Ensuring Your Dog's Safety During the Holidays

The Perils of Holiday Feasting for Dogs

During the holiday season, the number of gastrointestinal cases in dogs soars, with veterinarians reporting a significant increase compared to the rest of the year. A study by Petplan found that veterinary visits increase by 78% during the Christmas period, with chocolate poisoning in dogs being 5 times more likely during the holidays. The festive atmosphere often leads to dogs ingesting foods that their digestive systems cannot handle, resulting in illness.

Common Sources of Holiday Hazards for Dogs:

• Accessing the trash
• Being fed table scraps
• Counter surfing (stealing food from counters or tables)

Preventing Trash Troubles and Scrap Sharing

The first two hazards can be easily mitigated. Ensuring that your dog does not consume holiday table scraps and keeping the trash secure are straightforward preventive measures. After meals and clean-up, promptly remove the garbage to avoid any temptation for your pet.

Counteracting Counter Surfing

Counter surfing is a behavior where dogs snatch food from kitchen counters or tables, driven by their powerful sense of smell. To discourage this, compare it to playing a scratch-off lottery:

• You buy a ticket (prepare food on the counter).
• Your dog sniffs the air (anticipates the possibility of food).
• You scratch the ticket and win a small prize (your dog finds a treat on the counter).

Just as the occasional lottery win keeps you playing, a dog that has successfully found food on the counter will likely repeat the behavior. To prevent this, never let your dog associate the counter with rewards.

Training Tips for a Counter-Free Canine

When in the kitchen, offer your dog healthy treats for calm behavior, but never from the counter. Instead, keep treats in your pocket or a separate location. This reinforces the idea that sitting or lying quietly leads to rewards, and as we know, rewarded behaviors tend to be repeated.

Establishing a Safe Spot:

1. Place a dog bed in a corner of the room or just outside the kitchen or dining area.
2. Lure your dog onto the bed, ask them to lie down and stay.
3. Reward them with a healthy treat every 30 seconds, gradually increasing the interval between treats.
4. Over time, your dog will learn to go to their bed without prompting, and you should continue to reward this independent behavior.

By training our dogs to avoid jumping on counters, we not only enhance our holiday experience but also ensure a safe and enjoyable time for our pets.

Conclusion: Celebrate Safely with Your Furry Friends

The holiday season should be a time of happiness for the whole family, including our four-legged members. By being vigilant and employing simple training techniques, we can prevent our dogs from ingesting harmful foods and ensure they remain healthy and happy throughout the festivities.

Have a Safe and Fun Holiday Season!

For more information on keeping your pets safe during the holidays, visit the ASPCA's guide to pet safety or check out the American Veterinary Medical Association's holiday tips.