Harrowing Holidays

by Trish King

Having a happy relationship with your dog means learning how to work together. If there´s a topic you´d like to see Trish cover, email editors@fetchthepaper.com.

Seems like it happens a few times every year. A client comes to see me because their dog, their wonderful dog, bit a person in their home during a holiday get-together. To the owners, it’s the worst possible betrayal, their own dog biting a good friend or family member. Most likely to the dog it was unavoidable. He or she was placed in a predicament from which there was no obvious escape. Neither is true. The dog didn’t betray the family, and the bite or snap was avoidable. We have it in our power to make holidays fun for everyone, including our pets. But it takes some forethought and the ability to think like your dog does.

Creatures of habit

Parties may be fun for humans, but they can be harrowing experiences for dogs, especially those without a particularly active social life. Visiting relatives can add to the disruption, especially those who a) do not have dogs, b) have dogs who are very different from yours, or c) have children. What about holiday goodies? Lots of food and non-food items can be hazardous to dogs’ health.

Each dog has his own personality, though certain temperaments are more common in particular breeds. Herding breeds, for example, those who like to control their environments (Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Shelties, etc.) may become frantic if people begin to run around and shout, even in play. Protective breeds (Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds) can get confused about just who they should protect when there are many strangers around. Believe it or not, dogs often cannot tell the difference between a ‘good’ stranger and a ‘bad’ stranger. Breeds that cope the best with increased activity are hunting dogs such as Labs, Goldens, and Spaniels, all of whom are generally pretty social with anybody.

The age of a dog may impact his response to increased stress in a household as well. Unusual activity in a household oft en doesn’t faze youngsters, though it can cause them to become very excited and engage in behaviors like increased chewing, biting or destruction. Dogs who are showing physical signs of aging such as cloudy eyes, difficulty in getting up, or moving very slowly, often have a harder time coping with increased and unusual activity. In fact, many older dogs who used to be able to handle pretty much anything start to show signs of increased noise sensitivity. They may startle and begin trembling when they hear loud noises, and they are often impossible to calm.

Another holiday problem involves resources like food or other treats that a dog may not normally get. Some dogs will perceive these treats as so valuable that they need guarding. When that happens, a normally benign dog can turn into a snarling devil.

Safety first

One of our jobs is to make the holidays enjoyable for everyone, and it’s actually not very difficult. The first thing to do is control the environment so that your dog is safe.

Find out which plants and foods are poisonous (see table below) and then make sure they’re not accessible. Dogs are famous for ingesting first and asking questions later. Christmas trees can be an invitation to disaster, especially if you have a puppy! Tree branches and ornaments are almost irresistible to a youngster, and when he pulls on them, the whole tree can fall. Wires seem to have an attraction of their own. Many a pup has shorted out a Christmas tree or caused a sudden cessation of telephone service. And gifts, what a delight for a puppy! It’s not just children who love to rip off wrapping paper, and dogs usually do not check the "To" line on the gift tag.

Also, make sure that your dog will not get underfoot when it isn’t safe. For young dogs, that might mean purchasing an exercise pen (also known as a puppy pen), where she can be part of the action without actually becoming the action when you’re not expecting it. For older dogs, you might consider setting aside a room where she can go to chill if she’s feeling anxious or over-stimulated. Come to think of it, some of us people could use that as well.

You need to know your dog’s limits. Some dogs can handle a lot of stimulation with no problem; others can become overly excited, and an aroused dog can inadvertently cause damage, especially to young children who may be underfoot. Nervous or anxious dogs should not be allowed to sit under chairs or tables; you can’t see them there, and some frightened dogs will tend to defend that space, particularly if there is no escape route.

If your dog is sound sensitive, getting him used to staying in a room with a TV or radio on to mask loud noises can be great idea. If you decide to go that route, start practicing in advance by leaving him for just a few minutes at a time.

It’s the thought that counts

Every year, many children ask for a puppy for Christmas. I did for about 10 years in a row! If you’re thinking about giving one as a gift , think very carefully. A pet is a special, long-term gift . After all, many of our dogs are with us for longer than spouses! Would you like someone else to pick out your next dog, or would you rather do it yourself?

It might be a much better idea to purchase wonderful, attractive canine accoutrements, such as a leash, collar, bed, food, toys, treats, etc., then present those along with a gift card that represents a dog. Your loved one can then go with you to pick out his own dog, one that will match his environment, personality and energy level. The best part of this is that you will not have the hassle of actually dealing with a new dog while trying to enjoy the holidays. Most shelters would absolutely love to see you the day after Christmas!

Take the "harrowing" out of the holiday, reduce everyone’s stress level, and vastly improve the chances of a wondrous, happy time together with man and beast alike by following the easy tips above. Your family will appreciate your thoughtfulness and your dog will reward you with lots of smiles and licks, I am sure!

The following list contains foods and plants that are part of many holiday celebrations, yet can cause serious illness or death in pets. If your pet becomes ill and you believe he or she may have ingested a dangerous substance, immediately contact a local emergency veterinary hospital.