No matter what season it is, you will probably find yourself hosting an event or get-together in your home, which can be fun and exciting, but also stressful – particularly if you have a dog. We have all had experiences with a hyper, over-stimulated dog that runs around the place making a mess wherever he goes. It makes for a funny memory, but it’s not fun to deal with at the moment. Parties with a dog in the house don’t have to be an unpleasant experience though. Here are a few tips on how to make your dog behave when guests are over.
Plan Ahead
One thing to think about is your guests’ comfort level with dogs. Some parties are filled with pet lovers that are more than happy to wrestle around with dogs and get their hair coated in slobber. Other people may not have been exposed to dogs as youths and can be uncomfortable around them. Be sure to thoroughly think about the needs of both your pet and your guests when you plan your party.
Give Your Dog a Workout
Exercise your pup before company arrives. An exhausted pet is far more likely to be a well-behaved pet. Assign someone (mom, dad, your kids) to take Rover to a dog park or out on an extra-long walk well ahead of party time. Workout your pup as much as possible. The more exhausted your dog is, the less likely he or she will cause trouble.
Hide Them Away
Another option is to simply put your dog in another room. For many dogs, it is overwhelming to be in room full people they hardly know. Put your dog in a bedroom that’s far away from the chaos to keep them calm. That said, dogs are kind of like people in that they are all different, with their own personalities and likes and dislikes. For some dogs, being away from the action makes them anxious. These kinds of pups need to know who’s in their house and what’s going on. Consider having your dog make a brief introduction. Let them meet and greet people. If they get too excited, you can always move them to another room later.
Perform a Safety Check
Before your event starts, take ten minutes to audit your house for any temptations or safety hazards for your pet. Ensure that food is far away from this edge of this counter and that poisonous plants are out of reach along with dangerous items like ornaments, cables, wires, and batteries. This may sound like a no-brainer, but whenever you get busy preparing, you forget about these things.
Set Ground Rules for Guests
To ensure a good time at your event, it’s okay to diplomatically suggest some suggestions on how guests can best interact with your dog. Nothing out of hand, of course, but you can ask that guests not feed your pup or ask that they do not pick up your pet. Setting boundaries is a smart way to keep your pet safe and happy.
All credit goes to For Your Fur Kids
