Foods
Have a plan to keep unusual foods away from your dog. Chocolates are poisonous for dogs if eaten. Keep them out of reach (ideally by giving them to your dog trainer!). Coffee, espresso, macadamia nuts, walnuts, raw potatoes, and alcohol are also dangerous. Dogs should not get large amounts of fat or gravy, and should never get cooked poultry bones (chicken, turkey, game hen, goose, etc.). Similarly, dogs should not consume quantities of onions or onion powder; and some dogs have a toxic reaction to grapes, raisins, and wine. Many dogs will get an upset stomach with a big change in food routines so think twice before letting your dog clean up all the leftovers. Also make sure that food wrappings like aluminum foil and plastic wrap go in secured garbage cans.
Tips:
- Secure your trashcans – have them inside a cabinet, or with a secure lid. Don’t forget bathroom trash if your dog likes to get into smelly or paper products! (I especially like the cans with a lid you have to press directly down on to open – it’s harder for a dog to manipulate!)
- Make sure plates of fudge and other dangers are out of the dog’s reach
- Use a baby gate or fencing to keep your dog out of the kitchen when it’s at its busiest. If your dog has been trained to go lie on a mat or platform outside of the kitchen or dining room door, this is a great time to cue them to do it – but it’s not a great time to start training it.
Decorations
Younger and more curious dogs may want to check out ornaments and maybe try chewing on them. Dogs can break and ingest delicate glass ornaments, tinsel, angel hair, garlands, light bulbs, homemade dough ornaments, and fake spray-on snow. These are all dangerous and may be attractive to some dogs. Call your vet if your dog ingests any of these!
Tips:
- Put these more attractive ornaments out of your dog’s reach, such as high up in a Christmas tree.
- Put candles and oil lamps in a secure area and don’t leave them burning with your dog around unsupervised.
- Have a screen in front of your fireplace or ground-level firepit.
- Watch puppies around electric cords (you can try spraying the cords with Bitter Apple (or a similar chew deterant) or running them through a PVC pipe if they are determined).
- Do not allow your dog to drink the water from a tree stand – keep it covered or fenced off
Guests
Guests in your home might be exciting or scary to your dog – especially after the last few years of Covid when we have had fewer of them! Some dogs might prefer to not meet or spend time with your guests while others might take advantage of these new hands and demand petting or play!
Tips:
- Have your dog on a leash when you greet guests at the door, to minimize door-dashing and jumping up.
- As soon as you’ve greeted your guest, offer your dog an attractive chew project – a long-lasting item like a Kong toy stuffed with frozen wet food, a smoked bone, or a hoof, bully stick or antler.
- For nervous dogs, consider stationing them as far from guests as your space allows, or even putting them in a quiet separate room (with that chew project!).
- Let your guests know to not disturb any dog who is not asking for attention.
- Do not ask shy or fearful dogs to take treats from strangers they’re not comfortable with – it’s an unfair conflict, and many humans seem to have an irresistible urge to reach out and pat a dog who just emptied their hand of a tasty treat!
- Be really clear about what foods guests can give your dog, and let them know if your dog might break into their bags or luggage in search of food.
- Consider setting up an additional fence or gate around your front door so that guests can’t accidentally let your dog out (a baby gate across a front entranceway or fencing outside of the door).
Routines
With school out and vacation from work, your routine might be confusingly, alarmingly different for your dog. Many dogs prefer predictable routines and can be distressed by changes.
Tips:
- Keep at least some aspects consistent, like meal times and walk times.
- Consider using your extra time for longer walks or taking your dog for a nice decompression sniffari (sniff-walk) on a longline (attached to a harness) in a local park (or an off-leash hike, if safe and legal).
- Keep your regular doggy daycare or dogwalker routine if possible.
- Don’t take your dog to crowded shopping centers or festivals unless you’re sure the dog will feel safe and genuinely enjoy it!
