3 Tips to Keep Your Dogs Happy for the Holidays
You may not have noticed it, but your home has become significantly busier as soon as December rolled in. Now that the holidays are nearing, you often find yourself occupied with organizing your Christmas list, planning your holiday meals, and so on. On top of that, this is the time where your humble abode is once again full of colorful decorations and glowing string lights.
While all of these events may make you happily busy, these can make your furry friend confused and even overwhelmed. Sometimes, they can even shock your dog and negatively impact her mood and health.
To rescue your dog and help her enjoy the celebrations with you, here are three smart tips worth following:
1. Keep Up Your House Training
One of the best parts about celebrating the holidays is getting to put up your Christmas tree. It’s that thing you’ll love to gaze at as you relax to some Christmas music and sit by your fireplace.
However, your dog may take it as her present and play with it. In the worst cases, she may even pop a pee in it!
To avert this disaster and keep your favorite decoration in one piece, it’s best to keep up your furry friend’s basic house training. While this may seem like added work, you’ll find that this practice will help you keep things inside your house in order, and it will keep your dog occupied with the comforts provided by routine. A dog training routine, even if it's just a small thing like shake, stay, or lay down, is a great way for you and your dog to bond. Finding consistency in your at-home dog training will help reinforce the learning and if your dog is anxious by Christmas decorations like a big tree in the middle of the house, training near the tree can help them get more comfortable.
P.L.A.Y. Training Pouch for Dogs
2. Ease Their Anxiety Towards Postmen
The holiday season tends to be the time for increased online purchases and deliveries. On top of that, since social gatherings are still prohibited, friends and family are likely to send their gifts instead.
This means that you’ll most likely be having postmen knocking on your door a couple of times throughout the day.
This can be a major anxiety trigger for your dog; for them, it’s as if a stranger is breaking into your home now and then. Consequently, these frequent doorbells and buzzers will only drive her to bark as loud as she can to get your attention.
To help ease your pup’s anxiety, it’s a great idea to thank them for barking then proceeding to move them to another room right away. You may also walk them away once they start to bark loudly at the postman standing by your front door. Negative reinforcement is rarely encouraged when it comes to training your dog regarding strangers.
An alternative opportunity for you and your postman is to let your mailcarrier and your dog meet each other, provided both parties are open to the idea! We've all seen the videos of dogs that love going out to help the postman with the daily mail!
Dog and Mailman Have the Sweetest Relationship
3. Make Sure to Keep Your Playtime With Your Dog
The holidays can be particularly eventful. With that said, they can also become stressful at some point, especially if you’re becoming overwhelmed with all the preparations. Sometimes, you cannot help but get into arguments with your family, raise your voice, and maybe even shout at each other.
However, you should always remember that your dog feeds off your emotions and actions. Witnessing such fighting will only make them anxious and stressed.
It is for this reason that finding time to pause and play with your dog is important, no matter how busy you can get. This will give you enough time to have some quality playtime with your furry friend while clearing your mind and refreshing yourself at the same time.
Conclusion
The nearing holiday season will surely be busy for you and your whole family—including your furry friends! On top of that, it’s worth mentioning that all of these stimuli may overwhelm them or even negatively impact their health. Because of this, you must also pay attention to them despite the busyness that will ensue. Following the three tips mentioned above will help you keep your dog safe and help her enjoy the celebrations with you!
Make sure you’re also loaded with yummy treats for your dog this season! If you haven’t found the right holiday treat yet, consider buying them at Earthwise Pet! We’re the go-to shop for natural pet foods and awesome pet supplies in Marysville, WA. Browse through our products today to start shopping!