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Thanksgiving and Your Dog, Everything You Need to Know

Thanksgiving and Your Dog, Everything You Need to Know

November 20, 2013 by Margaret Davis
Categories: Holidays,Travel,Behavior,Tips

I think it is wonderful that we are including our dogs more in our holiday plans! It makes sense that the better your planni ng and preparation, then the smoother the holiday will go. Think of the hours that go into planning the guest list, the menu, the shopping, the decorating, and the cooking. Not to mention the airline reservations, rental cars, and hotel bookings. I encourage you to put time into planning and tr aining with your dog so that you both have a wonderful experience this holiday season.

This blog is broken into 3 convenient sections:

  • If You Will be Traveling... (Tips on traveling with your dog, also on leaving your dog while you're gone this holiday season)
  • If Your Will be Hosting Guests (Tips on having people over, and how to make it as easy as possible on you and your dog)
  • Holiday Feasts and Your Dog (Tips on sitting down for a meal, and how to handle your dog)

If You Will Be Traveling…

The first thing for you to decide is - are you taking your dog with you or leaving her behind? 

The following tips apply to both choices:

  • Make sure your dog is current with her vaccinations
  • Have current identification tags
  • Have a copy of your dog’s vet records
  • Pre-pack her food in individual meal bags (like ziplock bags) clearly labeled to make daily feeding easier and accurate
  • Pack her medications with clear instructions
  • Pack 2 toys clearly labeled with your name (We recommend 2, just in case one gets lost)

These tips apply for traveling with your dog:

  • Make sure your dog is welcome at your destination
  • Arrange a back up plan if you are wrong This could be a second choice dog-friendly hotel, crate, or a local boarding program.
  • Obtain a health certificate from your vet for flying
  • Pack bowls for your dog
  • Pack a flat easy to launder mat for your dog (something compact and easy to clean if needed - not your $300, 10-inch-thick, overstuffed, Orvis dog bed)
  • Print a list of veterinary clinics in the area where you are going
  • Check the hotels you will be staying at for any special pet requirements
  • Pack cleanup bags

These tips apply for boarding your dog:

  • Make your reservations early
  • Avoid waiting until closing time to drop your dog off - she needs time to become comfortable before the staff leaves for the day
  • There may be a longer check in process time than usual so give yourself plenty of time, if it’s your first time at a new place give yourself about 30 minutes in case there is new paperwork and so you can meet some of the staff
  • Pack a flat easy to launder mat for your dog (again, something compact and easy to clean if needed - not your $300, 10-inch-thick, overstuffed, Orvis dog bed)

These tips apply for engaging a pet sitter:

  • Check references and remember that insured and bonded is important
  • Book your sitter early
  • Inquire about the sitter’s back-up plans for inclement weather or other unusual circumstances
  • Remember that your dog is comfortable with routine and stability - even the best sitting services are still leaving your dog alone most of the time
  • Create a back up plan to have a friend or neighbor also check on your dog

If You Will Be Hosting Guests…

Thanksgiving is prime time for family gatherings. There are two things to consider: preparing your dog for company, and preparing for guests that bring dogs into your home. Remember that even well socialized dogs may object to sharing their people, home, and possessions with other dogs. Just because we are enjoying including dogs in our plans doesn’t mean that our dogs enjoy it.

Preparing your dog for guests

Brush up on her manners - the key commands are ‘Settle Down’, ‘Off’, and ‘Leave It’

  • Have your dog wear her leash in the house when company comes (in your line of sight)
  • Ask yourself the safety questions
    • Is my dog friendly with people she does not know?
    • Is my dog friendly with children?
    • Is my dog friendly with dogs she does not know?
  • Understand and recognize stress signs (Podcast: The Language of Stress)
  • Have a backup plan if your dog becomes stressed. This could be as simple as having a crate in a quiet part of the house to having a friend on call who is willing to take your dog for the day.
  • Tape your doorbell if the sound causes your dog to become overly excited (then make plans to address this issue)
  • Let your guests know ahead of time that your dog will be at the party

Preparing for guests to bring dogs to your home

  • Set your house rules and communicate them to your guests
  • Have a back up plan in case the dog becomes stressed. This includes having a place to put each dog where they are separate from each other and having some extra toys that will engage each dog (or being prepared to pick up all the toys if they are a problem).
  • Introduce your dog to the new dog outside of your home
  • Understand and recognize body language (Podcast: Safe Dog to Dog Greetings)
  • Respect your guest’s wishes about things like table food
  • Be aware of the four common trigger points for dog aggression:
    • Food
    • Toys
    • Tight spaces
    • Your attention (Remember, affection is a resource, and not all dogs like to share. When giving out attention, make sure to keep an eye out)

Holiday Feasts and Your Dog…

We can all agree that Thanksgiving means good food! That food smells just as good to your dog as it does to you. There are two main things to consider: your dog’s behavior at mealtimes and whether you choose to share food with your dog.

Your Dog and Your Mealtime

I personally do not enjoy a dog begging for food at the table. That said, I do ‘share’ certain types of food with my dogs. I place this food in a baggie and use the food as treats away from the table. Here are some tips to enjoy a well-behaved dog at the table:

  • Have your dog ‘Settle Down’ on leash beside your chair when you eat
  • Teach your dog the ‘Place’ command and send her to her place at mealtime
  • Teach ‘Leave It’ to prevent her from scarfing dropped food.

 

Sharing food with your dog

As I said, I do give my dogs some table food. Growing up at a veterinary clinic I have seen the result of feeding certain food items to dogs. The Friday after Thanksgiving is usually a very busy day for veterinarians. Here are some suggestions about table food.

  • Secure your garbage cans!
  • Avoid fatty foods
  • Throw bones away. Bones from cooked food are not prepared in the same way as “chew bones” and are prone to crack and splinter which can easily get lodged into your dogs throat or intestines (and believe me, you don’t want that expense or suffering).
  • Grapes and raisins are harmful for your dog
  • Onions and sage can make your dog very sick
  • Ice cubes and baby carrots will make your dog ‘feel included’
  • The dog that sees you get something off of the table or counter and give it to her knows where it came from.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I enjoy spending time with my family and my dogs. I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Let’s all remember to take our dog for a nice long walk after the feast!

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