Can Fearful Fido Be Festive?

Holidays, Training, WagBreeze Life

Photo of a dog sitting in his smiling human’s lap at a table filled in food

Written by Amanda Rietheimer, CDBC, CPDT-KA

The upcoming holidays bring new feelings for many families as we reconnect with our loved ones. While it can be exciting to get together in large groups with our family and friends, this often tends to be very scary for our furry four-legged friends. If Fido is nervous about any variation in his environment, adding visitors or other dogs can pose a challenge to future gatherings.

Here are a few tips to help Fido be festive, too:

  • Find enrichment toys that Fido likes to engage with when only your immediate family is present.
  • Start now, well before the holidays. Start with one guest, working your way up to multiple guests in the house.
  • Put Fido up in a room/crate before a guest arrives at the house.
  • Set up Fido’s enrichment toy, such as a snuffle mat, near his dog bed or mat about 15 to 20 feet from the guest.
  • Have the guest sit down before bringing Fido out on a leash.
  • Make sure Fido is calm when you enter the room and treat him, keeping your distance from the guest.
  • If Fido is barking, growling, lunging, or showing signs of stress do not proceed.
  • Have the guest toss treats towards Fido.
  • Check in with Fido often, if he is showing signs of stress such as growling, snapping, barking, shaking, or pulling away, end the session and put Fido back in his crate or other room and contact a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant or veterinarian for help.
  • If Fido is eating treats tossed to him, walk him on the leash to his bed and have him engage in his snuffle mat.
  • When Fido looks at you or your guest and is calm, toss treats to him. It is important that we are tossing treats and never hand-feeding him, as we want him to be comfortable staying at a distance from our guest.
  • For big gatherings, install gates for safe areas for Fido to relax. Our guests can then move around comfortably and not worry about where Fido is.
  • Advise all guests that Fido likes to be a part of the party from a distance. Being pet by guests is not enjoyable for Fido. If guests cannot listen, then put Fido back in his crate/room, where he can be safe and not escalate in fear. Give Fido an enrichment toy to enjoy while he is in his crate.
  • Have buckets full of treats that can be tossed to Fido over the gate to him.