Tips for a Stress-Free Howliday Season

This holiday season is a little different. Even though we won’t be traveling far or having many guests over, there are still things to keep in mind for our pets. Some dogs would prefer to avoid the hustle and bustle of holiday parties (no matter how small), while others might enjoy being a party animal a little too much. No matter how your pup feels about the festivities, we can find ways to make sure everything goes smoothly. One of the bright sides of 2020 is that this year is a perfect opportunity to practice your dog’s skills without as much distraction!

Training Your Dog

Of course you knew we were going to mention training! It’s never a bad idea to brush up on your dog’s basic skills, but we’ve picked a few specific exercises that we feel are most helpful around the holidays. If you would like a handout with step-by-step instructions for teaching these behaviors, just send us an email!

1. Place

If you’ve been in classes with us before, you know how much we love using mats! Teaching your dog to target and stay on their mat can be a lifesaver as your guests arrive, while you prepare meals, or while the family is eating dinner! If you are expecting heavy foot traffic during holiday get-togethers, consider training a “parking space” where your dog can remain safely out of the way. It’s important to start working on this well in advance! Start now by having your dog remain on their place while you do housework, eat meals, or practice having family members enter through the front door. For some dogs, having a nice long-lasting chew like a kong or marrow bone can help build a nice and relaxed behavior.

2. Go Say Hi

While “place” can help get your guests through the door, “go say hi” can assist with those initial hellos. Some dogs may get overly-excited and jump up on guests, and others may be more reticent to approach strangers. This behavior can help in both scenarios to build calm and confident greetings by teaching your dog to nose target your guest’s hands, then come back to you for their reward! 

3. Party in the Kitchen

Does your dog lose their mind when they hear someone at the front door? Do they try to rush outside when they see an opportunity? You can desensitize them to the sound of the doorbell or knocking and encourage them to run away from the door by playing Party in the Kitchen! Have a helper knock on the door or ring the bell, then you shout “party in the kitchen!” before running into the kitchen and sprinkling a generous amount of high-value treats on the floor for your dog. Check out the link above for detailed instructions on successfully playing this game.

4. Leave It

This is probably an obvious one, but with all of the temptations like special holiday treats, wrapping paper, tinsel and draping scarves, making sure your dog has a solid “leave it” cue can certainly come in handy! You may want to specifically consider working on leave it with countertops, tables, and with special holiday decorations.

Training Your Family

Teaching your dog what to do is the easy part. Getting your family and friends to cooperate in your training plan tends to be the more challenging part of the equation. Before we get too frustrated with our guests, let’s set them up for success as well.

1. Print Out Instructions

Even if you tell your guests ahead of time to not ring the doorbell, to ignore jumping, to not try and kiss or hug your dog, or to not feed them table scraps, have instructions posted on the door! You can use our template, make your own, or even purchase a fancy sign online.

2. Place Treats Outside

You may know that food is a powerful reinforcer, but you may have family or friends who don’t share your training philosophies. Make sure they don’t take training into their own hands by having alternatives ready. Have a bowl or baggie of treats cut up and ready to go for your guests near your front door (and maybe a beverage to enjoy while they wait for you to get yourself and Fido settled.)

3. Secret Handshake

Trick training is more valuable than most folks realize. Not only is an adorable puppy high-five or roll-over a crowd pleaser, but these are both behaviors that are incompatible with jumping up and they’re a great way to “break the ice” for your dog around new people. You might find that some guests are more patient waiting for your dog to high five than waiting for them to settle on a mat.

4. Positively Reinforce! 

Don’t forget to reward your guests for complying with your training rules. Positive reinforcement works for all species, and a sincere thank you or a holiday cookie could mean that next year’s holiday party goes even better! Try to focus on what your guests are doing right, rather than what they’re doing wrong. 

Management

Training is all well and good, but what if the holiday party is tomorrow and you’re just reading this blog post now?? Fear not, pet parent! There are plenty of clever management strategies to help fill in any gaps in training.

1. EXERCISE! 

At the very least, stick to your dog’s normal exercise routine! Many dogs may even benefit from upping the ante with an extra long hike or adventure so they are nice and tired when guests arrive. If you’re busy preparing for the festivities, consider hiring a trusted dog walker to walk, hike, or run your pup during the day. Our team over at Home Sweet Home is always happy to help!

2. Create a Doggie Break Room

Remember that your dog doesn’t have to participate in potentially stressful events like holiday parties! If your pup is on the reserved side, they may very well prefer being left at home if you’re visiting family, or relaxing in a separate room if you’re hosting. You can make the room even cozier by having your dog’s bed or crate in the room, plenty of enrichment activities like chews or stuffed toys, relaxing music playing to muffle any commotion outside, and plug-in pheromone diffusers. Make sure your dog is comfortable being left in the room before the big event!

Even if your pup is on the more social end of the spectrum, they may at some point benefit from taking a break in a quiet space. Allow your dog opportunities to escape the hustle and bustle into a “dogs only” room where guests aren’t allowed. You can have baby gates up with doors that allow canines to come and go, but prevent humans from following.

3. Use Barriers

Physical barriers are always advisable as a back-up plan for safety! Even if your dog usually follows your home rules like waiting at the door and not setting foot in the kitchen, those skills might be a little shaky around lots of distractions unless you have practiced them around those types of distractions. Consider putting up temporary barriers like baby gates of x-pens around entryways or other areas you don’t want Fido to be. Barriers can be especially helpful to safely manage dog and child interactions!

4. Know Your Dog

At the end of the day, you know your dog and your guests better than anyone. If you suspect your dogs and guests won’t mingle well, don’t have them interact! It’s not worth the unnecessary stress and risk of a dog bite just because your cousin is a staunch Caesar Milan fan who takes matters into his own hands, or because your aunt has had a bit too much eggnog to follow instructions to the letter. 

Do you and your dog need a little extra help preparing for the holiday season? We can help! Send us an email today to schedule your first group class or in-home training session.