Written by Sam Kabbell, CPDT-KA, President, Pet Behavior Solutions
Office: (602) 324-8948, e-mail: sam@petbehaviorsolutions.com
Pet Behavior Solutions receives many calls between Thanksgiving and the New Year about stressed out families with stressed out pets. The holiday season is supposed to be a joyous time to celebrate with family and friends. There is lots of food, fun, family, friends, and festivities. Along with all that joy comes the stress in planning, preparing, and accommodating all the guests. Experiencing stress is not uniquely human.. Our feline and canine companions can struggle right alongside us. Stress in pets manifests in many ways such as housetraining accidents (also known as “watering” the Christmas tree), chewing (also known as premature unwrapping of Christmas presents left under the tree), becoming short tempered (just like mom and dad), fights with their pet siblings, aggression toward guests, changes in appetite, hiding, vocalizing, etc, When pets become stressed, their owners become more stressed because now they have something else to worry about!
Here are a few things to do in order to make this wonderful time of year a little less stressful and a little more joyous:
· Keep your pets on a schedule. Ensure that walks, trips to the park, playtime and other activities still take place. Just like children, pets need to have a consistent routine that they can count on.
· For stressed kitties, provide a quiet room for them away from the chaos. Place their food and water on the opposite side of the room as the litter box. Open blinds or curtains to provide some “enrichment” looking out the window. Some cats like to hide and others like to go up high. Provide safe hiding places like cat tents, under the bed, a clothes hamper, etc. Move a cat tree into the room to allow kitties to climb on appropriate things.
· For stressed doggies, try to set the tone for your dog by taking a deep breath and focusing on the positive things. Dogs take cues from their humans so if we are stressed, it is likely they will be, too. If we are calm, then they should be, too.
o Often, the dog is overlooked during the festivities and then given attention when it is all over. This teaches dogs that better things happen when everyone has finally left and it is all over. Instead, ensure that your dog is included and gets more attention and good things when the festivities are going on and then become a little more aloof toward him/her when the guests leave. This will help him/her to find that better things happen when the guests are around and the party is going.
o If your dog is aggressive toward guests, safety is a must. Acclimate him/her to a kennel or confinement in a quiet room until everyone leaves.
· As always, please contact us or your veterinarian for help with specific problems. Knowing what to do to alleviate these problems can make the holidays even more enjoyable.
With a little forethought and planning, you can reduce your stress as well as your pet’s stress during this holiday season!
