
- Meet and greet with caution: Don’t force your dog to interact with people or other dogs they do not know. Allow your dog to initiate the contact. Set your dog up to succeed. Babygates are you rfriend!
Holiday decorations - be safe!
The holiday season presents safety concerns that you need to keep in mind. Decorated trees help make the season bright, but care needs to be taken to be sure they are not a safety hazard for your dog(s). Some dogs like to hide under or play around indoor trees - can become a den-like area for them.
Decorations, flashing lights, tinsel, shiny objects, presents and extension cords can be mistaken for toys or something novel they want to investigate. Not only are ribbon, tinsel, lights and ornaments a big choking hazard, consuming them can cause serious intestinal blockages.
A few more rules:
Limit your dog's access, make sure your tree is very stable and be mindful of what you have hanging as decorations. Do not put presents containing food under the tree (tempting!).
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