Happy Pawlidays!

The holiday season can be scary for a dog! There are all sorts of activity going on, and breaks in your dog’s routine can be stressful for him. Certain holiday items can even be deadly for your beloved pooch; so be very aware of everything new that he is exposed to! Please read the following tips so that you and your pooch can have a wonderful holiday!

Remember, that all the holiday decorations are EXCITING!!! Yup, dogs are perpetual toddlers; so make your house-dog safe this holiday by considering what it takes to make it baby-safe. However, there are also a few more concerns. Dogs are not human, so do not allow him to over-indulge on human food, which will make him sick (yes, I do sneak them a piece of turkey – only what I would eat, no scrap pieces of fat). DO NOT GIVE YOUR DOG CHICKEN OR TURKEY BONES!!! This is a really good time to invest in a long-lasting Nylabone brand Galileo bone (these are not real bones, satisfy the need to chew, are EXTREMELY durable even with aggressive chewers, and can be found at any good pet store). Enough said, keep those munchy bowls OUT OF REACH! Macadamia nuts and chocolate are poisonous (the darker the chocolate the more poisonous – DEADLY! I mean it). Alcohol is also poisonous, so don’t let your pooch be drinking buds with any of the relatives. Oh, and the dog is not a garbage disposal – no giving him fats, gravy, etc… If you feel like he needs some gravy, invest in doggie gravy (they have lots of vitamins as a bonus, i.e. VitaGravy). Your best bet is having your dog stick to his normal feeding schedule and food (remember to deduct any treats and snacks from his daily feeding allotment).

Okay, I know the holidays are stressful for everyone, but they can be downright terrifying for your pooch. Remember that a scared dog is an unpredictable dog, so be prepared. Alleviate stress by giving your dog something to work on. I give my dogs Kongs and then stuff them with yummies for their tummies (use some wet food or (Laura Schuder’s?) ALL NATURAL, reduced fat peanut butter and then stuff in some dry food and a bone to top it off. This is great for a long car ride or when visitors are coming over. I let the dogs chew on their Galileo bones (or a similar chew – even a Nylabone edible bone) while I need to work without them (like wrapping presents). It is so exciting; they really need to do something to channel that energy. The other thing I would suggest is calming your dog down with a nice, relaxing massage. As an added bonus, it will help you bond and most likely will bring your blood pressure down as well. I do this by having my dog lay down on his side and then running my hands flat along their flanks, down each leg, and then I gently massage each paw (did you know that paws are a doggie acupuncture point?). If you don’t have much time or want something to do while chatting up one of the aunts, have your dog sit in front of you and rub his chest (right under his collar) between his front legs. This is also very relaxing, but I wouldn’t do this with a dog that does not respect your authority as it could be seen as submissive. Remember that just petting your pooch is reassurement to him.

Make Sure YOU KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!
Read how to decorate for the dogs
and what to do if they ingest an ornament

Quick Tips:
Mistle-toe, Holly Berries, and Chocolate are all poisonous
Tinsel, Garlands, Ribbons, Light Strings, pine needles and Poultry bones are ingestinal hazards
Light Strings and electric cords can ELECTROCUTE!
Be prepared and go to my holiday safety page

The 12 DOG Days of Christmas

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