If your home will be hosting any guests this holiday season, whether for a single meal or a multi day visit, you want to be sure that you have prepared for your dog's comfort and good behavior in addition to preparing the rest of your home.
For some dogs, visitors can be an exciting prospect with more people around to give them attention. For other dogs, visitors can be a cause for concern and overstimulation. Knowing how your dog responds to visitors and taking steps ahead of time to prepare your home and pets will make sure that both your dog and your visitors have a good holiday season in your home.
Preparing Your Dog for Holiday Visitors
If you know how your dog does with visitors, you can prepare accordingly. If this will be the first time that your dog is getting the chance to engage with people in your house, err on the side of caution. Owners of puppies should be prepared to either have their dog under supervision or crated, and plan for plenty of naptimes to avoid having a cranky and mischievous puppy.
For older dogs, the following can help you before visitors and after they arrive:
- Do Some Last Minute Training - If it has been a while since you and your dog have done basic training exercises together, schedule some time for it before visitors get there so you can be sure your dog has the basics down and get comfortable listening to each other again.
- Prepare Your Dog's Space - You want an area of your home where your dog can retreat (or you can put her) when she is in need of quiet and a nap. You may want to move her crate to a more secluded area or a plan for a room where guests won't go that has your dog's bed and toys in it.
- Have Treats and Toys Ready - Distractions will be high when visitors are around. High value treats can help ensure good behavior, and a toy or long lasting chewable treat can help keep your dog busy when you need to distract her.
- Plan for Greeting Guests - Depending on how your dog acts when the doorbell rings or you bring new people home, you may want to put your dog in her crate or another room when new people arrive. You can let her out when she is calm again.
- Advocate for Your Dog - Your guests may not be as conscious of good behavior around dogs as you are, especially with your dog. It is fine to tell your guests that your dog does not want pets, should not be engaged with unless she is calm, or may be spending the visit in another room. This approach means that your dog will be comfortable and there is little chance of accidents occurring from a dog that is overstressed.
It is also a good idea to make sure your dog will get some individualized attention and normal playtime during the holiday season. Scheduling a time around visitors to walk with and cuddle your dog can be a good idea for both of you. Alternatively, if you expect that things will get too rowdy in your home with visitors present, boarding your dog or sending her to daycare might be a better option.
