11/12/2024
Rest is really important for wellbeing.
Do you feel a bit less tolerant (or a lot more grumpy!) after a few nights of poor sleep? Your dog does too!
Your dog will ideally be resting for significant portions of the day, as well as overnight.
This is of particular relevance when routines change. Our homes can become much busier and noisier than usual in the run up to and during festive celebrations.
We can tend to rush around, spending more time planning and organising, and then there's the catering for everyone, particularly on the main celebration days.
Most dogs aren't used to the general increase in noise, movement and novelty levels that can accompany the arrival of all the decorations, more visitors than usual, excited young children, adults having maybe had a glass or two in the party spirit, and favourite festive tunes being played at volume.
Our timetables change over the festive period too. If you work, you'll likely be home more, or be working different hours. If you work at home, or if you don't work you'll probably have a different structure to your day for a week or two.
Planning ahead and setting-up a quite place for your dog to settle, away from the high traffic areas of your home is a good way to show them that you've thought about their wellbeing. It'll help your dog get the most out of the festivities too.
Christmas at our home is deliberately a quiet affair with few visitors and fuss. You're maybe thinking that's not really very festive?
For us celebrations are about everyone feeling relaxed and comfortable in our home, and that most definitely includes our dogs.
You'll know if you've followed my page for a while that Woody with big feelings about life, and that includes about people visiting our home.
He's been doing really well, making super choices around familiar family and close friends this year. For other visitors he may say a brief hello, or not at all depending on how he feels about it.
Having a space away from visitors, and the busier area of the house is really helpful. It allows Woody to relax and not be forced into a situation where he'll struggle to make good choices and that he'll likely find overwhelming.
Both my dogs are happy in crates, but we have a quiet space set-up for Woody. It’s away from any visitors so we can periodically check on him, but he’s not otherwise disturbed.
He has free access to food enrichment options and toys, a comfy den to rest in, space to move around in and of course water. It's somewhere he's familiar with through day-to-day use too, so no extra surprises.
Your dog may be super sociable and always seem very pleased to see every visitor over the festive period. It's very likely that they'll also appreciate a quiet space to get away from it all, at least once in a while, to help with getting the amount of rest they need.
I know from experience that it can be hard for some visitors to understand that they aren't going to get to greet or make a fuss of your dog.
'It's not fair if he/she doesn't get to see me.',
'That's really mean not letting him/her have a fuss.'
'You're not helping him/her keeping him/her out of the way.'
Really, all that matters is that your dog feels safe and comfortable in their own home, regardless of the time of year, or your visitors' opinions!
At a time when everything else might be a bit different, that may mean no greeting visitors, however well-meaning they might be. Especially unfamiliar visitors. I'd include those you know find your dog's greeting protocol a little challenging to follow in this category too!
Planning ahead makes everything a little less stressful and a whole lot more enjoyable, for you and your dog.
Tara
Paws & Minds
🐾🧠
