This year will be my dog Raider's first Christmas, which means it will be the first time he sees a tree in the house with lights and delicate decorations.
It's the first time he will see boxes wrapped with bright paper and ribbons placed under said tree. It's the first time he will see poinsettias, holly and mistletoe.
This weighs on my mind. It has been years since I have had to worry what a dog might do when it sees a tree - which is normally outside and gets peed on - inside. On top of that, the outside-nowinside tree is covered with things resembling toys that could be really fun to play with. Like that glittering golden globe that looks like the ball in a Chuckit! Then there are the twinkling lights, the candy canes, the garland.
OYE! You would understand my concern if you knew how busy a dog Raider is. He has his nose into everything, the garbage (if the lid is not on tight enough), the laundry (if the pile is big enough), the shoes (if the closet door isn't closed enough), the shampoo bottles (if the caps aren't on tight enough). I can only imagine what he will do when no one is home to keep him away from the tree.
When my other two dogs Zumi and Piper were little I had an artificial tree that didn't seem to draw their attention at all. I placed all of my favourite decorations near the top of the tree and left the lower section of the tree bare so that there was nothing shiny, sparkly or breakable within reach of curious noses.
Over 10 years I transitioned to a real tree and Piper and Zumi mellowed out about the tree, its decorations and Christmas. Except for Christmas morning. They get as excited as the twoleggeds to unwrap their gifts.
But with Raider there will definitely have to be some changes.
Decorations will be strategically placed to prevent him from stealing the fancy handmade ones. I may even opt to not place the fragile glass ones on the tree this year. Raider is also ridiculously agile and I've seen him jump, on many occasions, about six feet straight up, from a sit.
I might have to take the dog pen out of storage and surround the tree to prevent him from jumping onto it or crawling under it when he is left home unsupervised. Some people may opt to put their dog behind the pen, away from the tree, or maybe crate the dog when no one is able to observe and manage it.
Electrical cables for lights that run along the floor to the outlets should be duct taped down, tucked under carpets or somehow covered to prevent an inquisitive or bored dog from chewing.
Other home décor, such as poinsettias, should be placed on tables instead of the floor by the fireplace. This plant is not poisonous to dogs, as the old rumour implies. But if a dog eats enough of the plant I am sure it will cause an upset stomach. Holly and mistletoe on the other hand are highly poisonous to both people and pets if ingested. Interestingly enough, the toxic property in holly is theobromine, the same ingredient in chocolate that can cause serious illness, even death in dogs.
Speaking of chocolate, now is the time that those little morsels of yumminess begin showing up in boxfuls. Make sure to keep the chocolate rum balls, truffles and hedgehogs way out of Fido's reach.
If you haven't taught your dog manners around guests, now would be the time to start. The last thing you want to have to cope with is having your dog bodycheck a senior member of the family right into the hospital with a broken hip.
A favourite trick of mine is to have my dogs go to their mat. On the command, "Go to your bed," my dogs find their favourite spots, lie down and stay there. I'll give training instructions for this command next week.
Having a bit of canine foresight will help ensure that not only your dog but you and your family have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her through her website k9kinship.com.
