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Christmas Tips for the Holidays with Your Dog

Christmas Tips for the Holidays with Your Dog

December 18, 2013 by Margaret Davis
Categories: Holidays,Tips

It is the time for Holiday Cheer! For most of us that means decorating, shopping, cooking, and parties. It can seem th at there just aren’t enough minutes in the hour at this time of year. When trying to balance your busy schedule, remember that your dog prefers routine and predictability as opposed to chaos. Try as much as possible to keep her routine the same. Feed her at her normal times and do your best to increase her exercise level.  A tired dog is a less stressed dog. This is a good time to re-read our Thanksgiving blog for Holiday tips.

1.     Christmas Trees

One of the decisions you may be making this season is the deciding whether to have an artificial Christmas tree or a real, live Christmas tree. I personally prefer what I a ‘real’ Christmas tree at my house. I have learned a few things over the years about pets and Christmas trees.

For real or artificial trees:

  • Secure the top of the tree with fishing line to something if possible
  • Trees are pretty in windows, but don’t choose your dog’s favorite window!
  • Run electrical cords through PVC pipe to keep the cord off limits
  •  Avoid tinsel and food items on the tree
  • Hang glass ornaments high (or hang them from the ceiling, out of reach)
  • Supervise your dog around the tree until you trust her

 

For real, live trees:

  • To keep your pets from trying to climb the tree, wrap the trunk in tin foil near the bottom – dogs and cats do not normally like tinfoil
  • According to the Penn State website there is no evidence that preservatives in the water for your tree prolong the life of the tree – use plain water <Check Out Their Paper Here>
    (And for those who don't feel like reading, there's also a Discover Channel's MythBusters episode about it as well with a similar conclusion, but I cannot find it online to link to it, but it is on Netflix I'm sure!<Conor>)
  • Cover the bowl of water with tinfoil
  • Keep the pine needles off the floor. Some pine needles can get stuck in paws or noses. Eating the pine needles is probably not good for your dog or cat either, especially if you have any solution other than water for your tree

2. Poisons

Plants such as mistletoe and Holly are poisonous to your dog. Ask your veterinarian about which plants in your area are toxic to pets. Alcohol and pets don’t ‘mix’ either.

If you think you dog has ingested something poisonous or if you notice any changes in your dog’s demeanor (such as pacing more than usual, or being more lethargic than usual), contact an emergency veterinarian immediately.

 

3. Runaways

Teach your dog to respect doorways with our Goalie game. [Podcast link] You and your family are aware of your dog at the front door, but your guests are not. Be sure she is wearing a current id tag at all times. Microchips are great, but your neighbor down the street probably doesn’t own a scanner. The holidays are a chaotic time of the year, and you don’t want anything preventable to happen to your excited, curious dog.

If your dog happens to get away, be cautious when running after her. If your whole family takes off after her, she may run farther due to the excitement and the intimidation of a bunch of frantic people much larger than she is running at her.

One technique to bring your dog back to safety is to kneel on the ground and sit back on your heels, and then call her to you. Your body language in this position is non-intimidating and welcoming, which she will want to come back to.

If your dog has gotten far enough, and likes car rides, get in your car and drive up to your dog. Open the car door and call her into the car. Be careful not to run your dog over!

 

4. Stress Signs

Remind family members of the importance of recognizing stress signs. So many unfortunate incidents are prevented by intervening in the early stages of stress. Dogs do not bite ‘out of the blue’ but they bite ‘out of the oblivious’. Be aware of what your dog is trying to tell you!
More Info:
Podcast: "The Language of Stress"
Blog: Holiday Tips (We discuss back up plans)

 

5. Gifts

We love presents and so do our dogs. Presents look great under the tree, but not if your dog unwraps them. Take some time to work on ‘leave it’ with the presents. Even the most well-trained dog is still susceptible to temptation, so be cautious of what you leave wrapped under the tree. You probably don’t want your dog to eat that pretty little Tiffany bracelet. Or those imported Belgian chocolates. Or that snuggly, plush-filled Build-A-Bear. Be sure the boxes under the wrapping paper are durable. Try not to use gift bags, or if you must, place them somewhere your dog can’t reach.

For great ideas to treat your dog with her own gifts, read our blog on the top ten cool dog gifts this year. [Blog: Holiday Goodies For Your Pups]

 

 

From all of us at Creative Dog Training we wish you and your furry friends a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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