Yes, It IS Good Enough!

You know how I'm always talking about letting your dogs sniff on their walks?  Well, I had someone reach out to tell me that they try and try and try to do this, but they find it so aggravating that it can't be all that rewarding for their dog as they so clearly hate it themselves!  I appreciated this person's candor; it IS hard to change the way we do anything, whether that's the way we walk our dogs or the way we approach exercise for ourselves.  Both require us to change our mindset, cut ourselves some slack knowing mistakes/setbacks happen, and enjoy the process as much as we can.  Here's what I mean.

I'm a runner.  I'm not particularly fast, but I am consistent, what other runners refer to as a pacer.  If you want to teach yourself to keep a consistent speed, run with me.  I run the same pace whether I'm running in a 5K or I'm running for fun on a random Tuesday.  I do, however, run splits to challenge myself, especially if I have a race coming up.  A split is the time it takes a runner to run a certain distance, say a mile, when the race itself is longer than that.  You look at your split times to see how you can work up to different pacing strategies to get you through a race. A negative split means running the second half of your run faster than the first half.  Runners who do endurance runs, or who want to improve their overall time, work on this a lot.  A positive split means running the second half of your run at a slower pace than the first half.  People who run mostly for fun do this.  And then there are those who do even splits which is running each mile at the exact same pace, which is your split time, like a 10-minute mile. So, why am I telling you all this?  I'd like you to try approaching your walks with your dog like a runner doing splits.  

Divide your walk into segments.  Maybe allow your dog to sniff and relieve themselves for the first ten minutes of your walk.  Pause, tell them it's go time, and spend the next ten minutes speed walking, no stopping to sniff, focusing on your breathing, length of stride, and encouraging your dog to keep their head up and match your pace.  Then pause, and either return to the slower, sniffing pace (a positive split), or pick up the pace yet again, maybe trotting or jogging with your dog if they are healthy enough to do that (a negative split).  Finish your walk with a cool down, meaning a slower pace full of deep breathing for you, looking around and enjoying the view, and a sniff and final bathroom break for your dog.  By dividing your walk into splits, you allow yourself the opportunity to get some exercise, but you also give your dog what they need, ample time to sniff and explore.  By doing the pause in between splits, you give your dog the opportunity to note that a change is happening.  It allows them to prepare and know what you expect of them.  Here's an example.

When I walk with Ozzie and Henley together, we maintain a consistently slower pace for the entire walk, lots of sniffing and exploring.  Ozzie is 11 years old and his pace has slowed greatly; he now only runs if he sees a squirrel worth chasing!  That slow pace is somewhat frustrating for Henley, however, as he likes to walk quite a bit faster between sniffs.  How do I make the walk work for both of them?  I still do splits, they are just slower paced overall.  On the "no sniff" split, I pick up the pace just slightly and encourage Ozzie to move by saying things like,"what's that over there?!" which causes his head to come up and him to trot forward to look.  That way, Henley can move along at the pace he enjoys more.  Now, when I walk Henley alone, we do that exact pattern I described in the previous paragraph; the first ten minutes of our walk is for sniffing and toileting, and the remaining 35 minutes is broken into three, ten minute splits where we speed walk, then jog, then run, before our five minute cool down, positive split, at the end.  

Doing something like splits on your walks will give you the opportunity to get a bit of exercise which is what most people tell me is the problem with these sniff and stroll walks, not enough cardio for the human!  The cool thing about doing splits with your dog, however, is that they will get into better physical shape as well.  And your walks will ultimately be less frustrating because you are getting your cardio and your dog is getting their sniff time, and you are both feeling satisfied with the outing overall, which was the goal, right?  To enjoy your walks together.

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

So my daughter and I both walk Zelly.  I often walk her with Henley which means she does splits as I outlined above.  My daughter does sniff and strolls with her mostly, but they also hike once to twice a week, working on their stamina with hills.  My daughter is also a runner and she will begin training with Zelly during the summer to do canicross, which are races you can do with your dog. Zelly has learned to pace with me, so I have no doubt she and my daughter will be placing in canicross races in the not so distant future.

        

Why Some Dogs Resist Change

I received an email from one of my favorite clients. She was stumped as to why one of her dogs wasn't readily accepting the new crate she had purchased. She'd upgraded her dogs' crates to a newer style, more durable, and from a company that she'd followed online, waiting patiently for them to release an a-frame style “dog den” that she thought both of her dogs would love. While one dog readily accepted the upgraded crate, the other did not, avoiding the new crate, even with coaxing only going inside for a few moments before wanting to come right back out. She doesn't seem afraid of the new den-style crate, she'll sniff it and explore it, she just won't go in it on her own. My client had removed the door, put the dog's bedding inside, and still her dog wouldn't go in there willingly, let alone sleep inside it. It's been almost a month now and still no headway is being made so she reached out to me for advice.

First and foremost, change is not always easy, for any of us. Even with humans, some of us find change challenging, and for some, even anxiety-provoking. When it comes to change, our dogs and cats are not so different from us. While they might eagerly embrace a new toy or treat, sweeping changes to their food (such as a reduction in amount given), daily routine (fewer walks, for example), or schedule (perhaps fed at a later time) can result in unexpected stress. Necessary changes need to be done gradually, when possible, to minimize resistance on the part of our pets. When it comes to dog beds, crates, or just their general sleeping arrangements, dogs can be pretty particular. But again, not so different from some of us. Here's an example.

For many humans, a stay in a hotel can be exciting and something to look forward to: A trip away from home, a much needed vacation, or just a necessary part of life for someone on the road for work. Adjusting to life in a hotel room, including sleeping in an unfamiliar bed, however, can take some travelers a couple of days/nights to become comfortable enough to sleep as they would at home in their own rooms/beds. The same is true for our dogs.

When we get rid of an old sofa or chair, we may see that as a good thing. The piece of furniture needed replacing as it was worn or maybe it just didn't fit in with our lifestyle, color palette, or evolving personal style anymore. For our pets that used that piece of furniture as a vantage point for watching the outdoors, or as a place to nap during the day or sleep at night, removal of that favored piece of furniture can be traumatizing, even if you replace it with a new sofa or chair in the same location. It doesn't look right, smell right, or feel right to them, much as that hotel bed, while nice, doesn't feel quite right to some travelers. I've known cats and dogs who will no longer sit on a sofa or chair because it's not “their” sofa or chair. Same goes for dog crates.

When we replace a dog crate, even one that is frayed, filthy, has a broken zipper, or no longer fits the dog it is meant to house, that is worrisome to the dog who previously called that crate home. The new crate could be the exact style, color, etc. of the previous one, but it's not going to feel the same to them. And if you, like my client, replace the old crate with a completely differently designed crate, despite being the same size and in the same location as the previous crate, your dog might resist and feel anxious about all of the changes. So, what can you do when you really need to replace your pet's sleeping space?

First off, recognize that it might not go according to plan with a quick acceptance of the new arrangement. Don't get rid of the old crate until you're sure that your dog will accept the new one. If possible, place the old crate, or part of it, inside the new crate. Don't wash the bedding from the old crate, but use it in the new space to increase the familiarity. You can wash it later once they've accepted the new space as home. You can even try placing the old crate facing the new crate and gradually make the old crate less appealing by moving the bedding to the new space and adding a spacer or block to make the old crate less inviting as it seems to be shrinking in size. If your dog still resists the new crate, try feeding them their meals solely in the new crate. Give them puzzles to solve in there as well. Treats should be given only for using the new crate; the longer they remain in the crate, additional rewards can come. All of this should be done without a door on the new accommodations. After they will willingly eat in the new crate, and wait there calmly for treats, you can begin experimenting with having the door on the crate but left open, and then build up to door on the crate and closed.

Finally, some dogs benefit from the use of DAP, dog appeasing pheromones, sprayed inside and around the new crate. These pheromones mimic the smell of a nursing mother dog. A couple of brands to consider are Adaptil (it's been the around the longest and is the best researched) and Zenidog, also a well-researched product.  Adaptil has the advantage of being available in a spray as well as a plug-in diffuser, while Zenidog doesn't have the spray, just the diffuser. Diffusers are great if the crate is located in a small space such as the corner of a room. If the crate is more centrally located in a room, or part of a much larger space, diffusers aren't going to be as useful as the spray that can be used directly in the crate's location.

It's also true that if your pet already has anxiety, whether that is separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, noise sensitivities, or some other issue related to anxiety, any changes you make to their world will likely take an adjustment period. How long that adjustment will be really depends on how your pet has coped with previous changes. If it took weeks for them to adapt to the new couch or they resisted a new diet for almost a month when you had to change their food, then it's likely that the new crate will take at least that long if not longer given the importance of that crate to their psychological well-being. We train our dogs to see their crates as their dens and safe-havens, a place to hole up when they are tired, to decompress when they are anxious, and to recharge when they are overwhelmed. If we are changing that space, we can absolutely expect some resistance. Hopefully, by making the change gradual, using the crate in crate method, when possible, utilizing old bedding, feeding and rewarding them there, you can eventually get your dog to accept their new accommodations, albeit begrudgingly at first. Definitely figure in extra time to make that adjustment if your pet has issues in anxiety already. This doesn't mean you should never change anything in your dog's world, or never make changes for an anxious pet. It simply means you need to be aware of how they will perceive those changes. Dogs are territorial, so changing their beds, couches, chairs, or crates takes an adjustment period. The more things stay the same, the easier those transitions can be, meaning if you can replace a worn bed with the exact same style, or replace the dirty, dilapidated crate with the same style, the more likely your dog will accept the change. When you change multiple things all at once, a new crate of a different style, for example, resistance by your dog is to be expected. Time to break out the good treats and start working on ways to make that new crate a positive for them just as the purchase was a positive for you.

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

The perfect graphic from @max_the_mini_sheepadoodle on Instagram

Have Some Fun During Train Your Dog Month!

What began as National Train Your Dog Month back in 2010 has now become a global call to action as International Train Your Dog Month. Devoting the month of January to sharing information on positive, science-based, training practices, opportunities to enrich your dog's life, and best practices when seeking out classes and trainer support were the goals for the Association of Pet Dog Trainers back then and still are their goals today for the month of January and beyond. As you might have guessed, I have been an APDT member since the group began back in 1993 when it was started by Dr. Ian Dunbar, a veterinarian and behaviorist. 

For Train Your Dog Month 2026, I'd like to try something a bit different: I'd like to make this a combination of dog-focused New Year's resolutions through fun training options for them, adding in activities to build and enhance your bond. I completely support those of you taking your puppies and dogs to training classes and activities, but I know a lot of dog and puppy owners who aren't taking classes for one reason or another, who might like to have a concrete plan they can follow for the month of January to help establish good training practices with their dogs, with activities that are easy and fun to do.  I think that's really important because if you aren't enjoying this stuff, how in the world can we expect your dog to have a good time?  

Here's a sample training plan involving exercise, mental stimulation, and positive reinforcement for your dog. You can modify this plan based on their age and abilities meaning if you've got a puppy, you may need to shorten the walks and repeat the training sessions for them to have success.  If you've got a senior dog, you may again need to shorten walks and they may need easier training sessions as well to avoid getting over-tired, sore, or frustrated. 

Week 1 (that's what's left of this week!): 

Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday: Two 30 minute walks where the goal is to let them sniff and explore.  Use a long line instead of your regular leash so that they can freely explore while still safely being leashed. For these three days, feed them one of their meals in a puzzle, slow-feeder bowl, snuffle mat, or even just tossing the kibble out on the lawn for them to forage around and find. Finally, spend 3-5 minutes each day teaching them a new trick.  For example, if they already know "shake," teach them high 5, high 10, or wave.

Saturday & Sunday:  Still do those two walks, but make one of the walks an adventure.  Take them to the beach, a hiking trail, or even a local park they've not been to before.  Let them set the pace of the walks and make yourself live in the moment with them. For these two days, hand-feed one meal and then feed the other meal as you would regularly. Hand-feeding slows down the process and enhances your bond with your dog.  Have them do small, easy behaviors for you as you hand-feed them. For your 3-5 minutes of training each of these days, you will play a game with your dog.  You can hide from them and have them find you; you can hide a toy for them to find; you can set up a mock agility course in your family room using whatever is handy, tables and chairs, soccer cones, laundry baskets, etc.  Just move along with your dog, guiding them around, over, and under the obstacles.  Use treats and praise to keep them moving!

Week 2 (January 12-18):

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday add in a short, third walk midday, if possible. If you can't add in a third walk, just increase the length of one of their regular walks.  Feed both meals a day in puzzles, slow feeder bowls, etc. And for their 3-5 minutes of training, focus on teaching them a cooperative care exercise.  The most basic exercise involves teaching them to place their chin in your hand and hold their body steady.  For other ideas and information on cooperative care, visit my previous blog post on that topic here: 

https://juliebondanimalbehaviorist.blogspot.com/2022/02/teaching-cooperative-care-to-puppies.html

Tuesday & Thursday:  Carry a different, novel treat on your walks (you should always have treats, right?!) and surprise your dog with that new reward when they sit to cross the street, leave something alone on the ground, or simply make good eye contact with you when asked.  For your 3-5 minutes of training, teach one more cooperative care behavior.  If they've mastered chin, lay a wash cloth or small towel on your lap and have them place their chin on your lap, and hold, while you briefly touch their face and ears.

Saturday & Sunday:  An adventure walk one day and a playdate on the other, *if* your dog likes other dogs. If your dog doesn't like other dogs, or they don't have a best friend available for a playdate, you can be your dog's play partner.  Grab a flirt pole or their favorite toy and spend 10 minutes running around together.  For their meals, put half in their regular bowl and then have them work for the remaining half, showing off their tricks or favorite behaviors.  For your 3-5 minutes of training, work with them on stay.  If they've already got a solid stay, increase the difficulty level by putting them into the stay near an open doorway that you go through without them!  Break out their favorite treats for this exercise.

Week 3 (January 19-25):

This is your novelty week.  Each day you will do one new thing with your dog.  This could be a new place to walk or a new friend to walk with.  Maybe it means a new puzzle for mealtimes or a new snuffle mat or snuffle ball.  It could even mean a new chew for your dog, just be sure to choose a toy with an eye toward mental stimulation and jaw exercise like a Benebone wishbone, Honest Chew antler, or Red Barn bone. If you're having trouble finding the time for something new to do with your dog each day, just teach them a new trick, spending at least 3 minutes with them working on it.

Week 4 (January 26-31):

This is your dog's self care week!  Monday you will brush/comb/grooming mitt their body.  Keep an eye out for mats, burs, or itchy areas that may need extra care.  

Tuesday is for toes.  Clip their toenails, dremel their nails, or simply handle their feet if their nails don't need trimming or you can't work on their nails safely yourself.

Wednesday is teeth brushing day.  You'll need a dog toothbrush, soft bristled child's toothbrush, or finger brush along with pet-friendly toothpaste for this.  If you've never brushed your dog's teeth before, start with peanut butter or cream cheese on your finger and move around inside their mouth, letting them lick that finger as it moves around.  Work up to putting the peanut butter or cream cheese on the finger brush or their toothbrush and moving that around in their mouth.  Now you're ready for the dog toothpaste!  Note:  Don't use human toothpaste for your dog.  Since dogs don't spit out the toothpaste they have to have toothpaste formulated for pets that can be safely swallowed.

Thursday is "bath day."  This might mean an actual bath, but it could also mean running some pet grooming wipes over their body to freshen them up. Or, it could mean waterless shampoo and a towel dry.  Just give them a little pampering with an eye to making them smell great when it's all over.  Because most dogs don't like baths, be sure to include lots of treats and praise if you're getting them into a tub or shower for their pampering.

Friday is ear and eye check day.  Break out the pet wipes and wipe around your dog's eyes and inside their ears, keeping to the pinna area (the area away from the actual ear canal). If they've mastered the cooperative care behaviors (chin and/or chin on lap), have them do that for their eye and ear cleaning.

Saturday & Sunday:  Quiet time/meditation.  Sit on a pillow or yoga mat near your dog on the floor or their bed.  Breath deeply and sit quietly, letting your mind wander.  You can add in a few gentle strokes for your dog if you like (and if they enjoy that).  Remind them that they are very sweet, very good, and very loved. Quiet time with your dogs is as important as the physical and mental exercise you've been doing with them all month long!

I have to share a funny store with you.  The last time I did this quiet time/meditation exercise with Henley, he couldn't stop wagging his tail while we were doing the deep breathing.  That made me laugh, then he thunked his paws at me on the floor, which just made me laugh more.  He threw his head back, giving a couple happy "woos" and then ran off to bring me a toy, dropping it in my lap and ending the meditation on a decidedly playful note.  Ozzie, by contrast, fell asleep with his head on my leg during our quiet time together.  That brought me a lot of joy as well.

Let me know which of the exercises you and your dog enjoyed the most during the month of January and keep up the good work for the rest of 2026!  As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

I still had some homemade pupsicles in my freezer!  So, the big surprise enrichment opportunity for the dogs yesterday was pupsicles. Normally this is a summertime treat, so they were pretty excited.  Here's Zelly taking it slow and enjoying every bite.

A Catalyst for Conversations

I received a holiday card and thank you note from a veterinarian friend. In the note she said this about my weekly blog, "Thank you for always being a catalyst for good conversations on pets and their well-being." I love this!  She regularly shares my blog with her clients, both on her hospital's website and in their newsletter, which I appreciate.  The whole point of establishing my blog back in 2017 was to have an entertaining way to provide information on issues related to animal behavior through the sharing of stories and client journeys with their pets.  When COVID-19 hit, my blog provided a much needed communication outlet for me during a time when we were all shut indoors with our pets and feeling anxious.  I feel like many of you became regular readers of my blog at that time and for that, I am eternally grateful.

I plan to continue writing weekly about the pets I see in my practice, as well as my own beloved collies. I will continue to share stories that I hope entertain you as much as they educate you about the fascinating world of animal behavior. I really enjoyed sharing my memoir with you all this year and I am excited to share that my first children's book will be coming out sometime in 2026.  The illustrator is busily working on the whimsical art for the book which I think many of you will enjoy.  I don't want to give too much away ahead of time, but the book features the adventures of a smooth collie.  Given that I've shared my home with several of them, I feel pretty confident that I've captured their essence, brains, and beauty with the story.  Hopefully you will enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed creating it.  More details to come soon.

In the meantime, I hope you all have a very happy and healthy New Year ahead.  As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

Hmm.  Wonder if the kid's book is about me?

Holiday Apple Pie for Dogs!

Every year since he was a little kid, my son has requested Dutch Apple Pie for dessert on Christmas Day. This has always been a big deal given the fact that he's never really liked sweets. On his first birthday when given cake, he wouldn't take more than one bite, so the fact that we discovered he loved my grandmother's Dutch Apple Pie recipe, means that it has become a holiday go-to for family dessert.  Now, you know I love sharing what I eat with my dogs, in moderation of course.  Dutch Apple Pie, however, is not dog friendly (too much sugar!), so I had to find something similar that was dog friendly and that I could quickly whip up for my dogs to enjoy for their holiday dessert.  Here's their favorite Holiday Apple Pie, collie tested, veterinarian approved:

Ingredients for pie crust:

1 & 3/4 cups oats

3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

Ingredients for pie filling:

1 apple peeled, cored, and chopped (I use a Granny Smith as they are naturally lower in sugar, but you can use any apple you have on hand as long as you peel, core, and chop it)

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

Greek yogurt for "whipped topping"

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Blend the oats into flour using a blender, food processor, or magic bullet blender.  Dump the ground oats into a bowl and add the applesauce, mixing them together with a rubber spatula (it's kind of sticky)  to create your pie crust.

Spread the pie crust into 4 mini silicon pie shells (these are reusable and easy to pop the pies out of for your dogs, but you can also use the mini aluminum or paper pie dishes if you have those on hand).

Bake the pie crusts for 10 minutes.

While the pie crusts bake, peel, core, and dice the apple and mix with the 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce.

Let the pie crusts cool briefly and then spoon in the filling and top with a dollop of Greek yogurt. Serve immediately!

I hope your dogs enjoy their pies as much as mine do.  Now it's time to make that Dutch Apple Pie as  my son will be home soon!

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

My kitchen assistants on baking day!

Your Dog's Wishlist for Santa!

There used to be this television ad that ran during the holidays when I was a kid.  It was for the ASPCA and it basically showed sad dogs, shivering in the cold and the voice-over stated that all dogs wanted for the holidays was a warm bed and home to call their own.  That ad always got to me, but when it popped into my head today, I realized how many more things dogs really want.  So, let's have some fun with this.  I'll give you the top five things I think dogs would put on their holiday wish list, if they could write!  Then, you can share in the comments what you think your dog would ask for from Santa.  Here goes:

1.  Walks filled with sniffs and exploring opportunities. Most of the dogs I see aren't getting in enough sniffing time on their walks. Owners and dog walkers seem rushed, eager to get their step count or move on to the next thing on their to-do list.  This rush to get the walk done robs dogs of the chance to sniff and explore.  Given that most dogs only get out for free time when they are on a leash, this means that they are really getting short-changed.  Dogs need time to sniff as it releases tension and stress and allows them to gather information about their surroundings and all the other animals and people there.  Slow down, let them sniff, and don't rush your walks!

2.  A variety of chewing options. Dogs need to chew.  Their mouths are designed for it.  They have strong jaw muscles made for gnawing on tough items.  While many vets caution the use of real bones for dogs for fear that they may splinter, create a blockage, or break teeth, there are plenty of other chewing options available.  There are edible marrow bones, dental chews, bullysticks, collagen bones, yak cheese, etc.  Chewing on bone-like items stimulates the production of saliva, massages a dog's gums, and can even help remove plaque from their teeth.  If you are concerned about the safety of a bone or other hardcore chewing option for your dog, talk to your vet. They can assess your dog's dental health and make recommendations on the best chewing options for your particular canine companion.

3. Puzzles and interactive toys. Every dog needs mental stimulation.  Walks, a game of fetch, and relieving themselves in the yard aren't enough.  Dogs are very smart, capable animals.  They co-evolved with humans who relied on their keen senses to locate and kill prey.  Dogs like to solve problems, especially if that problem helps them find something to eat.  Snuffle mats, snuffle balls, lick mats, and all of the wonderful puzzle toys from Outward Hound (they bought all of Nina Ottosson's designs) and Trixie (they actually make puzzles for cats too!) are good options for your dogs.  Having more than one puzzle means being able to rotate what you give to your dog, increasing their interest in solving the problem.

4.  A job. The job your dog will enjoy most depends on their breed, age, and interests.  Herding dog like to herd, sure, but a lot of them also enjoy agility and flyball.  Retrievers also enjoy agility and flyball, but you can likely add in water sports like dock diving for them as well.  Terriers and Dachshunds like to run and dig and can often be found enjoying nose work as well as faster paced sports like flyball.  Most dogs enjoy rally and that's a great sport for senior dogs too.  Experiment with different classes or sports and figure out what your dog enjoys the most, which might not necessarily be what you enjoy the most, and that's okay.  This is a job for them, not for you!

5.  The ability to enjoy their on-leash time free of fear or pain. When you are choosing the style of collar or harness for your dog, give some real thought to how that device will feel when they are wearing it.  Collars, harnesses, and leashes are all items designed to keep dogs safe.  Pick one that does that without also causing your dog pain in the process.  If your dog pulls on leash, don't immediately think you must need a pinch collar.  Instead, consider whether a harness like those from 2Hounds might better keep your dog from pulling while not using pain to get them to comply.  

I'm looking forward to reading your dog's wish list for Santa!  Ozzie, Henley, and Zelly are all hoping for some new puzzles this year.  Pretty sure I'll be able to help Santa with that.

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me. 

Westley loved puzzles.  This one from Trixie was rather difficult, but he persevered until he mastered it.  It was interesting: Ozzie hated this puzzle as it took too long to solve.  He'd get frustrated and walk away.  But Westley? He'd keep at it until he'd found every hidden compartment filled with kibble and treats.

Helpful Holiday Strategies

Hanukkah is fast approaching (beginning on December 14 this year) and Christmas is just two weeks away as well.  A lot of my clients are feeling the pressure already to get everything done and make everything perfect for their friends, families, and loved ones.  I get it.  I like to get my Christmas tree up early and my house decorated so I can enjoy the festivities as long as possible.  But putting up a tree and decorations, and wrapping presents, with big dogs underfoot? Not an easy task.  I like to think my dogs are well-behaved.  They know what they are supposed to be doing and what is off limits.  The holidays, however, bring so many temptations, that even my dogs can get into a little trouble, landing them on Santa's naughty list, on occasion. I have put together some strategies that work for me to keep mishaps and shenanigans to a minimum, thus reducing my holiday stress and ensuring that we all have a good time.

1.  Don't put away those crates, pens, and gates just yet. Just because your puppy is all grown up, or you have adult dogs who've not needed confinement in years, using those options during the holidays can be a game changer. Need your dogs to stay out of the kitchen while you are preparing food?  Put up that gate.  Need your dog to stay away from the tree?  Put up a pen around it.  Need your dog to stop rushing the door as people come and go?  Put them in their crate with something fun to do, or inside that exercise pen. While I agree that gates and pens aren't all that attractive, they get the job done by creating obvious, enforceable boundaries for our dogs. The bottom line is this:  You can absolutely teach your dog to stay out of the kitchen, away from the tree, and not to bolt out the front door, but two weeks before the holidays is not the time to be doing that training. You'll be stressed out, your dog will be anxious about getting it right, and no one will have a good time. Embrace the gates and pens and decorate them with some garland as well!

2.  Plan ahead. Let your dog check out that tree before you add lights and ornaments.  If they get in some good sniffs in advance, they'll be less likely to dive into it when you bring it indoors and start decorating.  Don't put anything but plain water into the tree stand and clean up fallen needles regularly as they can cause stomach upset.  You don't want them drinking from there at all, but best to make sure that if they sneak a sip, it's just water. Only put non-breakable, non-toxic, durable ornaments down low.  You can expect your puppy to pull down at least one ornament, so let's make sure no one gets hurt! 

3.  Limit risk of exposure to poisons and toxins. I love poinsettias, mistletoe, holly, and amaryllis, but if someone brings them to my house as a gift, they immediately get placed strategically somewhere the dogs can't reach them and where any falling petals, needles, leaves, or berries won't land where curiosity might get the best of my dog friends.  If you are wrapping up edible treats like candy, cookies, etc. don't put them under your tree; leave those wrapped gifts up on a table or in a closet and bring them out when it's time for unwrapping.  And if you wrap presents for your dogs like I do, those gifts should stay safely tucked away until Christmas morning!

4.  Don't tempt them unnecessarily. My dogs are great at not touching plates, bowls, glasses, etc. on low tables as it's something we've practiced since they were puppies.  However, I don't tempt fate by walking away from plates piled high with novel holiday goodies and cups filled with yummy smelling beverages.  Dogs can be tethered, crated, penned, or kept behind a gate safe and sound.  Don't relegate your dogs to a part of your house away from all of the fun and activities, however.  Instead, keep them where they can safely see and participate without risk of over-indulging or intoxication.  One exception to this is if  you have a very fearful, aggressive, or overly protective dog.  Dogs who are afraid of new people and new experiences, or those who will aggressively defend and protect their owners or their homes from visitors should be confined away from the holiday activities.  Confinement is not punishment, so don't feel guilty or ashamed about doing so. You are protecting your guests, reducing your liability, and giving your dog some peace of mind.  Check on them regularly, give them bathroom breaks, and make sure you leave them things to do during their necessary confinement.  

5.  Maintain your usual schedule as much as possible. For some of my clients, it's hard enough to maintain a regular schedule during the rest of the year, let alone during the hectic holiday season, however doing so reaps its own rewards. Dogs are creatures of habit, deriving pleasure and satisfaction from eating, walking, playing, and exploring at the same times every day.  If you deviate too far from their normal routine, you risk creating avoidable stress and anxiety.  Instead, make every effort to feed them on time, get those walks in (that exercise is good for you too), and don't forget to play.  Play is nature's stress-buster, so don't skip out on that game of fetch or tug-of-war.

6.  Don't make excuses. You have dogs because you love them.  Having dogs means regularly dealing with water dripped on the floor, hair and fur on the furniture, dirt on the carpets, and occasionally, urine, feces, and vomit in random places as well.  That's life with pets, so don't apologize for it!  If guests in your home "aren't dog people," that's on them.  They are visiting you at your house; you can make minor accommodations as mentioned above with those crates, gates, and pens, but they need to remember that you share your home with dogs whom you love very much.  Loving you means loving (or at the very least tolerating) your dogs.  That doesn't mean you won't still do your best to make sure your canine companions are on their best behavior and looking (and smelling!) their best.  We all like to put our best face and foot forward during the holidays and your dogs want that approval and adoration too.

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

I've never met a dog who was as methodical about opening his Christmas gifts as Westley was. He absolutely LOVED opening gifts, joyfully pulling off ribbons first and then finding the right spot to loosen tape and then finally removing the wrapping paper.  And just like a little kid, he loved the boxes and paper just as much as the gifts inside them. This was Christmas 2024, his last one here on earth.