Simply having a wonderful Christmastime?
Christmas should be merry and bright for everyone including your dog. It’s a wonderful time of the year. Dog behaviour experts know the noise, the lead-up to the big day, the lights, decorations, sounds, visitors, possible carol singers, wrapping paper, festive food, it’s a lot for anyone to cope with. Read on to learn how you can make Christmas with your dog special.
There are many ways you can make Christmas go without a hitch for your dog, by planning well in advance. Train your dog early to find all these potential, confusing events a ‘non-event’ by working on growing their optimism in life. We need to help them to disengage from their surroundings whilst being able to relax at the same time.
WHEN DO I TRAIN MY DOG?
Start training 4 weeks ahead of the big Christmas holiday period. The more you can train ahead of the situation, the more your dog will cope whilst being in it. Change for any dog can be a mixture of excitement, frustration and confusion. Look around the home and find a quiet space for your dog to go to. Celebrations overwhelm their heads far more easily when there isn’t a long enough break away from things.
TOP TIPS FOR A CALMER CHRISTMAS
- All is calm, all is bright? Look at the household and its layout. Just like the time around Bonfire Night, crate a safe, warm and dark ‘den’ for your dog to retreat too. Somewhere they can take themselves to get away from it all. Make it soft by padding the whole area, not just a bed on the floor. Crate training is especially good for this as you can cover them completely with a soft blanket that smells of you, for extra reassurance for your dog. Put cushions around the sides, as well as a thick layer of blankets, mats or bedding.
- Whilst Shepherds watched… (or Daschunds, Bassett Hounds – you get the drift). Daft as this sounds, get down on your hands and knees and look around at your dogs level. What can you see that might make for a good chew toy when you think no ones looking. What about something to steal and bury in a bed somewhere? All dogs like to investigate with their mouths, especially puppies, so keep an eye out for cables that may have been added due to lights in the tree or the window.
- O Come All ye Faithful… Train your dog to understand that the front door, fridge door, freezer door etc. is of no real interest by practicing the ‘Crazy Lady Game’ with no distractions around. Simply opening and closing the door with a treat in your hand isn’t enough. When you know you’ve got that one rehearsed beautifully, make sure you have your ‘Distract.Mark.Treat’ as polished and smooth as you can.
- Santa Claus is coming to Town... At any time of year, your get children can move suddenly or erratically and surpass a dog. If children are coming to visit, who aren’t used to being around dogs (or your dog isn’t used to children), have a chat with the family beforehand to make sure the children understand how to behave around dogs. If they are unsure, inform them about how to be calm and not approach the dog when the dog is eating or sleeping. And remember, never leave a child alone with a dog.
- We all want some Figgy pudding... Food safety! This can’t be stressed enough as there are many hidden food stuffs, that eaten by your dog will at best , make them vomit, to worse case scenario, an emergency trip to the Vets if symptoms are caught in time. Look out for any food item that might contain the following:
- Chocolate, grape, dried fruit, raw bread dough, alcohol, blue cheese, macadamia nuts, the cob within corn on the cob, avocado, garlic, leeks, onions, cooked bones, holly berries, chocolate, Xylitol (artificial sweetener found in many processed foods instead of sugar.)
- Holly, Ivy, Poinsettia and Pine needles are also poisonous to Dogs and Cats!
- For an even better list of other edibles, plants and items around the home that would cause your dog harm, visit The Dogs Trust site HERE for further details.
HOW DO I HELP MY DOG?
Above all, Christmas with your dog can be a joy for you both. Use the bags and boxes from your shopping to create a new game for them. Choose a few paper bags and boxes, to create a fun finding food game. Dogs love to sniff and find it supremely relaxing and rewarding. Start with a placing few boxes and bags, making spaces that your dog can go around, under, on and through. Allow the different textures to be sniffed and pawed. As they investigate and find food, scatter more bits without them noticing. Observe carefully. Are they comfortable and confident? Make sure they are confident by calling them back to you every now and again to give them a break from the concentration.
Another key point are Calming activities. Firstly, calming activities you can provide your dog like filling a food toy with moist food, of providing a snuffle mat. A snuffle mat makes kibble last longer. This is to make them use their nose and licking movements, which calm a dog down. Another thing to use is a pheromone-based plug-in for a power socket (Pet Remedy and Beaphar seem to be the most consistent, proven calming remedies available). Additionally, leave water in a bowl in their calm area, stressed dogs get dry mouths so kibble and chews may be harder to swallow.
NEW YEAR, NEW DOG?
For more help, advice and fun, why not consider giving your dog the gift of a new hobby too? Christmas with your dog can be wonderful the New Year is just as hopeful. Make your New Years resolution to have a hobby that involves you both learning and fun together. A Pawsitive Step has different solutions to all kinds of training struggles. Starting in January, I will be running both BRONZE and SILVER UK Sniffer Dogs Scent Detection Classes. Click on the link HERE to read details and enquire. What about trying something fun in the great outdoors, where you and your dog can excel at controlling impulses, practicing focus and working against distractions. Come along to Mantrailing. The fastest growing Dogsport in the UK today. Click HERE for booking and details. Secure your place for the New Year and help your dog have a really happy and healthy 2024.
