With Thanksgiving quickly approaching to kick off the holiday season, you might be expecting more guests than usual in your home. A full house of new humans may be a little jarring to some dogs, which is why Operation Kindness wants to share tips on how to best prepare your pup for guests.
Quality Time with Your Dog Before Thanksgiving
Holidays are stressful for both humans and pets, making it important to spend a little more time with your furry friend before the hustle and bustle begins in your household. Taking your dog to places they enjoy like the pet store, a hiking trail or a dog park to play with others are great ways to bond and release some pent-up energy.
How to teach your dog not to jump
Dogs love jumping on humans as a form of greeting and out of excitement. However, it is important to teach your dog how to greet guests in a more polite way. You can train your dog not to jump on people by yourself. When you arrive home and your dog jumps up to welcome you, stand still and don’t give them attention until they calm down. When your dog settles down, get down to their level to pet and greet them. This will start reinforcing the idea to your pup that jumping won’t give them the attention they are looking for.
How to fight boredom in dogs
Just like humans, dogs have personalities of their own. Some dogs are shy, which may cause them to be fearful of new people in their homes. Recognizing the signs that your dog is scared is the first step to helping them prepare for visitors this holiday season. Fearful dogs might bark, hide, move slowly or bare their teeth.
To help your dog gain confidence, allow them to approach situations they scared of at their own pace. Give your pup praise and attention when they do something they typically are afraid of. Making sure your furry friend has a comfortable and safe place they can run to, like a quiet bedroom, allows them to feel more at ease with strangers in their home.
Keep your dog entertained with a toy
While your dog might love the attention of people, they may still get bored during the holiday celebration. Have a toy on hand that will keep your pup busy such as a snuffle mat or a treat filled Kong to keep your dogs mind busy. Keeping your dog entertained by themselves stops them from being destructive or participating in bad manners towards guests.
For more resources about training advice to prepare your dog for holiday visitors, visit our resources page.
