Celebrating Holidays With Shy Pets

Holidays can be, let’s face it, a little rowdy. There are strange relatives coming from near and far, new smells in the kitchen, shiny lights all over the place, and a whole pile of who-knows-what underneath that weird tree someone dragged inside. 

For shy or uncertain dogs, it can be a whole new reason to panic. 

Celebrating the holidays doesn’t mean thrusting the unwitting dog in the mix or ignoring him completely. You can celebrate the holidays with dogs that may not be the party animal type.

• Give them space- For dogs that are crate trained, this one is easy. But even if your dog is not used to being in a crate, you can still give him some space that is just his so he can retreat if he wants to be alone. This can be a bed by the washing machine, a spot on the bed, or a patch of carpet in the office. As long as he is left alone when he is in his special spot, he will have a place he feels safe from the chaos.
• Let them say hi in their own way- Not every dog wants to be hugged, especially by a gang of relatives he has never met. One way you can let people interact with your beloved pet is by performing tricks. He can wave, sit pretty, or shake hands. He will be sure to impress and getting treats among the new people makes it much less scary for your pup, too.
• Don’t do too much, too soon- Try to ease your pup into the holiday if possible. Sudden drastic changes can be overwhelming to sensitive dogs. Don’t make the mistake of looking on Facebook and trying to copy cute photos you have seen other families take. Forcing the dog into a holiday sweater when it would rather be hiding in the closet is a recipe for disaster. 
• Keep their routine- If your family is used to walking the dog after dinner, try to keep up with that during the holidays. Keeping a routine gives the dog security even if other things are changing. It reassures the dog that you are not changing everything about their lives. 

While it can be frustrating to deal with a dog that wants to cower and hide as soon as the stockings go up, it is possible to adjust your dog to new situations. It may mean changing your expectations about what the holiday should look like, however. 

Even if you may never get that perfectly posed Christmas card photo, the holiday memories you make together will be even better.