During the holidays, people enjoy activities such as carolers in the park, holiday light shows, and taking those once-a-year horse-driven sleigh rides. Dogs don’t always share that sentiment; in fact, some of these fun traditions can be downright scary for them. Dog-friendly doesn’t always mean it’s a good idea for your dog to go.
Picture this scenario (as much as one can) from a dog’s point of view: Dog Mom is making me sit on this strange man’s lap dressed in a red velvet suit, big black boots, and a long white beard. He’s making an abnormal amount of “ho, ho,ho-ing” sounds; other strange dogs, loud bells and music, unusual costumes, and lots of people surround me. Eek.
We laugh at all of the Santa gone wrong photos with both kids and dogs, but there’s a need for empathy in these situations. Our doggie dependents look to us for comfort and security, and we must provide just that as pet parents.
Before bundling up your pup and making the trek to the Santapaws event or any other public holiday event, ask yourself these questions:
Do I have an exit strategy if my dog shows signs of stress and is uncomfortable?
Can I accurately recognize signs of stress in my dog?
Is my dog comfortable in crowds of people or around a lot of strange dogs?
Did I pre-condition my dog for the activity we will embark on?
If the answer to all of these is a confident yes - you and your pup are ready for the pawliday parties!
If the answer to any of these questions is no - do your dog a favor and don’t go - yet. Instead, focus on setting your pup up for success for the next holiday season by working on the following:
Get used to making an exit strategy plan. Even dogs well conditioned to public places sometimes get overwhelmed - especially with holiday festivities. If you’ve ever had a blast at a party, but at a certain point, you realize you don’t have it in you anymore to even talk to one more person - it’s time to go home. Keeping them present when they are having difficulty with their surroundings causes undue stress, which can have adverse mental and physical effects. Avoid making the situation worse by always having a dip-out plan to get your dog home safely at any point.
Gradually introduce your dog to more populated areas and closely monitor for signs of stress. Practice simple activities in populated parks and dog-friendly shopping areas using a lot of positive reinforcement to help shape feel-good experiences for your dog. The more positive experiences your dog has with you, the easier it will be to tackle holiday crowds at events. Practice with your pup around, but not in, dog parks and focus on what the two of you are doing together (not meeting and greeting other people and dogs) so that if your dog feels stressed during a public holiday event, they are more likely to lean in on you for guidance and comfort.
Grab a copy of Lili Chin’s Doggie Language book and share it with the family. It’s less than $10 and an excellent visual tool for reading canine body language. While observing your dog in various situations, quiz yourself and other family members to help you learn the many subtle communications and expressions dogs convey moment to moment with body language.
Practice makes progress - If you want that super cute Santa paws photo for the perfect holiday card, bring your dog several times to the venue first, gradually working closer and closer to the jovial older man and his elves. Letting your dog get familiar with the surroundings with no expectations can create a stress-free experience when it comes time to pose for that perfect pic. This practice activity is similar to “fun visits” at your vet hospital, where nothing happens to your dog; your dog simply visits to explore with his nose and collect yummy treats.
We naturally want our furry best friends to celebrate the season with us. With these tips, you can help your pup feel confident and comfortable sharing in the fun during the festivities.
If you need help with the conditioning process or are unsure if your dog is exhibiting signs of stress, don’t hesitate to contact an accredited dog trainer or a certified dog behavior professional to help navigate paw-friendly holiday events.
Happy holidays!