Harmony Forum

The holidays are just around the corner, and one of the questions we’re asked most frequently this time of year is how to prevent dogs from “getting into trouble” amidst the food, friends, and festivities. It can take months to train the skills your dog would need to remain on its best behavior around delicious snacks and distracting people. With temptations of food, and bothering or begging guests to get some, and all of the new people coming and going, there are so many things dogs would need to learn in order to be wonderful hosts for our friends and families. Instead of offering last-minute training tips that we wouldn’t have time to properly reinforce, today let’s discuss how you can make a plan to help your dog be successful this holiday season. When we talk about helping a dog be successful, we mean we’re going to make it easy for them to do the right thing and avoid getting into trouble with food or guests. With temptations abound, there are so many things that your dog could do that might put a damper on holiday cheer. Standard pooch party fouls aside, there are foods, such as fatty meats, onions, raisins, and chocolate, that are certainly tempting but are also potentially dangerous. Having a plan for the day can help avoid a holiday trip to the emergency vet. Special Plans for Special Days Your dog spends almost every day of the year with a similar routine. Unless you’re unusually gregarious (especially given how much time we’ve spent indoors the past couple of years), it’s unlikely your dog is used to crowds and feasts in your home. Even a very well-trained and well-mannered dog can get into trouble at big events like these, simply because the skills have not been proofed around so many distractions and temptations. Instead of spending time trying to train for something that happens once a year, we can try to develop a plan and employ some management techniques and our existing training to set our dogs up for success. Management An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (or stuffing, or pie…). Something as simple as setting up barriers to prevent your pup from having access to the most tempting areas of the party can be a great solution to potential problems. It might feel like preventing trouble is a training cop out, but it’s not. First and foremost we should be advocates for our dogs and their safety. It’s unfair to put unrealistic demands on them, and on ourselves while we’re busy and distracted with holiday festivities. If your dog tolerates separation either in a crate or behind a baby gate, simply separating them from guests and food is a great way to make sure your dog can succeed at being well behaved. Exercise Before the party (and after your meal!) take the dog for a walk. Exercise is great for us and for our dogs—especially with all of those holiday meals adding up—and can help relax your dog so that they’re less likely to fuss during the festivities. If a daily walk is part of your routine, be sure not to skip it on those busy holidays. Sticking to your usual routine will help your dog stay content and even a bit tired on these big, busy days. Stimulation When it comes time for dinner and guests it’s important to have toys and treats on hand to help keep your dog interested in something other than what’s on the counter or your guests’ plates. New toys, long-lasting chews, and treat dispensing toys are a great way to provide your pup with long lasting fun. A food extraction toy such as a Kong or Toppl will help keep your dog focused on foods that are appropriate for them. If you freeze the stuffing inside of the toy, it will last an extremely long time! Be sure whatever toy, chew, or food extraction device you’re using is appropriate for unsupervised interaction—especially if the dog will be crated or confined. Clean Your Plates While most dogs would gladly volunteer to be a dishwasher after holiday feasts, keep in mind that many of the foods we enjoy are too rich or even potentially toxic to dogs. Cleaning up leftovers quickly, including wrapping and putting any uneaten food in the refrigerator or freezer as soon as possible, removes temptation and puts some of the bigger risks of the holiday behind you. Be sure to take out the garbage, and be sure that any bones are safely disposed of, and that any tasty smelling dishrags or cloth napkins are safely put in the laundry. Our dogs are important parts of our lives and our families, and this Thanksgiving we can show our thanks for all that they do to improve our lives by developing a plan to help keep them safe and set them up for success this holiday season!

Digging is a natural, instinctual behavior for dogs. Depending on the breed of dog, the desire to dig might even be a part of their breeding and hardwired into their instincts. The act of digging can be a source of joy and enrichment for dogs, but a yard filled with holes is likely a going to cause headaches for owners. Digging is not an inappropriate behavior, but the spots that your dog is indulging in its habits might not be appropriate for you. If you have a digging problem on your hands, here are some tips to channel the behavior into something more appropriate. Step 1: Break the Habit Is your dog digging in all the wrong places? If so, prevent his access. Your dog won’t learn new ways while he has free access to his old digs—digging is just too much fun! Prevention is better still, and easier. If your dog has yet to dig up the roses, don’t wait for him to discover how much fun it is. Teach him where to dig from day one. Step 2: Supervise Early on, don’t use the yard for alone-time. Give your dog ample time to learn where he is allowed to dig before you leave him out there unsupervised. Otherwise it is too easy for him to make mistakes. (If you need to leave your dog alone, use his confinement area in the house. Give him plenty of chew toys for company.) Step 3: Create a Digging Area Make a dig pit or use a large pot with loose potting soil. A dig pit can be a sandbox or a 3-by-6 foot area in your yard. Loosen about 2 feet of earth, and remove any nails or wire or such. A little sand mixed in helps drainage when it rains. Then: • Let your dog see you barely hide a Kong or some other treasure. Encourage him to find the toy and praise him when he does. • Gradually cover the toys with more dirt every time. Keep praising. • Every now and then hide something new and exciting to keep your dog coming back for more. Step 4: Redirect Mistakes Calmly stop any unauthorized digging, then lead your dog to his dig pit or digging pot. And yes, this means you need to be around when your dog is playing outside—at least until he knows where it is okay to dig and where it isn’t. Training Tip: If your dog has developed a liking for a particular spot in your yard, block access to that spot until he has had time to form new and better habits. Other Reasons for Digging Digging is an instinctive behavior, but there are many reasons why a dog might suddenly develop a desire to dig. If your yard has recently become home to ground-dwelling prey animals like moles or gophers, your dog might be digging as a way of hunting these critters down. When they can smell and hear animals under the earth, they're more likely to dig like crazy to try to find them! Digging can also be a sign of boredom. While it is a natural and enjoyable behavior for dogs, providing them with an equally stimulating alternative such as chewing, scent games, or something more appropriate (and less destructive) could help keep the habit at bay. In the summer, dogs will sometimes dig a shallow bed in the ground to help keep cool. Digging becomes a serious concern when dogs dig to get under barriers. Escaping the yard by digging is a serious concern, and can be caused by many underlying issues including separation anxiety and even barrier frustration if the dog is trying to reach other dogs outside of the yard. If you're concerned about your dog's digging habit, you might consider consulting a professional to help determine and resolve the underlying issues.

The Holiday Season is in full swing, and Santa Paws will soon be delivering presents to all of our very, very good boys (and girls!). While we prepare for a joy-filled Holiday and celebration of the New Year, take a moment to go over some helpful holiday safety tips for pets. Pet Proof the Christmas Tree Oh, the Christmas tree. A holiday staple in many homes, and the one addition to our living room that poses the largest threat to our furry friends! A Christmas tree that isn’t pet-proofed can result in upset stomachs, injury, or worse. Manage the danger of a Christmas tree by always supervising pets when they’re around the tree, and by taking special care to pet-proof your holiday decorations. Ornaments. The ornaments on a Christmas tree can be attractive to pets. Most curious dogs and cats will want to inspect the odd tree that has suddenly appeared in their living rooms. Breakable ornaments are a double danger. If they shatter on the floor you can end up with cut paws, and if they’re chomped on you run the risk of mouth injury and ingestion. Try to keep all ornaments (especially the glass!) out of reach of pets. Secure the Tree. A wobbly tree stand can make for a holiday disaster if your dog or cat decides to try to climb the evergreen. Check the bolts on your tree stand to be sure they’re secure, and consider adding a separate anchor, such as a ceiling hook with clear line or wall anchor, to prevent the tree from toppling over. Don’t Drink the Tree Water. Did you know that the water in your tree stand can be dangerous to pets? As the tree soaks up water, it can release sometimes toxic sap into the water. Some fresh trees are also preserve with pesticides or given fertilizer water additives that include substances like aspirin. Aspirin is particularly dangerous to cats as they lack the ability to break down the drugs. While aspirin is occasionally prescribed to dogs, too much can also be deadly. The water reservoir in the tree stand should be tightly wrapped with a tree skirt or other material to prevent animals from accessing it. String Lights and Tree-Trimmings. Festive lights, garland, and tinsel are a part of many of our holiday decorations. The flashing lights sure are pretty, but they can also pose a potential threat to your pet. Veterinarians say pets can easily die from electrocution, internal injuries, or intestinal blockage after enjoying a decorative snack. Be sure you fasten holiday lights to your tree and place cords out of reach of your curious pet’s mouth. Block access to any loose cords or wires. When eaten, things like garland and tinsel can result in intestinal blockages that could mean a trip to the emergency vet for your dog or cat. Safe Holiday Plants Three plants that are popular this time of year can also be potentially dangerous to pets. Whenever you bring a new plant into the home, be sure that it is pet-safe and monitor your curious pets when they’re around it. Holly. English and Asian varieties of the holly plant can contain toxins that cause gastrointestinal issues when eaten. Mistletoe. Not always for kissing, the leaves and berries of this common plant contain viscotoxins and can cause upset stomach and bradycardia. Poinsettia. Typically thought of as the most dangerous holiday plant, the poinsettia flower is typically toxic only when ingested in large quantities. The sap from the plant can cause diarrhea, excessive drooling, and vomiting. Holiday Bouquets. Holiday bouquets might contain any of the above plants, but may also contain flowers such a lilies, which are particularly hazardous to pets. Just a few bites of a lily plant is enough to cause potentially fatal kidney damage in cats. Gifts, Candy, and Stockings Make sure that your stockings are hung by the chimney with extra care this holiday to prevent pets from pulling them down and attempting to eat their contents! Avoid wrapping food items in boxes or hanging them in stockings, as your dog’s strong nose might inspire them to try to unwrap the goodies. Food puzzles are a great form of enrichment for dogs, but your holiday snacks and candies should not be part of the game. Gift wrap, small toys, ribbon and string, and bows should all be moved out of reach of dogs and cats to avoid injury. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) is your best resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435. A consultation fee may apply.