Helping our inquisitive canines through holiday stressors is important for their well-being as well as the safety of your family and guests. The behavior of stressed-out pets can even escalate to aggression if things become overwhelming, particularly this time of year. As inquisitive pet guardians, when we dig deeper and look for the underlying need beneath a dog’s behavior, we can usually find solutions that are mutually beneficial to all of us, including our canine pals. For instance, in addition to possible changes in routine, is there a fear factor, something your pup might be afraid of, associated with this season? During this hectic time of year, accommodate your pets however you can and do your best to prepare them for potentially stressful times as furry family members in our human world.
In the previous post, we focused on problem-solving for holiday situations where dogs might be left alone more than they are used to – or asked to entertain themselves a bit more, when people are around, but busy. Now, let’s focus on ensuring safe, pawsitive interactions between pets and people by 1) preventing stressors from exceeding your pet’s threshold and 2) reminding family and visitors about pet safety guidelines.
Most dogs don’t do yoga, so how can they respond to stress and how can you help? These pro tips are good a place to start:
Pet parents who would like to help a pet who is suffering from fear, anxiety or stress will want to first understand their dog’s stressors and then address them. (One or both of these steps may require assistance from a qualified force-free canine behavior consultant.) Addressing the root of the problem can mean having a more comfortable dog who can adapt more easily to day-to-day challenges, whatever the holidays have in store.
Additionally, using strategic management, positive reinforcement-based training methods and looking at things from your inquisitive canine’s point of view, go a long way in keeping everyone safe and happy during the holiday season – and throughout the year! Include strategizing management of your dog’s environment, and communicating pet safety guidelines to family, friends, and guests, along with the rest of your pawliday preparations. Here are our top tips:
From learning to leave things when asked to being comfortable with visitors, it’s important to lovingly teach our dogs. If this all seems like a lot, just remember, you’re not alone! At The Inquisitive Canine, our #1 goal in all we do is to strengthen the human-canine bond and help build and maintain a loving and joyful relationship. Let us know how we can help you and your inquisitive canine.