As families gather on this Christmas Day, chances are their pets haven’t been left out. Whether it’s a trip to the countryside, staying at a pet-friendly Airbnb, or visiting a friend’s home, ensuring your pet is well-behaved is essential for a stress-free holiday experience. Amy Rapp, a dog behaviour consultant, shares her insights on managing pet behaviour during the holidays.
“There’s no quick fix when it comes to training your dog. Good behaviour is a result of consistent effort over time. If you’re training your pet to behave in front of visitors, it’s not realistic to expect them to master it within a week, especially in a new environment with distractions.”
Instead, Amy emphasizes the importance of prevention and management. “You can’t sit a dog down and explain social rules like you would with a child. The focus should be on monitoring and preventing undesirable behaviours.”
Responsibilities of a pet owner
Ms Rapp says that pet owners need to inform the host that they would want to come with their pet. “It’s important to communicate with your host beforehand if you plan to bring a pet. There might be other pets, chickens, or even cats that could create conflicts. Ask about the environment and whether it’s suitable for your animal.” It is also good to know if the host is comfortable with you bringing the pet.
Before entering someone’s home, “make sure your dog is walked and has had the chance to relieve themselves outside, especially after travelling. This helps prevent any accidents indoors.”
Respecting boundaries is another crucial aspect. Amy suggests bringing a blanket for your pet. She says, “If your host allows the dog on the furniture, put a blanket down to avoid leaving hair or muddy paw prints. If your dog is excitable or untrained in new environments, I recommend keeping your dog on a leash for the first few days or hours. Even if they’re just dragging it, this helps prevent accidents like chewing Christmas decorations or knocking over items.”
Pets can react unpredictably to new settings or large gatherings. Therefore, Amy recommends easing them into the new environment. “Give them time to sniff and explore outside before meeting people. If there’s a party, let them meet household members first in a quiet setting. You should ask the guests to ignore the dog first until it feels comfortable enough to approach them.”
While the primary responsibility lies with the pet owner, Amy advises hosts to set clear rules. “Don’t feed the pet anything without checking with the owner,” she says, warning against harmful human foods like chocolate. Hosts should also inform guests about potential hazards, such as free-roaming chickens or unfriendly pets.
To ensure a smooth visit, Amy recommends packing food bowls and enough pet food, waste disposal bags and the contact details for a local vet, in case of an emergency.
