Happy Holidays! At this time of year, many of you are really looking forward to enjoying good food, seasonal traditions and events, and, most of all, quality time with friends and family members. Our canine pals count as both, as far as we’re concerned. Of course, not all of your loved ones may be as enamored with Fido as we are. A Hendersonville, NC vet offers some advice on this below.
Guest Room
Having guests stay over? Ask them to keep the door to their room closed. This will help prevent awkward incidents, such as Fido chewing their shoes. You also don’t want your furry buddy eating that medication bottle on the nightstand, or gnawing up the gifts they brought.
Petiquette
Take time to walk and play with your four-legged friend every day. This is especially important for active pups, as it can help them burn off some of that excess energy. Dogs are always calmer after a vigorous workout. If Fido has some bad habits, such as begging or jumping on people, keep him in separate areas during meals and when people are coming and going.
Presentation
Make sure your furry pal puts his best paw forward! Give your pup a good bath before your guests arrive. Some fur-busting is also in order. Vacuum and dust thoroughly, and change your air filters. Putting doggy antlers on Fido would be a cute touch for that group photo, but this is only something you should do if your canine companion tolerates them.
Kids
Do you have little ones coming over? If so, you’ll want to take some extra precautions. Dogs can get unsettled by children. Youngsters can move quickly, have high-pitched (and often loud) voices, and don’t really understand the do’s and don’ts of interacting with animals. Keep a close eye on things, and put Fido in a separate area if necessary.
Safety Rules
You don’t need to give your visitors a ten-page pamphlet on interacting with Fido. However, it’s a good idea to lay down some simple rules. Number one? Ask guests to check with you before giving him food or treats. This goes double for people that have never had dogs, as they may not realize that many foods, including grapes, raisins, chocolate, and avocado, are toxic to pets.
Seasons Greetings from Kanuga Animal Hospital, your Hendersonville, NC pet clinic. Contact us anytime!
