qual and thus may try to take advantage of the situation.
Boundaries And Security
Dogs need to have their own “home,” a place where they feel secure and calm. If your dog doesn’t already have a place of his own, create one for him.
- A crate or pet carrier provides a natural safe haven for your dog. Keep his crate or dog pillow in a quiet area of the home and direct your dog to go there when you need to set boundaries. While he may not like being separated from you, he will still feel secure.
- If your dog begins to bark or nip at visitors, remove him from the area and keep him in his safe place until your guests have gone.
- Keep the dog out of certain rooms where he can get underfoot. For example, training your dog to stay out of the kitchen—where most household accidents occur—is a good safety measure. It also helps to prevent your dog from begging for food.
- If you travel during the holidays, taking his crate/carrier will help your dog feel more relaxed, since “home” is wherever he finds you and his familiar bed.
Elderly dogs may not enjoy the extra hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Be mindful of keeping your older dog comfortable when his routine is disrupted.
- If your elderly dog gets cranky around visitors, simply take him to his special quiet place where he won’t be bothered and can feel secure.
- Remind children to be respectful of your older dog. Always provide supervision when dogs and kids are together.
Front Door Behaviors
A knock on the door can be a stimulating event for a dog, whether he sees it as fun or alarming. It is natural for him to want to know who the visitors are to determine if they are friendly or not. However, a dog that explodes with excitement at the sound of the doorbell is both annoying and unsafe—he may dash out the door and run into harm’s way, he may get underfoot and become a trip hazard, he may knock people over, or he may become aggressive to the visitor.
- To help your dog be calmer, exercise him prior to the arrival of guests. After 30 minutes of walking or playing, your dog will more likely be relaxed or want to nap.
- As a general rule, don’t allow the family dog to greet unfamiliar guests because commotion and unusual circumstances can cause stress for dogs.
- Consider putting your dog on a leash as guests arrive to maintain better control of him.
- Teach your dog to sit and stay on command. When the doorbell rings, put him in a sit-stay and do not open the door until he calms down.
- If your dog gets overly excited with arriving visitors, remove him from the scene ahead of time. Place him in his crate in a quiet room, and then let him join the party later.
By anticipating how your dog may react to new activities and visitors, you can help ensure that everyone—both two- and four-legged—has a fun and safe holiday.
Vicki and Richard Horowitz, of Woodbridge, are dog behavioral therapists and trainers with Bark Busters, one of the world’s largest dog training company. For more information, call 1-877-500-BARK (2275) or visit www.dog-training-new-haven-ct.com.