11/26/2025
Alright everyone,
Here’s some thanksgiving eve tips for you for the next 24 hours! These apply to if you are staying home, going out; or having company! Use one, use them all.
1. If you haven’t already, get your interactive toys ready now. Kongs stuffed, lickimats loaded, whatever you use to help your dog stay busy, out of underfoot, calm and happy, have them ready, and I’d suggest having twice the amount ready too. It’s okay to skip your dogs “regular” meals if you want so that they can just get their calories through toys throughout the day. Use these while you cook, use these as guests come over, or while everyone eats.
2. Have your management strategies prepared. Got a new young dog that jumps on everyone? Get the gate up so you can confine her for the first few minutes while the guests arrive, or place your tether station or crate in a lower traffic spot that still allows for some inclusion. Have a dog that’s super nervous of all the excitement? Get their den ready now so you won’t have to prep anything tomorrow. Bring a crate with you if you need to when you go to visit.
3. Get exercise in. In between the chaos, try to get a few minutes of exercise in with your dog. Lunge whip or flirt pole, fetch, the cheerio tossing game. It will help relieve stress for BOTH of you.
4. Remember trigger stacking. Several difficult situations - new people, different routine, kids screaming, high value food items - all stacked on top of each other in a short period of time can cause some dogs to react in ways they wouldn’t typically. Their tolerance may be lower or they may be more likely to get overwhelmed quickly (I am the same way) so allow for breaks, have a place for your dog to regroup and decompress, and don’t push your dog to the point where they make a mistake that is hard to recover from.
5. Keep food out of reach. Most of the feast we indulge in is usually fairly safe for dogs to ingest. Unless it’s bones, chocolate, raisins and other high fat foods that can cause an emergency. Keep your dog out of the kitchen and dining areas unless you are actively supervising. Leftovers can be divided up later and used for fun the next day!
6. Remember not every dog loves holidays and parties and gatherings and new dogs and people. Don’t feel guilty if your dog stays home. Setting your dog up for success is far more valuable in the long run. They have NO IDEA what thanksgiving is, they just know it smells delicious.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
- Helen St. Pierre
