The Holidays are Coming! The Holidays are Coming!

For most of us, the impending time of chaos and glittery things and family visits can be a wonderful, magical time of year.  For my frightened dog, it could be a nightmare.  It doesn't have to be.  I am putting long hours in helping him be better, so I'm taking steps to make sure he doesn't backslide this Christmas. 

If you are facing a holiday season with a nervous or anti-social animal, here's a few ideas on how to keep his state of mind in the "good zone" and not in the "oh mah gawd! They're All Here To Kill Me, I Know It!" place.

1. Do not bring your scared guy with you when you visit the relatives house, if you can help it at all.  Keep your nervous dog in familiar surroundings, and not worry yourself with what "could" happen if so-and-so did this.....

If those relatives live out of town, hire an in-home pet-sitter, or send your dog to a friend (who they are already well familiar with) you trust for the time you are away.

2. If you have visitors to your own home, hide your doorbell.  Seriously.  Remember that conversation we had about Doorbell Insanity?  Mine's getting better, but repeated intrusions from those pesky invaders might set me back a bit at this stage, so I'll be hiding the button under some decorations.  If the weather allows, open the inner door, so your visitors can be seen arriving through the screen or glass door.  This gives you time to do whatever you need to, in order to keep your dogs calm.

3. Speaking of keeping your dogs calm, you may be better off sequestering them in another room for the duration of the party.  Give them something to do, such as a yummy bone or a stuffed and frozen Kong toy (in separate rooms, or kennels for safety if your dogs have ANY propensity for playing the "mine!" game), and put some kind of background noise on.  The television or a radio playing can help mask some of the noises from the rest of the house, and coupled with that yummy bone, they may just think that's a better place to be anyway.

Not only does this calm separation benefit your canine's mind, it will also assuage any fears your guests might have of your dogs.  Sure, your dogs are members of your family, and you love them, but not everyone feels that way.  And unless your dogs have perfect manners, as in, they do not invade the personal space of strangers at all, and can keep their cool, then perhaps you can think of your guests comfort, and remove the dogs.

4. Should you feel you want your dog to be a part of the party, and are at all concerned about his reactions to said environment, leash him.

Keeping him tethered to your side can be a great way to enforce obedience and polite manners, if you are teaching them.....You are teaching them, aren't you? 

This is a fantastic way to introduce him to multiple, different people, and still enforce the Sit politely for petting scenario.  Be sure to speak out on his behalf to your guests too!  Tell them he is learning not to jump, paw, accost, stuff his muzzle into their crotch, whatever, but explain your intentions before you allow your guests to do the ol' "ooooh he's sooooo cuuuuuute!!!!" all over him.

5. There is food everywhere, so Watch Your Dog.  I know, I know, every dog writer brings this up every year, but the increase that veterinarians see in worried owners saying things like "He ate a pound and a half of chocolate covered espresso beans!!!" or "She stole the turkey carcass!" or "Uncle Joe gave him too many beers!" is frightening. 

Should your dog be the thieving kind, a leash is a must!  Or baby-gates to keep them out of the food prep and serving areas.  Little kids dole out all kinds of forbidden treats, simply because they are shorter and more willing to share.  Candy canes hung too low on the tree are fair game, in the dogs opinion, so do your part to keep your dog safe from these things.

6. Alright, so you have a dog who can't handle more than one or two visitors at a time....But the family is visiting....Perhaps sending him to stay somewhere wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.  So long as he is comfortable, and safe with whomever you send him to, remember, his mind is as much your responsibility as is the rest of him.  Do what you feel would be best for him.

Obviously avoiding the scenario altogether won't help him get any better, but if you are not prepared to work with the dog, or talk to your guests about the dog, then find him a place to be.

7. Walk the Dog!  :)

Again I bring up the importance of exercise on the nervous dog's mind.  This goes for not-so-nervous dogs too.  If you're meeting the physical requirements your dog has, his mind has a better chance of processing things in a more "normal" and healthy fashion.  This increases your chances for a calm dog, or one that may surprise you with the strides they are making.

So in the midst of the cooking, baking, visitors, decorating, and other chaos, take some time out and go for a walk.  It will help you calm yourself, and it will breathe new life into what seemed like an overwhelmingly frustrating affair.

But I live where it is just too cold to go for a long walk.
That's ok, you can still find ways to exercise your pup.  Practice some obedience or tricks for about 20 minutes at a time.  If you have a long hallway, you can toss toys or a soft ball.  Play tug o'war.  Take your dog into a private room and play "Find It."  Dig out your copy of "101 Dog Tricks" by Kyra Sundance, and choose a new thing to begin learning.

My brother had an inventive method of exercising his large dog when it was cold:  He would tell the dog to go upstairs.  When the dog did so, he asked for a Sit at the top.  Then he'd call the dog back down the stairs, and ask him to get into the Heel position and Sit again. This went on at least 10 minutes.  You try that and tell me how tired you are at the end....Of course, he spent time beforehand teaching this nonsense to his dog, but you get the idea.

8. Take the time to show your dog it's not as scary as they thought.  I have a dog who is mentally imbalanced.  He doesn't handle changes too well.  If you move a piece of furniture, he won't enter that room, unless leashed and led and patiently allowed to sniff out the change.  This goes for decorating, and the tree and all that stuff.  None of it is up yet, as it isn't quite Thanksgiving yet, but I am preparing for the extra time it will take for him to be acclimated to these changes.  You should have seen his reaction to a snowman last year!!!  Sadly hilarious!

Being patient is the greatest gift I can give him this time of year, and any time of year.  Taking the time your own dog needs to work through, or work around whatever nerves or reactions they may have during this craziness, will ultimately be a Win for you.  As always, if your dog's nervous nature causes her to lash out, work with a professional and do your best to Not put her into those situations.  Be safe.