With a lift on some of the restrictions for social gatherings, people are starting to have parties both in their homes and in their backyards. I've gotten two calls this week from clients whose dogs were "party-poopers" during last weekend's festivities! One client indicated that her dog was obnoxiously trolling guests for food, jumping up on people and tables, and sniffing crotches! The other client's dog was totally freaked out about having strangers in the yard and proceeded to spend the entire party dodging people trying to pet her and barking at anyone who came within 10 feet of her. The really unfortunate thing was that this dog followed a guest into the house and nipped the woman on the rear end as she was headed to the powder room during the party. None of this is good; we certainly don't want our dogs overly involved with our guests, pushing/shoving for treats and attention, nor do we want our dogs so overcome with anxiety that they feel compelled to nip a guest.
As you might have already guessed, both of these dogs were "pandemic puppies," acquired during last year's shutdown and now experiencing "normal life" post-pandemic, for the first time. They have very little experience with new people, and have certainly never seen lots of new people on their home turf. While one dog saw this as an opportunity to sneak food and behave inappropriately, the other became anxious enough to bark on and off for 4 hours and ultimately nip a guest. Even dogs with appropriate social experiences pre-pandemic may find large social gatherings on their home turf somewhat challenging given that they've not been expected to attend one in well over a year!
So, what can you do to increase your odds of success with social gatherings in/at your home? First off, be honest with yourself about who your dog is. If your dog is shy to begin with, hyper-vigilant in public settings, uncomfortable with strangers petting her, overly territorial in your yard, etc., then it's a better idea to plan to have your dog confined to a crate, a safe room, etc. before the party starts. This isn't punishment, but prevention. They will be happier in that crate or safe room where they don't have to worry about people they don't know interacting with them. Make sure you tell your guests to leave the dog in the crate/room alone! Even well-meaning dog lovers might think it's okay to open that safe room door or stick their fingers through the crate, so letting folks know your dog is uncomfortable with party situations and is confined for their safety and comfort is key. And if you are going to have houseguests for several days it might be in your dog's best interest to board with a trusted friend or family member to insure that nothing unexpected occurs while you have guests overnight in your home. Remember, you will want to focus on your guests and having to constantly watch and supervise your dog isn't going to be easy if you're also trying to be a good host.
If your dog loves meeting new people BUT they don't always do that in the best way, you will want to work with them before, as well as, during your social gathering. Put them on leash and have them practice friendly, unobtrusive greetings. Stand on the leash so that they can't jump up, keep them tethered to you with the leash so that they can't pursue people, sniffing crotches, for example. Have them lay near you while people are eating, or go ahead and confine them while there is food around. You can practice their good table manners before your guests even arrive by taking your dog near the food tables etc., and teaching them that staying off those tables and away from the food is more rewarding than being there. Direct them away saying "OFF" and reward them with treats for looking and moving away from the food. Work with your dog until they get to the point where as they approach a table or food you can say "OFF" and they move away, looking to you for their reward. If you have time, work on dropping food/spilling food on the floor and telling your dog to "LEAVE IT" and rewarding them with high value treats when they do so. That way, you don't have to worry about your dog getting something they shouldn't have that might fall off the serving table or someone's plate.
Having realistic expectations for how social gatherings will go is important, but so is being prepared. Don't just assume your dog will be fine if you've never put them in that situation before. Practice does make perfect. Let your guests know that you are working with your dog on their greeting behavior, behavior around people eating, etc. Most of your friends are likely dog lovers as well who are more than happy to help you and your dog be successful. Because, frankly, if you are successful, you will likely host more parties in the future and who doesn't like a good social gathering that we don't have to plan and execute ourselves!
As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.
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