11/12/2024
Some great info for over Christmas.
🎄🎉🥳Here are some tips and issues to think about if you're hosting Christmas gatherings (Everything suggested is relevant to any big event hosted in your home - New Year's Eve, Milestone Birthdays, etc.) 🎅🎂🎆
> Are visiting family members going to bring their dogs?
Make sure there are plenty of meet and greets and trial run visits before Christmas Day to identify any personality clashes and other issues.
> How likely is your dog to be stressed by visitors?
Most dogs are going to be stressed by unfamiliar visitors and excitement.
Where will be a quiet place where your dog can go and be undisturbed?
Some resources
-Avoiding Dog Meltdowns by Michelle Stern, Pooch Parenting https://poochparenting.net/avoiding-dog-meltdowns/
- How to prepare your pet for Christmas by Naomi Andrews, We Teach Pets https://weteachpets.com/2020/12/03/pets-at-christmas/
> Recruit member(s) of the family/friends to take turns buddying your dog to steer them clear of mishaps. They are going to keep your dog's comfort level front of mind:
• ready to remove your dog to a quiet space if it's all getting too much
• keeping an eye on the level of water in the drinking bowl
• watching out for human food left lying on plates on the ground
• making sure no one is bugging the dog
• putting your dog on-lead if you have concerns for visitors who have mobility difficulties or who don't like/are fearful of dogs.
> It's a rare dog who wouldn't take advantage of nibbles out for guests!
Grapes, raisins, sultanas, nuts, onion and garlic, and chocolate (the more cocoa that is in the chocolate, the more toxic it is) are all toxic to pets.
> What about decorative candles or floral arrangements?
Could your dog knock the lit candle over?
Lilies, chrysanthemums, hydrangeas are toxic to pets.
https://animalpoisons.com.au/common-poisons
> Who's going to be responsible for a quick pick-up and disposal of discarded wrapping paper, ribbons, and plastic lying around after the present opening?
> Party sounds (e.g. loud voices or singing, party music, etc) can be very stimulating to a dog. If your dog is in a quiet space away from the festivities, it may be appropriate to mask the sounds of the Christmas party from your dog with their own playlist. There are various calming music tracks for dogs. For example:
https://icalmpet.com/shop/dog-calming-music/
https://www.petacoustics.com/shop?category=Dog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze6vc5c8OvA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCRGevu2Eg0
https://open.spotify.com/show/0STnwcEaUq6mdrs4EKLyux
> Would your dog(s) be best happily occupied while you enjoy your own meal?
- Ensure your dog is in a location where a visitor won't disturb them.
- Time your dog's meal to coincide with your own and maybe
* Scatter your dog's mealtime dry food, so s/he has to fossick for it.
* Deliver the meal in a Stuffed Kong - https://www.kongcompany.com/catalogue/product/ If your dog hasn't had one before, make sure you try out a stuffed KONG with your dog beforehand - they may be uninterested. Dry food alone would just quickly and easily slip out of the Kong, undermining your goal of having your dog happily occupied for quite some time, chewing and licking to get the food out. Mix mealtime food with a jar of human toddler food, a meat casserole variety is ideal, and then spoon into a Classic KONG. (Or you could mix the dry food with meat broth or mashed vegies.) Prepare the stuffed Kongs in advance, popping them into zip-lock bags and then into the freezer until needed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DerdRn8gG50
- Consider handing over a marrow bone, deer antler or some other long-lasting chew.
[Deer antlers - https://antlersfordogs.com.au/collections/antler-chews
Himalayan Dog Chews - https://himalayan.pet/
Bully Sticks - https://kipandtwiggys.com/natural-dog-treats/chews/
Barking Good, 277 Lower Heidelberg Rd Ivanhoe East https://barkinggood.com.au/]
To know whether any of these options are going to appeal to your dog or be appropriate for them, try them out by supervising their use in advance of the 'Big Day'.
Remember, dogs (and people!) can be unpredictable, and they are opportunists.
If you can go into your Xmas function knowing you've thought through your dog's (or any pet's) needs as part of your party preparations, I reckon you'll be much less stressed on the day. Good luck and enjoy yourself!
