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Summer is coming and it is time for barbeques and company coming to visit.  Sure
it's fun,  but it can stress out your pets!    For our routine loving furry friends, crowds
can be overwhelming, but with a bit of planning and information you can make the
any celebration safe and happier for your pet and you.

Let’s start with dogs,  the first thing any dog will benefit from is more exercise.  If you
know you have a house full of guests coming over,  get that walk in,  maybe go to a
new place or a little farther than usual.  I know what your thinking,  I’ve got the
cleaning and cooking to do,  when exactly do I do this?  Fair enough,  maybe you
have a dog crazy friend or relative (or dog walker!),  now is a fine time to recruit them.  
With my own dogs,  I like to give them special toys when I have lots of happenings in
the house.  A new busy toy or chew toy is a great distraction.  One of my fellow
trainers likes to leave treats in her mailbox and she instructs her guests to take one
and upon entering the home to reward the dog for a nice sit with a treat.  If your dog
has some good training behind him,  I love that idea!  

This brings me to the subject of managing the human part of the equation.  There
are 2 really important questions that need to be answered.  Does your pet even enjoy
company? And,  does your company enjoy your pets?  If the answer to either of those
is no,  it is best to create a quiet place for your dog or cat to hang out in, away from
the festivities.  Cats will usually be very clear about their feelings and run off and
hide,  if they have a comfy place to go, you can better enjoy your party.  With dogs it is
a bit tricky.  Dogs can get mixed emotions and try to be around people even though
they are uncomfortable.  Mild anxiety is manifested in dogs by yawning,  sudden
scratching and licking.   More intense anxiety or fear is a bit more familiar,  tucked
tails, low heads and hiding behind things.  Be sensitive to your dogs’ state of mind
and provide a peaceful escape.  One other really important precaution is to make
sure you have id tags on your pets,  I had a distant relative once just let my dog out
into an unfamiliar, unfenced area because she thought my dog needed to go out.  
That holiday was spent searching for my dog (it all ended well).   It is always best to
be prepared.


I do want to say a word about children.  I am pretty firm in my house about having
manners around my pets, if a child has poor manners around animals,  it is best to
just remove the animal and avoid injuries to both parties.  In the case of dogs,  if you
have a child that is eye level with your dog,  make sure a adult keeps watch on the
situation and the kids are taught how to act around the dog.  It just isn’t worth the
risk.  Also, if the child is afraid, don’t try to force the situation,  again, it is better to
remove the dog or cat than to push things,  this goes for fearful adults too.  Even a
friendly dog can get confused and jumpy around a fearful person and inadvertently
cause an injury.  When I have fearful humans in my house,  I put my rowdy dog on a
leash,  just in case.

Finally, I want to address the dangers of goodies available during parties.  We have
all heard stories of the rascal dog that makes off with the Christmas turkey or gets
into the punch.  Besides wrecking the meal for the humans, it also has potential
problems for your pet.  Turkey contains a lot of tryptophan,  this can give dogs and
cats diarrhea, also bones, spicy and fatty food (like gravy) can do a number on a pets
GI tract and alcohol has the same effects on pets that it does on humans but it takes
less to get to a toxic level.  

The following is a list of really dangerous items that at best can mean a trip to
Animerge and can be really toxic to dogs and cats.

Chocolate
Raisins/grapes, macadamias
XYLITOL
Spices

Holly berries
Whole mistletoe
Poitsietta
Tinsel
Glass
Candles and the hot oil potpourris

Doors left open – get those tags!

If you have an anxious pup, there is a product called Rescue Remedy,  it is OTC and
has calming properties.  I know people who use this for dogs that are fearful of loud
noises or car rides.   It is also a good idea to keep unsweetened pumpkin on hand,  
2 tbs in the dog food can settle an upset tummy in a dog.

Finally the most important thing,  enjoy your guests and family and share lots of love
with your family and furbabies.