How to prepare your pet for a holiday party

Parties are confusing for your dog. Their house is suddenly full of strangers, there’s tons of food they are not supposed to eat, lots of noise, and usually a few kids zooming around. Their peaceful routine has suddenly and inexplicably been interrupted, and not every dog is welcoming of all these sudden changes.

Exercise your Dog

Dogs really like routines, so if he’s already used to a daily walk, keeping that up will be a great comfort to him. It’s also a good way to burn off his energy. If he’s fearful of strangers, he’ll be much more likely to relax in a kennel if he’s tired. If he’s the kind to love people, he’ll be less likely to try his hand at table surfing or other mischief if he’s burned off a little energy.

Inform guests

Let your guests know in advance that your dog will be present. This will help give you a heads up if someone is uncomfortable with your dog, and also can help you lay some ground rules. These include things like whether your dog is allowed to jump up or not, and whether he can be fed treats.

Watch for accidents

Small things change during a party that we often don’t think about in terms of our pets. When there are 5 wine glasses sitting on the coffee table, it’s much more likely that a friendly tail will sweep one off onto the floor.

It’s also easy to forget just how long its been since your dog has gone potty last, so plan for frequent breaks to let your pup outside.

If your dog is the friendly type, he may love the attention parties bring. If he’d rather not, a comfortable kennel in an off-limits room and a little music to drown out party sounds can help.