By Pro Trainer Annie Phenix, ACB-KSA
Ok, I admit it.
Writing a headline that says: Your Dogs Hates the Holidays!” is a click bait headline. But it worked, right? You are here reading, maybe even rage reading. Please don’t be mad at me — keep reading!
I don’t know if YOUR dog hates the holidays because I don’t know your individual dog (unless we’ve worked together of course). I do know as an accredited canine professional who has worked with thousands of other people’s dogs that MANY dogs do not like the holidays.
And that’s okay – why should they? Holidays are created by and for humans. Holidays make no sense to our dogs. We have to guide them through our chaotic celebrations and help them adjust to our human merry making.
I am writing for these dogs – do any of these dogs sound like your dog?:
√ Dogs who are nervous around new people/strangers
√ Dogs who thrive on routine and routines don’t include big holidays
√ Dogs who get anxious around new stimuli
√ Shy dogs, anxious dogs, dogs in pain, newly rescued or adopted dogs
√ Territorial dogs
√ Dogs we’ve bred to be protective over their owners and homes
√ Noise sensitive dogs
√ Puppies who just lost the only home they ever knew and the comfort of their Mom
√ Dogs who act like “the police” and want everyone to just settle down
What kind of dog do you have: one who loves the holidays or hates the holidays?
If you happen to have a unicorn dog who easily tolerates new people in their home, lot’s of chaos, running, climbing and screaming children hyped on sugar, a house smelling of human good food they shouldn’t eat, some drunk adults behaving oddly, loud noises and tons of human activity and high emotion – I am so happy for you! You got the jackpot dog. Go on and enjoy your incredible lives together!
If you have the other kind of dog – like the ones mentioned above that are in fact like most family pets – I have an invitation for you.
A Free Webinar to Prepare Your Dog for the Holiday Crush
I have created a FREE webinar – Create Canine Calm During the Holiday Crush – that will give you five real-world, smart tips for a safe holiday for both you and your furry best friend. You can access this free webinar in our private, supportive and always ethical group in Heartbeat – The Canine Trauma Clinic.
Here is the truth of the matter: we have to have a plan!
A funny thing happens without a plan for safety: chaos. Putting a dog into a chaotic situation strips that dog of her sense of safety and without safety, behavioral problems will begin to show up.
Dogs need to feel safe and especially in their own homes. None of us are good learners or even well-adjusted companions if we are walking on eggshells, living a hypervigilant lifestyle or we are stressed out.
We owe it to our dogs to shield them and offer them their own safe, quiet spaces as we go about our world doing our human things.
Read more about how dogs need us to keep them safe.
If you would like professional help in creating a plan for the next three months of holiday mischief-making to keep your dog safe, email me: annie@phenixdogs.com.
