Holiday Hassels For the Pet Owner

Pets & The Holidays

Ahhhh, the smell of cool winter days…

The chill of the morning breeze on your face during your morning walk with the dog…

The scent of pine from your live tree in the living room…

The cheerful sounds of being surrounded by family…

The ACCCCKKKKK and COUGH of your dog throwing up in the next room… (that’ll wake you from a dead sleep for sure.)

There are many things to be thankful for around this time of year.  There is so much to take in and enjoy, but having to rescue your pet from a holiday disaster is certainly not part of anyone’s plan.  I have put together a list of questions that might be running through your head, and found some trusted sources with answers to help!

You might be wondering:

• What do I do to prepare my pet for the onslaught of guests in our home?

• What if we get a new puppy for Christmas?

• Do I have a plan if the dog eats the entire pan of rich, greasy Latkes?

• Dogs & Chocolate?  Oh boy…not a good mix. 

• What should I do if a guest accidentally lets my dog out the front door?

• What if a guest of mine asks if they can bring their dog over to my house with them?

• This is just too much for me to handle (or, we are going out of town for the holidays)…I need to board my dog somewhere.

So, what should we do?  What is the takeaway here?   Well, in short, trust your instincts.  You know your dog better than anyone else.  Layne Kizler once told me, “don’t set your dog up to fail.”  (I have a terrible memory but I have never forgot that statement.  It makes so much sense.)  If you are not sure how your dog will react in a situation or what sort of trouble she might get into, then save her from herself.  Don’t force your dog to be in a situation where he has no choice but to act on his dog instincts.  This will only cause trouble, perhaps force you to react badly, and probably not be a healthy situation for your dog.

For a list of things to watch out for and to help you prepare for the entire holiday season, click here.

Check out our Pet Emergency Contact Sheet here and keep it handy!

Happy Holidays from everyone at AZ Dog Sports & AZ Dog Smart Academy!!

(By the way, if you did get a new puppy….AZ Dog Sports is here for you!  See how we can help here.)