Howliday Harmony with the Crew

The holiday season is in full swing. Some love it, some could leave it. The same thing happens with our pets, especially if you have a multiple dog household. If you are the hostess with the mostest during the holidays, then your crew could easily get overwhelmed. The disruption in routines and extra people milling about can cause stress among your crew that you may not even notice.

Maybe your crew loves people and you are wondering what I am babbling about? Well, even those pups who love to ham it up for guests can get tired of always being on when guests are overnighting for days on end. Your crew will need special care during this joyous season, just as you do, to prevent frayed nerves.

Happy Holiday events in the multiple dog home

Sticking with the normal routine for walks and mealtimes as much as possible will greatly assist your crew to stay their usual personable selves. Advising your guests to be respectful of any particular personality quirks that your crew possesses will go a long way towards preserving everyone’s sanity. Make sure that they have a place to go that is off limits to your guests as needed. Quiet time can be restorative. Such a refuge should have some of your dogs’ personal items and be comfy and quietly soothing. Of course, if you have separate quarters for dogs that do not get along, continue with that in all situations. You will just have to be extra vigilant about this when guests are around.

Mealtimes can be a special challenge because you’ll need to monitor the situation so that guests do not dole out inappropriate items to your crew. Plenty of dogs have been harmed by a well meaning person giving a dog some food item that would be better left to the humans. Vicki from Hanover, PA has a great solution for holiday meal times. She plans the festive human meal for her dogs’ regular mealtimes. Her dogs eat in their crates and have a 45 minute rest after every meal. This ensures plenty of time for the human meal time so safety is almost ensured.

Of course, in many homes during holiday celebrations, there are trays of food out other than mealtimes so instructions must be thoroughly drilled into guests if you wish your crew to mingle with the guests! Ensuring ahead of time that your dogs aren’t counter surfers is your best bet for a party that pleases everyone involved, humans and canines.

Many a skittish pup can be easily overwhelmed with extra people around during the holidays. If any of your crew fits in this category more than a bit, then perhaps those pups should be in a quiet room for the duration of the guests attendance if that is practical. A quiet room with some soothing music or a TV playing along with a stuffed Kong and some calming remedies can make a big difference. Aromadog Chill Out spray as well as Composure for dogs can take the edge off of what could easily be a very stressful experience. An anxiety wrap or a Thundershirt can help an especially anxious pup who enjoys wearing clothing. Some dogs require event pharmaceuticals so if your dog fits into that category, talk with your vet about appropriate options well in advance of need for best results. Courtenay in Kamloops, British Columbia crates her more anxious crew members with a frozen Kong and some music from Through a Dogs Ear, as well as various above mentioned offerings.

Keeping the crew calm when out mingling with guests is important if this is the option you choose. Courtenay has a couple of crew members out with guests but they are leashed and asked to showcase their tricks for lots of treats to keep them busy, if this is what they enjoy. Kym from Albany, GA lets her crew run around the yard with the children for a bit. After their run, they go to their room with the door closed to rest for a bit with a low playing TV and plenty of toys. After a nap, they get another run with the children. This allows them to calm down after the excitement. This way cortisol levels can be kept in check.

It is especially important to be aware of your crew’s excitement level when you have extra children in attendance. Children, especially those who do not live with your dogs, may not act appropriately at all times. Being aware of what is transpiring at all times when dogs and children interact together is very important in order to prevent potential problems. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and remove any dog that seems unable to contain his excitement level. Please use the methods mentioned above to do this in the most positive manner possible, because your crew should not associate guests presences with being banished. They should view it favorably. The holiday season can be magical for everyone as long as both dog and human needs are taken into consideration.

Another important scenario where one can be festive but cautious is the gift giving ritual. It is important to be realistic about any resource guarding that a crew member may be prone to. Holiday gifting means high value resources. There are enough tense family situations during the holidays. There is no need to set the scene for the same with your canine family members! So dole out your gifts with care where needed. And have a wonderful and safe holiday season from my crew to yours!