I’ve never done this before.
Believe me when I say this… I was very surprised this happened.
But it did happen.
It is Monday, December 5th and I am done with Christmas.
Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE Christmas, especially with two small children. As a bachelor of many years, I would skip decorations, trees, and everything associated with the Christmas spirit. It changes with two small kids.
When I say I am done with Christmas, I am done with the working part of it. Christmas tree, decorations, cards, and presents… DONE!
Now all I have to do is sit back and enjoy the Christmas season.
Except when it comes to you and your dog. My work helping you is never done. You see, I want you to enjoy the season with me but I know your dog may do some behaviors which will get him in hot water over the next few weeks. Here are the 7 hazards you need to be aware of:
- Food can be very tempting this time of the year. I have a common term for dogs who steal food. I call them counter surfers. If your dog is a counter surfer, you have two options when the Christmas ham makes an appearance. (1) Train your dog to stop grabbing food off the counter or (2) manage your dog’s behavior. A crate, confining your dog to a room or tethering with a leash will prevent the problem. Stealing a turkey or eating a bowl of chocolates will ruin your day.
- Jumping. The number one behavior problem for dogs is jumping. Being very social animals, dogs greet with a lot of enthusiasm. Jumping can be dangerous. If your 90 year old great aunt is visiting and your exuberant 70 pound Golden Retriever jumps, it will not end well. There are also a large number of people on blood thinners. A small cut from the dog’s nail could result in a trip to the hospital. There are two ways to deal with jumping. (1) Teach your dog to greet with four paws on the ground or (2) manage.
- Decorations can be a big hazard for your dog. Tinsel, glass ornaments and electrical wires can be attractive to your dog. A Christmas tree loaded with big round balls can be too much for some. Be aware of this as you decorate your house.
- Holiday plants. According to PetMD.com, here is a list of plants to careful of: Poinsettia, Holly and Mistletoe, Lilies and Daffadillies, Amaryllis, and Christmas Cactus.
- Candles. If you have an overactive dog who loves to investigate and jump, you may want to skip the candles this year and use battery operated lights.
- Presents. Every year my sister brings presents for my dogs. She wraps them and puts them under the tree. If your dog gets a toy from a friend or family member, make sure it is not too small or something which could cause an upset stomach. Some chew toys like rawhide causes problems.
- Open doors. Some dogs love to bolt through any open door. Be careful as your guests arrive. Chasing your dog on a cold, snowy night is not fun when you’d rather be sipping eggnog with your family and friends. Teaching your dog the stay command can eliminate this problem.
Is your dog going to behave this Christmas Season? It’s not too late. Your dog can be well behaved and listening to you before you crack into the holiday eggnog.
You can get a FREE 30 minute behavior evaluation with me. I’ll include a copy of “The Canine Leadership Manual” with your appointment.
BUT!
You must act fast. I only have a few more appointments left this month. You can schedule your appointment here:
FREE 30 Minute Behavior Evaluation
All the best,
Eric